Even if there are zero effects other than the advertised weight reduction, one downside is obvious from the comments here - some people will stop exercising.

While exercise has many positive effects, which I'd argue are more important than the weight loss, the latter is the primary reason many people exercise and likely to stop when given the weight loss by other means.

> one downside is obvious from the comments here - some people will stop exercising.

Is there any source on this? The precise opposite has happened in my experience. I was an early evangelist for these drugs, and have many dozens of people who I talk to regularly who have since taken them over the years. I cannot think of a single person who went from regular exercise to reducing or eliminating it after taking the drug. Exactly zero.

I can think of well over a dozen folks who started regular exercise for the first time in their lives after losing 50 or more pounds.

Certainly many who did not change their habits either way. But overall this matches with what the trainers in my gym report. They were initially worried GLP-1s would reduce their client base, but the exact opposite has happened for them. It's brought an entirely new demographic into play and business is booming.

> which I'd argue are more important than the weight loss,

You would be making an argument contrary to most established science on the topic. Exercise is important and quite beneficial to health. Obesity is far worse. Not many obese people working out regularly to start with though, so I don't think this point holds much water to begin with. We are not a nation full of obese gym rats.

We should stop telling people that exercise is a primary driver of weight loss.

That said, exercise has a direct impact on metabolic health which is pretty necessary to maintain a healthy weight.

Most people are achieving weight loss by dietary changes. It takes a massive amount of exercise to significantly alter your calorie balance. Definitely good for you either way but most people who exercise also want to be toned or muscular.