GLP-1 medications have moved from a niche conversation to one of the most searched topics in functional health, and for many practitioners the questions are piling up faster than clear answers. In this episode, host Michelle Scarlet sits down with FDN Practitioner Brandy Buskow for a candid look at what these medications actually do, where the real risks lie, and how health coaches can serve clients responsibly in a space crowded with misinformation and financial incentives that do not always point toward genuine care.

Brandy brings something rare to this conversation: lived experience. After decades of struggling with her weight, managing celiac disease and Hashimoto’s, and doing every piece of the FDN work she could, she eventually reached a point where her blood pressure, fasting insulin, and sleep apnea all signaled that something more was needed. Her decision to start a GLP-1 medication was not impulsive. It was hard-won, research-backed, and ultimately part of a broader commitment to being present for her children in a way her own parents could not be for her.

The conversation covers the physiology behind GLP-1 signaling, the real dangers of gray-market peptides, the scope-of-practice lines that far too many coaches are currently crossing, and why the mental and emotional dimensions of obesity medicine deserve as much attention as the clinical ones. Practitioners who work in women’s health, metabolic health, or weight management will find this episode particularly grounding.

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In this episode

• GLP-1 hormones are produced naturally in the gut, but their half-life is only minutes. Compromised gut function, which is extremely common in the clients practitioners see, can impair that signaling, which helps explain why exogenous GLP-1 medications are producing meaningful results for so many people.
• The gray and black markets for compounded GLP-1 peptides have grown substantially since the original manufacturer shortage. Vials from unverified sources may contain incorrect dosages or entirely different substances, making sourcing a serious safety issue practitioners should be prepared to discuss.
• Determining whether a client should start, stop, or adjust the dose of a GLP-1 is entirely outside the scope of an unlicensed health coach or FDN Practitioner. Guiding a client on lifestyle, nutrition, sleep, and stress while working alongside the prescribing physician is where practitioners can genuinely add value.
• FDN Practitioners are well positioned to help clients use a GLP-1 period as a window to build lasting habits, including movement that preserves muscle, consistent nutrition, quality sleep, and the mental and emotional work around body image and the relationship with food.
• The growing number of influencers and MLM-driven coaches promoting GLP-1 products or advising on dosing represents both an ethical concern and a real legal liability. Overreach by unlicensed practitioners risks prompting regulatory responses that could restrict access for clients who genuinely need these medications.
• The mental and emotional dimension of long-term obesity is one of the most underaddressed pieces of GLP-1 support. When the constant mental noise around food quiets down on the medication, it creates space for therapy and deeper personal work that can make the difference between short-term results and lasting change.
• Using GLP-1 medications responsibly means treating them as one tool within a broader health strategy, not as a replacement for the lifestyle principles at the core of functional health practice.

About Brandy Buskow

Brandy Buskow is an FDN Practitioner based in Canada who works with clients on metabolic health and weight management. Drawing on her own experience navigating celiac disease, Hashimoto’s, and long-term struggles with obesity, she brings a practitioner’s clinical grounding and genuine personal perspective to the conversation around GLP-1 medications. Brandy has been using a GLP-1 herself since 2024 and is an educator at FDN’s GLP-1 Practitioner Week event, where she presents real case studies and practical guidance for coaches working with clients who are using or considering these medications.

Resources

For the tools, labs, and training mentioned on the show, visit the FDN resources page: fdntraining.com/resources.