A couple of weeks ago I received this message from a customer...
I’ve been taking Metamucil for weeks and it barely did a thing.
I’m on my second day of No.2 and I have done the most glorious poos!
Never did I ever think I would say glorious and poo together hahaha but I’m OBSESSED and going to tell all my friends who are on GLP-1s to get some too!!!
10/10 in love
Sound familiar?
If you're on a GLP-1 medication you know about their effectiveness for weight management. What doesn't come up as often? The bowel backup that tends to come with it.
I did some research and found out that constipation is one of the most commonly reported side effects of GLP-1 medications. This made me curious - can No.2 help?
What's Actually Happening in There
GLP-1 receptor agonists work by mimicking a natural hormone that slows gastric emptying that's a big part of why you feel full for longer. But that same slowdown doesn't stop at your stomach. It reaches all the way down your digestive tract.
I found an article in the ACG Case Reports Journal that explained how a wireless motility capsule (a small pill-sized device you swallow) was used to track exactly how much these medications affect transit time. The results were pretty telling: delayed gastric emptying showed up in the vast majority of patients tested, and delayed whole-gut transit time (meaning slower movement through the small bowel and colon too, not just the stomach) affected close to half.
The knock-on effect of all that slowing down? Stool sits in the colon for longer, more water gets reabsorbed from it, and it comes out harder, drier, and more difficult to pass.
Why Fibre Matters More Than Ever Here
Because appetite is suppressed, people naturally eat less. Smaller portions, less food overall, and often less variety. Less food in means less fibre in, which means less bulk to keep things moving through an already-slowed system. It's a double whammy (not a technical term ;)). The medication slows transit, and reduced intake removes one of your best natural tools for counteracting that slowdown.
Fibre (particularly the soluble, gel-forming kind you get from psyllium husk) helps in a few ways:
- It adds bulk and softness to stool, making it easier to pass even when transit time is slower than usual
- It helps retain water in the colon, working against the drying-out effect that comes from longer transit times
- It supports a more regular rhythm, which matters even more when appetite (and therefore food volume) is naturally reduced
Fibre and hydration can be good non-drug strategies for managing GLP-1-related constipation before moving to anything stronger.
The Takeaway
If you're on a GLP-1 and noticing things have slowed down (literally), you're not imagining it, and you're not alone. It's a side effect of how these medications work. The good news is that it's also one of the more manageable ones, and getting enough fibre in one of the simplest things you can do about it. If you are struggling, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how No.2 could help you.
Please remember though - I'm not a medical professional. This article for general information only and isn't a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist, especially if constipation is severe, persistent, or accompanied by pain, vomiting, or bloating.
