Prescribed medications like Ozempic and Wegovy can be expensive and hard to find, leading to a rise in popularity of natural weight-loss alternatives — but do they really work, and are they safe? NBC’s Emilie Ikeda reports and gastroenterologist Dr.

Research has shown there are plenty of perks of using a medication like Ozempic for weight loss. But, given that this is a drug, there are some potential downsides to consider, too. New research published in JAMA Network Open links GLP-1 receptor agonists—a class of medications that includes semaglutide medications like Ozempic and Wegovy—to a loss of bone density.

Kourtney Kardashian’s new “GLP-1 Daily” pill is the latest product to capitalize on the weight loss drug craze.

Natural supplements have “very mild effects” on weight loss based on what Dr. Ali has seen. There is some data to suggest that saffron, green tea, or turmeric can have a slight impact on GLP-1 production, he says, but again, it's not a ton.