Ozempic and the Brain: What GLP-1 Drugs Are Really Doing to Your Mind

The Dr. Leaf Show

Dr. Caroline Leaf

Mental Health, Health & Fitness

4.6 • 3.2K Ratings

🗓️ 20 January 2026

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications aren’t just changing bodies. They’re changing brains too. In this episode, I unpack what’s really happening beneath the surface when you take medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro. Not from a place of hype or fear-mongering, but from curiosity, neuroscience, and compassion. We talk about how GLP-1s influence hunger, motivation, emotional balance, and even your sense of self, and why so many people are surprised by the mental and emotional shifts that come along with physical weight loss. You’ll learn: How GLP-1s interact with dopamine and reward pathways in the brain Why some people experience emotional blunting, reduced motivation, or changes in desire What actually happens when you stop taking them, and why hunger returning isn’t failure, weakness, or a lack of discipline The neuroscience behind craving, self-control, and identity What hunger really does for emotional regulation and psychological resilience And just as important, this isn’t an episode telling you what you should do. Whether a GLP-1 medication is right for you is a deeply personal decision, one that only you and your doctor can make together based on your body, your health history, and your life. There is no moral hierarchy here. Using a GLP-1 is not cheating, not taking shortcuts, and not something that requires justification or shame. This conversation is about understanding what these medications do to the brain so you can make informed, self-respecting choices, whatever those choices end up being. If this message resonates with you, like, comment, subscribe, and share to help more people understand how the brain and body really connect. ⚡️If you want to go deeper, Join my annual 21-Day Brain Detox Challenge: reset your mind, break toxic thought cycles, and build real mental resilience—$50 off + a FREE surprise gift from Dr. Leaf with code WELCOME50! Register here: https://21daybraindetox.com 🌐 OFFICIAL LINKS 📘 My New Book: helpinahurrybook.com 🎓 My Course: helpinahurrycourse.com 🗞️ Newsletter: drleaf.com/newsletter 🎧 Podcast Home: https://drleaf.com/podcast 📲 Instagram: instagram.com/drcarolineleaf 🎵 TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcarolineleaf ▶️ YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@DrCarolineLeaf 💬 Join the Community: https://21daybraindetox.com/community/

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is sponsored by Better Help.
0:02.7	You know, we talk a lot about neuroplasticity and rewiring our thinking patterns on this show.
0:07.9	And one thing I've learned on both personally and professionally is that the new year doesn't require a new you, maybe just a less burdened you.
0:15.7	For years, I carried this pressure to have all the answers, to be the expert who never struggled, and that
0:21.7	weight was exhausting.
0:23.6	Therapy helped me identify where that was coming from.
0:26.9	This fear of being seen as inadequate, this perfectionism that was actually holding me
0:30.8	back from deeper connection and growth.
0:33.4	Here's what I love about therapy.
0:35.2	It offers an unbiased perspective. Someone who can help you
0:38.8	understand your relationships, your motivations, your emotions without judgment. It's like having a
0:44.0	thinking partner who helps you see the patterns you can't see on your own. If you've been
0:48.6	considering therapy, better help makes it incredibly accessible. Their therapists are fully
0:54.0	licensed and work according to a strict code of conduct.
0:57.4	You fill out a short questionnaire about your needs and preferences
1:00.1	and BetterHelp does the matching work for you.
1:02.9	They have over 12 years of experience with this,
1:05.2	and their match fulfillment rate is industry leading.
1:08.2	And if it's not the right fit, you can switch therapists any time.
1:12.0	With over 30,000 therapists and more than 5 million people served globally,
1:17.6	BetterHelp has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 based on over 1.7 million client reviews.
1:24.3	It works. Let therapy help you let go of what's holding you back.
	...

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