Pancreatitis, anxiety among reported concerns with GLP-1 drugs
Protein, fat and fiber combo said to boost natural GLP-1 secretion
![A meal of eggs drizzled with olive oil, served with tomatoes and lettuce [Getty Images Bank]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/09/29/news-p.v1.20260928.412830adea5e4d8bb561e39e2cfd0077_P1.jpg)
As concerns mount over the side effects of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) drugs, so-called "natural Wegovy" diets are drawing renewed attention for their promise of appetite control without the risks associated with medication.
A recent post on an online community forum describing a hospitalization for acute pancreatitis following Mounjaro injections drew widespread attention — though such cases are not new. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, seven pancreatitis adverse events were reported between last August and March involving tirzepatide and semaglutide, the active ingredients in GLP-1 class drugs.
However, the ministry said a causal link between the drug and the adverse events has not been established in any of the cases, noting that acute pancreatitis has many possible causes and that assessing causality in individual cases is difficult.
A domestic study examining gastrointestinal and mental health side effects of GLP-1 treatments has also recently been published. The findings come from a joint research team at Sungkyunkwan University's College of Pharmacy and Ajou University's School of Medicine, whose work appeared in the latest issue of the international journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
The study analyzed data from 9,310 people who used GLP-1 drugs for weight loss and 90,602 non-users. Drug users were twice as likely to receive a mental health diagnosis — including depression and anxiety disorders — compared with non-users. The risk of pancreatic and biliary diseases was 1.3 times higher among users, while the combined risk of pancreatitis, cholangitis and gallstones was 1.4 times higher.
As the side-effect debate intensifies, interest in "natural Wegovy" diets has grown. The approach aims to stimulate GLP-1 secretion through food rather than medication, relying on a combination of protein, healthy fats and dietary fiber.
Endocrinologist Woo Chang-yun, who introduced the "natural Wegovy" recipe on a recent KBS entertainment program, said that "eating the right nutrients in the right amounts helps the body produce natural hormones — and those nutrients are protein and healthy fats." He explained that these nutrients stimulate GLP-1 secretion more effectively than refined carbohydrates, helping to stabilize blood sugar and regulate appetite.
His recommended meal is eggs cooked in olive oil and seasoned with black pepper. Adding dietary fiber to the plate, he said, amplifies the effect further.
"Eating high-fiber foods like chia seeds and kale alongside protein produces greater satiety than protein alone, and also reduces cravings for snacks," Woo said.
He went on to say that people should focus not on losing weight but on building a body that does not gain it easily. "When the quality of what you eat improves, the quantity takes care of itself," he advised.
Beyond meal composition, the order in which food is eaten also influences GLP-1 secretion. The recommended sequence is fiber first, then protein, and carbohydrates last.
According to nutritionists, when fiber and protein reach the stomach first, the intestines release GLP-1 — a signal telling the body to slow down digestion and that it is time to stop eating. In response, the stomach partially closes its outlet, preventing carbohydrates such as rice, bread and noodles eaten later from flooding the intestines all at once.
At the same time, the brain receives the GLP-1 signal and registers a sense of fullness, allowing a person to eat fewer carbohydrates and preventing a sharp post-meal blood sugar spike. The brain, stomach and intestines thus work together through hormonal signals to maintain satiety and regulate blood sugar after meals.
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