GLP-1s for Weight Loss & Metabolic Health: Benefits, Risks & Practitioner Guidance | Brandy Buskow

What happens when weight loss becomes about more than the number on the scale? In this episode of the Health Detective Podcast, Michele Scarlet sits down with FDNP Brandy Buskow for an honest conversation about GLP-1 medications, obesity, metabolic health, gut health, weight loss, and the role of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition practitioners in supporting clients through this changing health landscape. Brandy shares her personal journey with lifelong obesity, severe IBS, anxiety, digestive issues, and years of trying diets and other approaches to lose weight. After discovering Functional Diagnostic Nutrition and improving many aspects of her health, she still struggled to lose weight and maintain it. By 2024, she was dealing with elevated fasting insulin, rising blood pressure, sleep apnea, and concerns about following the same path of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease she had seen in her family. That led her to discuss GLP-1 medication with her healthcare provider. Brandy explains how GLP-1 signaling works, including its connection to appetite, fullness, digestion, blood sugar, and the gut. She also shares what it was like to experience less “food noise” and why her gradual weight loss has involved much more than medication alone. The conversation then turns to an important question for Functional Medicine practitioners, FDN practitioners, and health coaches: how can they responsibly support clients who are using or considering GLP-1s? Michele and Brandy discuss practitioner scope, medication dosing, referrals, ethics, nutrition, movement, sleep, muscle maintenance, body image, and the mental-emotional side of sustainable change. They also explore the risks of gray-market and black-market peptides, misinformation, unrealistic expectations, and the importance of working with qualified prescribers. If you're interested in GLP-1 weight loss, metabolic health, obesity, food noise, gut health, Functional Medicine, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition, health coaching, or responsible practitioner education, this episode offers practical perspective on using GLP-1s as a tool while keeping long-term health and client support at the center. 🔬 5 LABS IN 5 DAYS STARTS MONDAY, OCTOBER 19! Join FDN's FREE 5-day practitioner workshop featuring 10 expert-led sessions, daily Q&A, and permanent replays. 🎟️ YOUR FREE TICKET IS WAITING! 👉 https://www.functionaldiagnosticnutrition.com/op/exclusive-invite/ 🎁 No coupon code needed! Just click the link above to claim your FREE access. See you October 19–23! Educational content only. Medication decisions, including whether to start, stop, or change a dose, should be made with a qualified prescribing healthcare professional.