(Untitled)
The Hidden Cost of the Wild Wild West of Wellness
When You Thought Losing Weight Would Improve Your Health… But Ended Up Paying for So Much More
By Jennifer Munksgard, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Owner & Provider | To Your Health and Wellness, LLC
Y’all. Apparently, Jen’s on a roll today. 🤠😂
And if you thought Part One of The Wild Wild West of Wellness was going to be the end of my soapbox, well… you clearly don’t know me very well.
Because there’s another side to this wellness craze that we REALLY need to talk about.
THE HIDDEN COST OF GETTING “HEALTHY.”
You started this journey because you wanted to improve your health.
Lose weight.
Improve your blood sugar.
Lower your blood pressure.
Feel better.
Maybe even reduce the number of medications you’re taking.
Those are GREAT goals.
But somewhere along the way, you started collecting products.
A weight loss injection.
A supplement for cortisol.
Something for gut health.
A peptide for recovery.
A vitamin blend for energy.
Something to balance hormones.
And, of course, something promising younger-looking skin because WHY NOT? 😂
Before you know it, you’re spending hundreds of dollars a month trying to become the healthiest version of yourself.
But here’s my question:
WHO IS MAKING SURE ALL THOSE THINGS ACTUALLY BELONG TOGETHER?
And what happens when something goes wrong?
The $200 Wellness Shortcut That Could Become a $2,000 Problem
Now, before somebody starts typing an angry comment, those numbers are examples—not average medical costs.
I’m not suggesting every supplement or medication causes complications.
And I’m certainly not suggesting medically appropriate weight loss is bad for your health.
In fact, improving metabolic health can reduce the risk of serious chronic conditions.
But here’s what happens when someone develops concerning symptoms or abnormal findings.
Suddenly, we may need:
- An office visit to evaluate what’s going on.
- Blood work to check liver enzymes, kidney function, electrolytes, or other clinically relevant markers.
- An abdominal ultrasound or additional imaging.
- Follow-up laboratory testing.
- A gastroenterology, endocrinology, or other specialist consultation.
- Emergency evaluation or hospitalization if symptoms are severe.
And depending on your insurance, deductible, and circumstances, those bills can add up FAST.
Now, not every abnormal test is caused by a medication or supplement.
And not every imaging finding represents a serious problem.
But when a product contributes to a complication, the cost of managing that complication can be much greater than the price of the product itself.
And sometimes the person who sold you the product isn’t the person evaluating the consequences.
The Research Is Giving Us Some Reasons to Pay Attention.
This isn’t just healthcare professionals complaining about what we’re seeing in our offices.
There is actual research documenting adverse events and healthcare utilization associated with GLP-1 medications and dietary supplements.
A study published in Annals of Internal Medicine in 2025 estimated approximately 24,499 U.S. emergency department visits attributed by clinicians to semaglutide adverse events during 2022–2023.
Approximately 83% occurred in 2023.
Many involved gastrointestinal symptoms.
Now, let’s put that into perspective.
GLP-1 prescribing increased substantially during this period.
So an increase in emergency visits does NOT automatically mean the medications became more dangerous for each individual patient.
But it DOES mean there are real adverse events that require medical evaluation.
Another national study published in 2026 reported an approximately 806% increase in the rate of semaglutide exposure reports to U.S. poison centers between 2021 and 2024.
Again, that’s an increase in exposure reports—not an 806% increase in your personal risk of experiencing harm.
And this isn’t just about injections.
A national study published in The New England Journal of Medicine estimated approximately 23,000 emergency department visits annually associated with dietary supplement adverse events, based on data collected from 2004–2013.
Those supplement numbers are historical, not a current estimate.
But they reinforce something I’ve been saying:
JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN BUY IT WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION DOESN’T MEAN IT CAN’T SEND YOU TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
And no, I haven’t found reliable national data proving that abdominal ultrasound orders or abnormal liver tests specifically caused by these products have increased over the last few years.
I’m not going to pretend the research says something it doesn’t.
But I can tell you that evaluating symptoms, medication interactions, and abnormal laboratory findings is a very real part of healthcare.
Let’s Talk About Your Liver for a Minute.
Your liver does a LOT of work.
It helps process many medications and other substances that enter your body.
Certain medications, herbal products, and dietary supplements can cause liver injury in susceptible individuals.
And some products sold online may contain ingredients that aren’t accurately represented on their labels.
But here’s where medical judgment matters.
An elevated liver enzyme doesn’t automatically mean your supplement caused it.
Fatty liver disease, viral infections, alcohol use, metabolic conditions, medications, and numerous other issues can affect liver function.
And an abnormality found on imaging may have nothing to do with the product you’re taking.
We have to investigate, not assume.
But imagine trying to figure out why someone’s liver enzymes are elevated when we don’t even know they’re taking three supplements, a peptide, and a weight loss injection purchased online.
Which brings me to another problem.
The Medication or Supplement You Didn’t Tell Me About Might Be the Missing Piece.
Y’all, we need to talk about HONESTY.
