Beyond Weight Loss: How GLP-1 Agonists Influence Gut Bioenergetics and the Host Capacity Model — Introduction

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have become widely used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, with substantial attention to their effects on weight and glycemic control. Emerging research suggests that the influence of these compounds extends beyond their well-known metabolic effects, into gut epithelial energy metabolism, mitochondrial function, and microbial ecology. This article reviews what the current literature suggests about how GLP-1 agonists intersect with colonocyte bioenergetics, the gut microbiome, and the framework we use at BiomeLogic to interpret complex chronic patterns.