Wegovy vs Olive Oil – The Truth About GLP-1: Similar or Not? - QuickShorts

 

Wegovy vs Olive Oil – The Truth About GLP-1: Similar or Not?

“I heard olive oil works like Wegovy. Is that true?”

Lately, I’ve been hearing this question a lot.
Maybe you’ve heard it too?

Today, we’re going to dive into the GLP-1 connection between Wegovy (semaglutide) and olive oil — and do it in a fun, easy-to-read way.
I’ll share expert insights, scientific facts, and practical tips along the way.

1. First things first: What is Wegovy?

Wegovy is a GLP-1 receptor agonist medication.
GLP-1 (Glucagon-like peptide-1) is a hormone naturally released in your gut that:

• Boosts insulin secretion → lowers blood sugar

• Slows down stomach emptying → keeps you feeling full longer

• Sends a “Stop eating!” signal to your brain → reduces appetite

Think of GLP-1 as your body’s “diet messenger.”
The problem is, this messenger normally only pops in for a short visit.

Wegovy basically hires this messenger full-time.
So instead of working part-time after meals, it’s on duty all day — and even all week.

  "Doctor personally testing the effects of olive oil"

2. Where does olive oil come into the picture?

The main fat in olive oil is oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid.
Some research shows oleic acid can stimulate certain gut cells (L-cells) to produce a bit more GLP-1.
On top of that, olive oil contains polyphenols that can improve gut microbiota, creating an environment where GLP-1 production works more smoothly.

Here’s the catch:

• Wegovy: Directly binds to GLP-1 receptors → strong, long-lasting effects

• Olive oil: Gently nudges your gut to make a little more GLP-1 → short-lived and mild

If Wegovy is a high-speed bullet train, olive oil is more like a local bus.
They’re headed in the same direction, but the speed, route, and efficiency are very different.

3. The research 📊

In a 2017 Spanish study, healthy adults were given the same meals, but:

• Group 1: Meals with olive oil

• Group 2: Meals with butter

Results? The olive oil group had 25% higher post-meal GLP-1 levels and reported feeling 18% fuller on average.
The effect lasted about 2–3 hours after eating.

That’s still tiny compared to Wegovy’s effects — 4–7x higher GLP-1 levels lasting up to a week — but in daily life, small differences like this can add up.

4. Expert opinion

When I asked an endocrinology professor at Seoul National University Hospital whether olive oil could replace Wegovy, the answer was clear:

“You can’t directly substitute one for the other. The strength and duration of effects between medication and food aren’t comparable.
However, including olive oil in a Mediterranean-style diet can have positive effects on metabolic health and weight control over time.”

Translation: Olive oil is a supporting actor, not the main star.

5. Fun analogy

• Wegovy: A personal trainer who works you out every single day

• Olive oil: A friend who says, “Hey, let’s take the stairs today”

• GLP-1: The appetite “brake pedal” in your brain

6. How to use olive oil in daily life

1. Salad dressing – olive oil + balsamic vinegar

2. Morning bread – dip in extra virgin olive oil instead of butter

3. Snack swap – cherry tomatoes or roasted veggies drizzled with olive oil

4. Korean twist – use olive oil instead of sesame oil when seasoning veggies

💡 Tip: 1–2 tablespoons a day is enough.
One tablespoon has about 120 calories — so don’t overdo it thinking “more is better.”

7. Final takeaway

• Olive oil can mildly boost GLP-1 levels — that’s true

• But it’s nowhere near Wegovy in strength or duration

• As part of a healthy diet, it can still help with weight management and blood sugar control

• “Natural Wegovy” is an exaggeration — better to think of it as “your healthy kitchen sidekick”

💭 Something to think about

The real conversation isn’t just “medicine or food.”
Whether or not you use Wegovy, your dietary fat quality can significantly affect your gut hormone environment — and that’s worth paying attention to.