Not because I think patients are intentionally trying to deceive their healthcare providers.
But because patients don’t always tell us everything they’re taking.
Sometimes it’s a supplement.
Sometimes it’s an herbal product.
Sometimes it’s a weight loss injection from another provider.
Sometimes it’s a peptide purchased online.
And sometimes it’s something they’ve been taking for MONTHS that never made it onto their medication list.
Why?
Some people don’t think supplements count as medications.
Some assume that because something is natural, it doesn’t need to be mentioned.
Some don’t realize a product could interact with their prescriptions.
And some are afraid their healthcare provider is going to JUDGE them.
And THAT last one? We need to talk about it.
Because the Research Shows Patients Aren’t Always Telling Us.
A 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis found that the pooled disclosure rate for biologically based complementary medicine use was approximately 33%.
In other words, roughly two-thirds of users across the pooled studies weren’t disclosing those therapies to their medical providers.
Now, that research concerns complementary therapies and supplements—not specifically GLP-1 injections or peptides.
But the communication problem is important.
Some patients didn’t think the information was relevant.
Some said their provider never asked.
Others feared disapproval or believed their healthcare provider wouldn’t understand.
Think about that for a minute.
We’re trying to make medical decisions based on someone’s history, symptoms, medications, and laboratory results.
But we may not even know everything they’re putting into their body.
HOW CAN WE LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE WHEN WE’RE MISSING HALF THE PUZZLE PIECES?
Healthcare Providers, We Have Some Responsibility Here Too.
I’m going to say something that might make a few of my colleagues uncomfortable.
Sometimes WE are part of the reason patients don’t tell us things.
Healthcare professionals are human.
We have opinions. We have biases. We have limited time.
And yes, sometimes patients feel judged when they tell us about their weight, eating habits, alcohol use, supplement use, or decisions to purchase treatments outside traditional healthcare.
Maybe they’ve been dismissed before.
Maybe someone made them feel embarrassed.
Maybe they’re afraid we’re going to lecture them.
Or maybe they’ve simply never been asked.
If we want honest answers, we have to create an environment where patients feel safe giving them.
That doesn’t mean we have to agree with every decision.
It doesn’t mean we have to recommend every supplement, peptide, or medication someone wants to try.
And it certainly doesn’t mean we ignore safety concerns.
It means we can have difficult conversations without making patients feel ashamed for being honest.
Here’s What I Want My Patients to Know.
If you’re taking something I didn’t prescribe, TELL ME.
If you ordered a peptide online, TELL ME.
If you’re taking six supplements because somebody on TikTok said you needed them, TELL ME.
If you’re using a weight loss injection from another provider, TELL ME.
If you’ve changed your eating habits, started a restrictive diet, or stopped taking a medication, TELL ME.
I’m not asking because I want to control every decision you make.
I’m asking because I need accurate information to help you make safe, informed decisions.
And sometimes the information you think is completely unrelated to your symptoms is exactly what helps us figure out what’s going on.
You should never feel like you have to hide part of your health journey from the person helping manage your healthcare.
And as providers, we need to remember:
WE CANNOT EXPECT COMPLETE HONESTY FROM PATIENTS IF WE PUNISH THEM FOR TELLING US THE TRUTH.
That’s not abandoning clinical standards.
That’s combining clinical standards with compassion, communication, and respect.
Because whole-person healthcare requires the WHOLE story.
What About the Diet You Never Changed?
Here’s another uncomfortable truth.
A weight loss medication may help control appetite, improve glucose regulation, or support meaningful weight loss.
But it doesn’t automatically teach you how to nourish your body.
And simply eating less doesn’t necessarily mean you’re eating BETTER.
If you’re eating significantly less but not prioritizing adequate nutrition, protein, resistance training, hydration, and sustainable habits, you may not be supporting the long-term health you’re trying to achieve.
Some patients may develop inadequate protein intake, nutritional deficiencies, dehydration, constipation, or loss of lean mass.
These outcomes aren’t inevitable.
And they’re not unique to medication-assisted weight loss.
But they illustrate why comprehensive weight management involves more than suppressing appetite.
THE GOAL ISN’T SIMPLY TO EAT LESS. IT’S TO SUPPORT YOUR BODY BETTER.
Because losing weight while neglecting your nutrition, strength, and overall health isn’t the finish line we’re aiming for.
Who Gets the Medical Bill After Somebody Else Gets the Sale?
And here we are again.
The part nobody really wants to talk about.
A company sells the product.
An influencer earns a commission.
An online program processes the payment.
And then a patient develops concerning symptoms.
Who evaluates them?
Often, it’s their primary care provider, urgent care clinician, emergency department, or specialist.
We’re reviewing unfamiliar products, researching ingredients, evaluating interactions, ordering tests, and trying to understand what happened.
Sometimes patients expect that review to happen through a quick message or phone call.
And listen, we WANT patients to ask questions.
But comprehensive medication and supplement review is clinical work.
It takes time.
It takes education.
It takes professional judgment.
And sometimes it requires additional visits, testing, or coordination with specialists.
