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Patients taking weight-loss drugs often make 5 critical mistakes, doctor warns
GLP-1 drugs (glucagon-like peptide-1s) have exploded in popularity in recent years – initially as a way to control diabetes and then as tools for weight loss.
Growing research suggests that these drugs – which include semaglutide and tirzepatide – potentially have benefits beyond weight loss, with stronger evidence for cardiovascular and kidney health.
Even so, experts caution that these medications are not foolproof — and using them the wrong way can undermine results or even create new health problems.
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Dr. Meena T. Malhotra, MD, a functional medicine doctor and weight-loss specialist in a suburb of Chicago, confirmed that she has seen myriad health improvements in patients taking GLP-1s – particularly those with diabetes who were “very sick.”
“We observed that this sick population was doing better than the diabetics who were on other diabetes medicines,” she shared with Fox News Digital, noting that she observed improvements in brain health, memory, heart health, circulation, and liver and kidney function. “We realized there was more to the drug than just sugar control and weight loss.”
Malhotra said she believes many people can safely microdose GLP-1s, but she cautions against the following common mistakes.
Anyone considering GLP-1s should first focus on adopting a healthy lifestyle, Malhotra emphasized – a view widely shared by endocrinologists and obesity medicine specialists.
GLP-1 medications work by slowing gastric emptying, reducing appetite and improving insulin signaling. People with preexisting GI symptoms may be more prone to discomfort or intolerance, though responses vary, and formal evidence is limited.
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Before beginning the medication, Malhotra recommends improving basic nutritional habits, such as increasing intake of whole, minimally processed foods, and prioritizing protein and fiber to support satiety and gut health.
Even small improvements can lead to early weight loss, reduced fluid retention and improvements in insulin sensitivity, doctors agree.
Once GLP-1 medications are started, these lifestyle modifications may reduce the necessary dose amount, result in fewer side effects and help preserve lean muscle mass.
The growing trend of obtaining GLP-1 medications online without proper medical oversight can pose serious health risks, Malhotra warned.
“Nobody examines the patient – they just fill out a form and the medicine shows up at their door,” she said.
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Patients should see a medical provider for a thorough exam and blood work before starting the drugs, the doctor emphasized.
“If something is off, it needs to be addressed,” she said. “Whether it’s a thyroid issue, a heart condition or another factor slowing your metabolism, any underlying problems should be fixed first.”
During treatment, Malhotra recommends that her patients come in once a month to make sure they are losing fat and not lean muscle mass. “That’s very important, because if you lose lean mass, your body is not getting healthier,” she said.
This ongoing monitoring also helps to ensure that the patient is following a balanced diet, getting adequate protein and adhering to strength training. “There’s more to it than just giving yourself a shot,” Malhotra added.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when taking GLP-1s is cutting calories but not getting sufficient protein, according to Malhotra.
“If you are decreasing the calories but not fixing the nutritional foundation, you will lose lean mass,” the doctor said. “But if you’re eating a balanced diet with adequate protein and doing strength training with a smaller dose of the drug, you will get better results and your health will improve.”
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Most people need about 0.5 to 0.8 grams of protein per pound of body weight each day to maintain muscle and support overall health, according to medical experts. For a 200-pound person, that would equate to roughly 100 to 160 grams of protein daily.
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Higher amounts may be needed for those who are physically active or trying to build strength. “The amount of protein you need will depend on the frequency and intensity of your workouts,” Malhotra said.
Another common mistake is rushing the process and increasing GLP-1 doses too quickly in hopes of faster results, according to the doctor.
“You may start to see results within the first week or month, but some people do need a higher dose over time,” she said. “The key is to be patient and increase it gradually — typically month by month.”
If a patient doesn’t see results after the first injection, that doesn’t mean the dose should be doubled right away, according to Malhotra.
“That’s a recipe for problems, including side effects like pancreatitis,” she said. “Your body needs time to adjust and adapt.”
“You can go up if you hit a plateau or if it’s not helping, but we usually wait a month to increase the dose.”
While many expect “instant gratification,” health is about balance, Malhotra added. “It won’t take 20 years, but give it two months, I think that’s fair.”
A general rule of thumb, according to the doctor, is “don’t start too soon, don’t stop too soon.”
GLP-1 side effects can often be prevented by building a strong foundation of health and keeping everything in balance, according to Malhotra.
“That said, some people will still have side effects, and there are ways to manage them,” she said.
The doctor recommends eating smaller, more frequent meals instead of large portions — ideally about the size of your fist.
It’s also important to keep fat intake low, she advised – GLP-1 medications already slow stomach emptying and fat can slow it even further, which may worsen nausea.
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For nausea and constipation, simple strategies can go a long way, according to the doctor. Some patients find ginger helpful for nausea, she said, though it is not a substitute for medical guidance.
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Incorporating more liquids, such as shakes, soups and broths, can be easier on the stomach, she suggested. Prunes and other fiber-rich foods can help support digestion and prevent constipation.
“These little lifestyle hacks can help a lot with managing the side effects, instead of stopping and then finding that your weight is yo-yoing,” Malhotra said.
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Ex-NYPD inspector warns social media likely helped political violence ‘metastasize’ into WHCD scare
A lone gunman’s alleged attempt to storm the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday is the latest sign of a “metastasizing” wave of political violence fueled by social media, retired NYPD inspector Paul Mauro warned Sunday.
