Women's Football Hub

GLP-1 Drugs in Sport: What Female Athletes Need to Know

Editor Carolyn Kent Women’s Football Hub

Introduction

GLP-1 receptor agonists names you might know as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro – have exploded into public consciousness in recent years. Marketed originally for type 2 diabetes management, they’re now widely used for weight loss, sparking headlines, celebrity endorsements and social media hype.

But what do these drugs really do? And what should female athletes (and their support teams) know about them?

We tackled these questions in a recent Women’s Football Hub Podcast episode with returning guests Dr Jessica Beal Stahl and sports pharmacist Emily Shears. Here’s what we learned:

What Are GLP-1 Drugs?

GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1) is a hormone your body naturally produces to help regulate blood sugar after eating. GLP-1 drugs mimic this hormone’s effects, promoting insulin release, reducing glucagon secretion, slowing gastric emptying and suppressing appetite.

They were first approved for type 2 diabetes, but notable weight loss effects led to their use in obesity management, PCOS and other conditions.

Medical Use vs. Weight Loss Craze

Emily and Jess highlighted the important difference between medically-indicated use and the wider trend of using these drugs purely for weight loss.

Medically, GLP-1 drugs can be life-changing for people with diabetes, PCOS or even inflammatory conditions. They may help regulate blood sugar, reduce cardiovascular risk, and lower inflammation.

But supply shortages, social media hype, celebrity endorsements and unrealistic beauty standards have driven demand from people seeking to lose 5-10 pounds without changing lifestyle.

That demand has led to a black market, with people buying unregulated products of questionable safety and sterility risking serious harm.

Side Effects and Risks

GLP-1 drugs come with real, significant side effects:

  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea
  • Gastric issues due to delayed emptying
  • Headaches, dehydration
  • Appetite suppression that can cause under-fuelling
  • Disruption of drug metabolism (including oral contraceptives)
  • Pancreas and gallbladder events
  • Dental issues (‘Ozempic teeth’ due to reduced saliva production and enamel erosion)
  • Potential retinal problems (‘Ozempic eyes’)

Athletes using these drugs without clinical oversight risk malabsorption of essential nutrients, unintended pregnancies, or dangerous interactions with other medications.

Implications for Athletes

Our guests were clear: there are legitimate uses in sport for example, in female athletes managing PCOS or endometriosis under medical guidance.

But there are major concerns about unregulated, unsupervised use:

  • Appetite suppression can drive athletes into low energy availability (LEA) and RED-S
  • Loss of lean muscle mass (sarcopenia) risks performance and injury
  • Under-fuelling impairs recovery, immune health, and even bone density
  • Athletes may see subtle red flags like increased resting heart rate, reduced HRV, and declining power output in training

These risks are compounded by secrecy: many athletes won’t tell coaches or medical staff if they’re using these drugs, especially if sourced unofficially.

Ethical and Regulatory Questions

Currently, semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) is on WADA’s monitoring list, but not banned. Past drugs in the class were removed from monitoring.

But with rising use for potential performance advantages (like appetite suppression in weight-class sports), there’s debate about whether these drugs violate the spirit of sport or pose health risks warranting a ban.

The panel agreed: it’s essential that coaches, medical teams and athletes themselves educate themselves about GLP-1 drugs and have open, non-judgemental conversations.

Final Thoughts

If you’re an athlete (or support one), and you’re considering a GLP-1 medication, the takeaway is clear:

✅ Know why you’re taking it
✅ Discuss with qualified medical professionals
✅ Create a plan for nutrition, training, recovery and monitoring
✅ Be honest with your team

These drugs can be transformative for the right patients – but they’re no quick fix. And the risks, especially in sport, are real.

For more, listen to the full conversation on the Women’s Football Hub Podcast.


#WomensFootballHub #FemaleAthleteHealth #GLP1 #Ozempic #Wegovy #Mounjaro #SportsPharmacy #REDs #LowEnergyAvailability #WomenInSport

This blog was created with assistance from ChatGPT and then checked and edited by the Women’s Football Hub Podcast team.

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