When Should You Increase or Decrease Your GLP-1 Dose? (Doctor Explains)

#GLP1 #Tirzepatide #Semaglutide #WeightLoss #ObesityMedicine Should you increase your GLP-1 dose — or actually decrease it? Before you touch that pen, run through the 7 checks I use with my own patients (and on myself) to decide whether it's time to go up, hold steady, or come down. This isn't about chasing the highest dose on the label — it's about finding the dose you can tolerate and sustain for the long run. I'm Dr. Mohammed Paika — internal medicine physician, board-certified in obesity medicine, and a GLP-1 user myself. In this video I walk through dose duration, your real weight trend, hunger and food noise, tolerability, plateaus vs. real stalls, the rest of your system (protein, sleep, training), and your actual goals — with real hospitalist cases on what happens when dosing goes wrong. 🎓 Complete GLP-1 Weight Loss Masterclass — Lifetime Access Comprehensive education on GLP-1 medications, nutrition, exercise, muscle preservation, side effects & long-term success. Includes the companion eBook, quizzes, 12-week exercise program, certificate & future course updates at no additional cost. https://www.drmohammedpaika.com 📩 FREE GLP-1 Diet Cookbook + Weekly Newsletter Get weekly evidence-based insights on GLP-1s, metabolic health, nutrition, exercise & longevity. https://www.drmohammedpaika.com/newsletter 📚 The Weight Equation & The Physician’s Physique Physician-written, evidence-based guides to obesity, weight loss, nutrition, metabolism, exercise, body composition & healthier living. https://www.drmohammedpaika.com/books 👥 Metabolic Health Community https://www.skool.com/metabolic-health-community-5316 👨‍⚕️ ABOUT DR. MOHAMMED K. PAIKA Board-Certified in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine Certified Personal Trainer & Nutrition Coach Helping people understand metabolism, hormones, and sustainable health through evidence-based medicine. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Intro: should you change your GLP-1 dose? 2:12 – How long have you been at this dose? 4:00 – What does your real weight trend say? 6:36 – Free GLP-1 Diet Cookbook 7:13 – What's happening with your hunger? 9:05 – How well are you tolerating this dose? 11:17 – The GLP-1 Masterclass 11:58 – Are you really at a plateau? 13:23 – What else changed in your system? 14:55 – What are you actually trying to achieve? 16:45 – Physician safety reminder 17:34 – What's next References Zepbound (tirzepatide) injection, for subcutaneous use. Highlights of Prescribing Information. Eli Lilly and Company. pi.lilly.com/us/zepbound-uspi.pdf; U.S. Food and Drug Administration label, accessdata.fda.gov. Jastreboff AM, Aronne LJ, Ahmad NN, et al. Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity (SURMOUNT-1). N Engl J Med. 2022;387:205-216. Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, et al. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2021;384:989-1002. Look M, Dunn JP, Kushner RF, et al. Body composition changes during weight reduction with tirzepatide in the SURMOUNT-1 study of adults with obesity or overweight. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2025. PMID: 39996356. Monami M, Nreu B, Scatena A, et al. Safety issues with GLP-1 receptor agonists (pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer and cholelithiasis): data from randomized controlled trials. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2017;19(9):1233-1241. Leibel RL, Rosenbaum M, Hirsch J. Changes in energy expenditure resulting from altered body weight. N Engl J Med. 1995;332:621-628. Hall KD. Predicting metabolic adaptation, body weight change, and energy intake in humans. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2014;2:395-406. Longland TM, Oikawa SY, Mitchell CJ, et al. Higher compared with lower dietary protein during an energy deficit combined with intense exercise promotes greater lean mass gain and fat mass loss. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016;103:738-746. Morton RW, Murphy KT, McKellar SR, et al. A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of the effect of protein supplementation on resistance training-induced gains in muscle mass and strength. Br J Sports Med. 2018;52:376-384. Mozaffarian D, Agarwal M, Aggarwal M, et al. Nutritional priorities to support GLP-1 therapy for obesity. Am J Clin Nutr. 2025;122:344-367. Garvey WT, Mechanick JI, Brett EM, et al. AACE/ACE comprehensive clinical practice guidelines for medical care of patients with obesity. Endocr Pract. 2016;22(Suppl 3):1-203. ⚕️ MEDICAL & EDUCATIONAL DISCLAIMER: This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice or a substitute for care from your healthcare provider. Viewing this content does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, diet, exercise, or weight-loss plan. Individual results and risks vary. You assume responsibility for decisions made based on this content.