This GLP-1 retreat changed how I think about weight loss

HILTON HEAD, SC – Sitting around a relaxed classroom with a handful of other guests at Hilton Head Health Wellness Resort & Spa in South Carolina, I never would have guessed anyone was on or considering a GLP-1 medication. But there we were, gathered for an introductory class on the increasingly popular drugs.  

Nearly 3 out of 4 Americans over age 19 are overweight, according to the National Center for Health Statistics’ National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2021 through 2023. That includes just over 40% of U.S. adults who are considered obese.  

For people who’ve struggled to lose weight, GLP-1 medications may seem like a lifeline, especially after seeing dramatic results from celebrities on drugs like Wegovy or Zepbound, which are approved for weight loss, whereas others like Ozempic and Mounjaro primarily treat diabetes.

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GLP-1 drug use has nearly quadrupled since 2024, according to Gallup’s National Health and Well-Being Index, which found that roughly 11% of U.S. adults are taking them for weight loss in 2026, up from 3% in 2024.  

But there are important factors to consider before starting the medications, while taking them and when considering discontinuation, which Hilton Head Health unpacks in a special retreat USA TODAY learned about firsthand.

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What goes on during a GLP-1 retreat? 

The all-inclusive wellness resort was primarily geared toward weight loss when it opened nearly 50 years ago. It's since evolved to embrace a more holistic approach to health, but many guests are still interested in losing weight, and some have already incorporated GLP-1 medications into their journeys, including several people in my class.

Staff neither encourage nor discourage usage, leaving medical advice to doctors. However, they do explain how the drugs work, research-backed pros and cons, and “if they're going to choose them, (how) to take them in a way that provides the best chance of long-term success,” said Bob Wright, a longtime health educator at Hilton Head Health.

During select weeks of the year, the resort holds a GLP-1 Support program that kicks off with the same introductory class I attended, but adds: 

• Individual body composition and metabolic assessment  
• Individual biomarker testing for inflammation, metabolic health and glucose regulation 
• Workshops on nutrition, strength and mindset
• Group coaching discussions and small group strength training 
• Chef-led cooking demonstrations 
• All-inclusive accommodations and gourmet dining 
• Access to the resort’s full range of facilities and programming, which ranges from guided meditation to aqua boxing and circuit training  

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What to consider about GLP-1s

Holly Toelke, fitness manager at Hilton Head Health, encourages guests to "Try different things, because what happens if you don't know that it's something you're going to potentially fall in love with?" Strength is important because muscle loss can be a side effect of GLP-1 medications, according to the Mayo Clinic. "I do feel like that's a big component of any type of weight loss is to make sure that you still continue strengthening,” Toelke said. 

Other potential side effects of the drugs include gastrointestinal issues such as stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea and constipation. When it’s hard to eat, Elizabeth Huggins, a registered dietitian, nutritionist and certified diabetes educator at Hilton Head Health told USA TODAY, “Relax a little, and you eat foods that you can tolerate.” The rest of the time, she advises concentrating on quality, whole, plant-forward foods. “Definitely getting the things that you hear all the time, like adequate protein, adequate fluid, adequate fiber."  

Learning the right way to eat and how to have a healthy relationship with food is especially important for GLP-1 users who hope to go off the medication because, as Wright explains, it suppresses appetite at the biological, hormonal level. “If you take away the hormonal control, then that hunger comes back.” Food noise or pervasive thoughts about food may return, too.

Multiple studies have shown people regaining weight after stopping GLP-1 medications. Others don’t lose any weight at all or may not lose it as quickly as desired or where they desire, notes Anne Poirier, director of Behavioral Health at Hilton Head Health. “We don't always know what the weight's going to be at the end of a week, but the thing we have control over is our behavior,” she said. Poirier tries to help GLP-1 Support participants shift their thinking away from the scale or appearance and toward “what our body does for us every single day,” a principle known as body neutrality. She also helps them craft and narrow a practical action plan for home. 

Whatever guests decide to do with GLP-1 medications, Hilton Head Health hopes to equip them with lasting tools for wellness, either way.

This story was updated to refresh headlines.

USA TODAY reporter Eve Chen was provided access by Hilton Head Health. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content. 

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: This GLP-1 retreat changed how I think about weight loss