Health officials warn on off-label GLP-1 microdosing as celebrities tout benefits
Doctors caution that the practice lacks robust evidence and may carry risks, even as some patients report perceived improvements.
Health officials are warning about off-label microdosing of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications used for weight loss, noting limited research into longevity or nonweight-related benefits as a growing wellness trend is promoted by celebrities and influencers. More than a dozen companies now market low-dose GLP-1 regimens—often described as anti-aging or inflammation-reducing—despite FDA and drugmakers’ warnings that these uses are not approved. Telehealth longevity programs advertise inexpensive monthly injections, raising questions about safety, dosing, and long-term effects when people use the drugs without traditional indications.
Samira Shamoon, a 45-year-old health-and-beauty publicist, says she was drawn into microdosing after a friend who isn’t heavy admitted she was trying it. “When this friend of mine, who is not heavy at all, said that she was microdosing, I was like, ‘You know what, I’m going to try it,’” Shamoon told the Daily Mail. Ten months into her experiment, she reports higher energy, improved focus, and fewer cravings for alcohol and late-night snacks, along with four pounds of weight loss. She takes about 1.5 milligrams of Mounjaro weekly—below the manufacturers’ typical starting dose of 2.5 milligrams—and says the small jab leaves her with steady benefits that she doesn’t experience from ordinary dieting.
Medical experts caution that the evidence for GLP-1s beyond their approved weight-loss use is far from settled. Dr Amanda Kahn, a Manhattan internist and longevity specialist, says she regularly prescribes very low GLP-1 doses to address inflammation, which she describes as a driving cause of aging and disease. She says some patients on GLP-1 therapy report relief from chronic pain or inflammatory conditions, and that a weekly dose can create a sense of short-term well-being while potentially offering longer-term benefits. “This is a once-a-week way that I can feel good in the short term but actually I’m doing things that could help me long term,” Shamoon said. “Frankly, everyone on the Upper East Side is doing it. Frankly, I think everyone in the world seems to be doing it.”
The trend has drawn attention from other high-profile figures. This month, reality TV producer Andy Cohen, 57, admitted that he has been microdosing GLP-1s for wellness reasons, citing hopes to lower blood pressure, reduce arterial plaque, and shed a few pounds. Health experts say the lack of robust data for such uses raises concerns about safety and the potential for unintended consequences.
Yet the pushback from medical professionals is substantial. Dr Elizabeth Sharp, an internal medicine physician who runs a holistic weight-loss clinic, warns that use outside of approved indications may entail dosing safety issues and adverse effects. “If people are getting it from providers that are not necessarily licensed or experienced with the medication, there could be issues with dosing safety and the side effects related to that,” Sharp said. She adds that taking GLP-1s for longevity benefits without a weight problem could lead to muscle loss, reduced bone density, and metabolic changes, though she notes inflammation-reducing effects are not yet conclusively proven.
Dr Mir Ali, a California-based weight-loss surgeon and fellow of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons, emphasizes that there is not strong evidence to support many of the longevity claims. “There's not a lot of evidence to support any of that,” he said, adding that diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes remain foundational strategies for health and aging. He cautions that using GLP-1s primarily for supposed longevity could divert people from proven approaches.
The discussion around microdosing has grown more complex as drug manufacturers push back. Eli Lilly, which makes Mounjaro and Zepbound, said it has no data on the benefits or risks of microdosing and warned that their injectables are intended for single use and do not contain preservatives. Novo Nordisk, maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, stated that it is deeply concerned about companies promoting and selling compounded, non-FDA-approved versions of semaglutide and about misinformation spreading to the public. The companies stress that GLP-1 medications are not approved for microdosing or longevity.
Despite the warnings, some clinicians report rising patient questions about anti-inflammatory and longevity-related effects. Dr Sharp says the broader conversation around GLP-1s can be positive if it prompts people to seek medical advice and consider safe, evidence-based approaches to weight loss and health. “I think it’s positive that people are more open to talking about taking the medication, not being shamed for it, and accepting that it can be so helpful for people to lose weight in a safe and effective way,” she said. “But on the flip side, you see famous people taking it for other reasons, and that can be a bit dangerous.”
For now, most experts say the safest course is to rely on proven methods for weight management and health optimization, including nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and stress management, while waiting for more rigorous research on GLP-1s for non-weight-related uses. As for Samira, she’s remained undeterred. “I’m willing to take my chances,” she told the Daily Mail, reflecting the broader, unresolved tension between optimism around emerging therapies and the need for robust evidence.