Weight-loss drug users turn to dietary supplements, doctors, regulators raise flags

GLP-1 drugs such as Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy are driving major weight-loss use, but some users are turning to dietary supplements to manage side effects. An ER nurse in Fort Pierce, Florida, described intense gastrointestinal issues, brittle nails, and weakness after starting GLP-1s, then said symptoms improved after she began a monthly supplement mix costing $200 to $300. With social media helping fuel demand, regulators and doctors are raising flags because supplements don’t require FDA preapproval, making scientific credibility harder to assess. U.S. supplement sales surpassed $74 billion in 2025, while TikTok Shop generated more than $1 billion in supplement sales that year. The report cites calls for new rules around online marketing claims.