THE PERSON WHO SOLD YOU THE PRODUCT MAY NOT BE THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THE MEDICAL CONSEQUENCES.
That’s not an accusation against every online wellness company.
It’s a reason to ask questions BEFORE purchasing.
Who is responsible for monitoring you?
Who can you call when something goes wrong?
Who is reviewing your other medications?
Who is evaluating your medical history?
And who’s willing to tell you that you don’t need the product in the first place?
Because that’s an important question.
Stop Buying Individual Cogs for a Wheel Nobody Is Maintaining.
Remember my wellness wheel analogy from Part One?
Your health is not a collection of completely independent parts.
Your cardiovascular health affects your metabolic health.
Your nutrition affects your energy, strength, and recovery.
Your medications may affect your appetite, digestion, blood pressure, and glucose.
Your sleep, physical activity, stress, and medical conditions influence one another.
But wellness marketing often presents products as though each issue can be fixed independently.
A supplement for this.
An injection for that.
A hormone protocol for something else.
And before long, you’ve got an entire wellness wheel held together with duct tape.
MAYBE INSTEAD OF BUYING ANOTHER COG, WE NEED SOMEONE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE WHEEL.
That’s where comprehensive primary care matters.
Your primary care provider can help review your medications, evaluate symptoms, coordinate specialty care, and develop a plan that makes sense for YOU.
Specialists remain essential when their expertise is needed.
But somebody needs to help connect the dots.
Prevention Isn’t Always About Adding Something.
Sometimes it’s about taking something away.
An unnecessary supplement.
A duplicate medication.
An unapproved peptide.
A product that may be interacting with another treatment.
Or a wellness routine that’s costing you a fortune without providing meaningful benefit.
And sometimes prevention means recognizing a concerning symptom early enough to investigate it appropriately.
That’s why I don’t believe the measure of successful healthcare is how many products someone is taking.
It’s whether their health is actually improving.
And yes, I own a healthcare business.
Yes, I make money providing services.
I don’t work for free, y’all. 😂
But my responsibility is to recommend appropriate care, even when that means telling someone NOT to purchase something.
MORE PRODUCTS DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY EQUAL MORE HEALTH.
The Most Expensive Wellness Plan May Be the One Without a Plan.
I want people to lose weight safely when it’s medically appropriate.
I want them to improve their blood pressure, blood sugar, strength, mobility, and quality of life.
I want them to feel confident and energized.
But I also want them to understand what they’re putting into their bodies and WHY.
Because there’s a difference between investing in your health and simply purchasing the promise of health.
And that brings me to something I’ve been saying over and over again:
WEIGHT LOSS IS NOT THE FINISH LINE.
Learning how to maintain your progress, support your metabolism, preserve muscle, and build sustainable habits matters just as much.
That’s why I’ve created The Maintenance Blueprint, an educational course launching soon.
Not another miracle product.
Not another injection.
Education and practical strategies designed to support long-term weight maintenance and healthier habits.
Because the goal isn’t to keep chasing the next solution.
It’s to build a foundation that lasts.
One Last Reminder.
I don’t want you afraid of medications.
I don’t want you afraid of supplements.
And I certainly don’t want you afraid to seek help for weight management.
I want you to be an INFORMED consumer of healthcare.
Ask questions.
Know what you’re taking.
Understand the risks and benefits.
Tell your primary care provider about ALL your medications, supplements, herbs, peptides, and treatments.
And please don’t mistake an online sales pitch for comprehensive medical care.
THE CHEAPEST SHORTCUT ISN’T ALWAYS THE LEAST EXPENSIVE PATH.
And the most expensive wellness program isn’t necessarily the one providing the best healthcare.
As I always say:
WE AREN’T DOING THIS TO FIT YOU IN A SMALLER CASKET.
We’re doing this so you can live a longer, healthier, better life.
Let’s stop duct-taping the wellness wheel and start looking at the WHOLE person.
— Jen
Jennifer Munksgard, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Owner & Provider
To Your Health and Wellness, LLC
Affordable and accessible primary care and SO much more.
www.toyourhealthandwellness.com
352-363-1034
Research and resources
- Lovegrove MC, et al. US Emergency Department Visits Clinicians Attributed to Semaglutide Adverse Events, 2022–2023. Annals of Internal Medicine, 2025.
- National Poison Center Trends in GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Exposures Following FDA Approval for Weight Loss. Journal of Medical Toxicology, 2026.
- Geller AI, et al. Emergency Department Visits for Adverse Events Related to Dietary Supplements. New England Journal of Medicine, 2015.
- Disclosure of Complementary Medicine Use to Medical Providers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Scientific Reports, 2019.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA’s Concerns with Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs Used for Weight Loss.
Educational disclaimer: This article provides general health information and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Adverse-event reports and emergency-visit estimates do not establish that every event was caused by a medication or supplement. Discuss medications, supplements, herbs, and investigational products with your healthcare professional. Do not discontinue prescribed treatments without appropriate medical guidance. Severe or persistent symptoms require prompt medical evaluation.