“This reminds me a bit of what it was like at the height of the [post-9/11] ‘age of terrorism’, or ‘age of counterterrorism…'” Mauro told “Fox & Friends Weekend.”
“As it began to metastasize [beyond Afghanistan]… it began to permeate the internet, and that’s the great common denominator here, is the rise of the internet, and the rise of social media specifically, has allowed this ideology to disseminate into corners where previously it would not have found so much support,” he added.
Mauro’s remarks came after authorities said 31-year-old suspect Cole Thomas Allen allegedly rushed a Secret Service checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner armed with multiple weapons.
Allen then allegedly opened fire on a Secret Service officer, who was taken to the hospital after he was shot in his ballistic vest.
Agents reportedly fired back at Allen, who was not struck. He was also taken to the hospital.
Senior federal law enforcement sources with knowledge of the investigation told Fox News that Allen told law enforcement after his arrest that he was targeting Trump administration officials.
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche did not specify which officials were Allen’s intended targets during a Sunday NBC News appearance.
Lawmakers and authorities have since condemned the suspect’s actions and have called for rhetoric to be toned down to prevent similar incidents.
“Almost any [person] these days can find some place, some niche on the internet that will support your position,” Mauro said.
“And I think once the search warrants are completed and the computers and phones are scrubbed, etc., we are almost certainly going to see that the accused here, Cole Allen, was probably imbibing that kind of ideology online, and he decided to act on it because people were telling him it’s the right thing to do.”
Similar warnings followed the 2024 assassination attempts against President Donald Trump and the Sept. 2025 assassination of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk on a Utah college campus.
Trump and all other administration officials present at Saturday’s dinner were safely ushered out of the venue.
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Kimmel calls Melania Trump an ‘expectant widow’ before White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel mocked President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump in a White House Correspondents’ Dinner parody this week, calling her “an expectant widow” and joking about her marriage, just days before the dinner was disrupted by a shooting.
“Our First Lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow,” Kimmel said in his parody of the event on Thursday.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is an annual gathering hosted by the White House Correspondents’ Association to honor journalism and fund scholarships. This year’s event, which took place on Saturday in Washington D.C., drew outsized attention because Trump attended in person for the first time while in office, though the evening was later overshadowed by violence.
Kimmel also used the parody to mock the Trumps’ relationship, portraying distance between the president and the first lady.
“Oh, by the way, Melania, this is Donald. Donald, this is Melania,” Kimmel said.
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The comedian pivoted to the first lady’s April 26 birthday and imagined how she would mark the occasion.
“She’s planning to celebrate at home the same way she always does, looking out a window and whispering, ‘What have I done?’” Kimmel said.
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Kimmel’s segment aired just days before the annual Correspondents’ Dinner was thrown into chaos when authorities said 31-year-old Cole Allen of Torrance, Calif., rushed a Secret Service checkpoint at the Washington Hilton armed with multiple weapons and opened fire on an officer.
Fox News Digital reported the officer was struck in a ballistic vest and taken to a hospital, while agents returned fire and detained Allen, who was also transported for treatment. Trump, first lady Melania Trump and senior administration officials were then rushed from the venue by Secret Service agents.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and ABC for comment but did not immediately hear back.
MLB teams have been trying out uniforms across the league labeled as the “City Connect” collection. Some are cool, some are lame and some are… the Cincinnati Reds.
Full disclosure: I am a Reds fan. It’s a painful existence, to be certain (Cincinnati hasn’t won a playoff series since 1995 when I was 6 years old). But I’m not sure that I’ve seen anything as disgusting on the field as the uniforms the Reds wore on Saturday night against the Detroit Tigers.
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Prior to the game, the Reds welcomed the team’s 2026 Reds Hall of Fame Class, including Brandon Phillips, Lou Piniella, Aaron Harang and Reggie Sanders. And then they subjected those team legends to the worst uniforms in franchise history. A history that also includes many sleeveless jerseys, by the way.
For the squeamish among us, I’d encourage you now to either shield your eyes or go read another story (preferably not that one, retention time is important for me).
Seriously, what the heck are these uniforms? The all-red is atrocious. The logo is huge and ugly. And, you might not be able to tell, but there are also faint pinstripes on the jersey, the pants and the helmet. Why? It’s as if the designer’s direction was “Hey, can you make the ugliest uniforms in Reds history?”
“Done and done.”
And just to be clear, this is the actual plan: an all-red City Connect 2.0 set with faint pinstripes and a darker red sleeve. It’s not a one-off mistake.
For the record, here’s what the Reds official website says about the uniforms:
“A perennial favorite of both Reds fans and players alike, pinstripes have been featured on various Reds uniforms throughout history. City Connect 2.0 brings back this classic element to a new generation, but in a modernized tone-on-tone style. The sleeve is a darker shade of red and the jersey’s pinstripes [are] intentionally cut off at the shoulder, a nod to the popular vest-style uniforms last worn two decades ago.”
Why in the world are they reminding people about the “vest-style” uniforms? Those were terrible too!
With all the discussions about the New York Yankees looking to finally add an alternate uniform, I think it’s time the Reds went the opposite direction. Cincinnati is the oldest franchise in MLB history. They should have simple, classic uniforms. I get it, I sound like a mid-30-year-old trapped in the mind of an 80-year-old. Fine.
Give me the classic Reds uniforms all day over this “modern” abomination.
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