Mandy Oaklander | October 09, 2026

It’s pretty easy to get a GLP-1 weight-loss drug online, without ever seeing a health care provider face to face. But that convenience can come with big trade-offs.

“I’m actually a little appalled that we’re very comfortable injecting ourselves with these substances,” one expert told my colleague, Alana Semuels, in her recent story for TIME about compounding pharmacies.

Alana explains why some experts have safety concerns about compounded GLP-1 drugs, which some telehealth sites prescribe through partner pharmacies. She shares more from her eye-opening story, below.

TODAY’S TOPICS

The secret to squashing an argument
How we relaxed this week
Can you trust compounding pharmacies?
A looming health care hike

QUICK CHAT

The one question to ask in the middle of an argument

I recently interviewed a family-dynamics expert named Brook McKenzie about handling difficult conversations, and he posed a question that's been rattling around in my head ever since. —Angela Haupt, Editor, Health & Wellness

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Photo-Illustration by TIME (Source Image: years/Getty Images)

You encourage people to ask themselves one question in the middle of an argument. What is it?

Would I rather be right, or would I rather be happy? If you can ask yourself that in the moment, you can make a decision about what you actually want out of the conversation.

Why does that question make such a difference?

Because otherwise the argument can become about winning. Who's on top? Who gets the last word? You stop focusing on the actual issue and start trying to prove you're right.

What's wrong with wanting to win?

What exactly do you win? Do you get a prize? An Alaskan cruise? If you decide you'd rather be happy and free than prove your point, you're much more likely to navigate the conversation effectively.

Does that mean letting people say whatever they want?

No. Get curious, but don't be a doormat. You can still establish boundaries and ask for clarity without turning every disagreement into a competition.

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HOW WE RELAX

Easing back into yoga

Pablo Jeffs Munizaga - Fototrekking—Getty Images

Yoga unquestionably has health benefits, but I find it hard to persuade myself to do it. One problem: I wear an Apple Watch and track how many calories I burn with daily exercise, and yoga does not contribute very much to my calorie goals.

But feeling creaky on a recent morning, I pulled up a 15-minute yoga routine on the Internet and followed the steps. It didn’t burn many calories, but I felt rejuvenated afterwards. The stretching and breathing aspects of the routine helped me go about my day in a much better mood. —Alana Semuels, Senior Correspondent

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TODAY I LEARNED

5 million Americans inject themselves with compounded GLP-1s

Millions of Americans are on GLP-1s for weight loss. I was surprised to find out that many of them are getting such drugs from compounding pharmacies, which are far less regulated than brand-name manufacturers.

I explored the benefits and risks of compounding pharmacies in my new story for TIME. –A.S.

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WHAT WE’RE READING

In a first for humans, an experimental therapy may have rejuvenated aging eye cells, Alice Park reports for TIME.
Your cat could be carrying a parasite nicknamed “beaver fever,” reports Allen Chang at ABC News. Here’s how to protect yourself.
It is through patient, painstaking work, driven by curiosity and pursued through personal dedication and sacrifice, that scientific advancement occurs, writes Nicholas B. Dirks for TIME.