Beyond Weight Loss: GLP-1s, Inflammation, and Thyroid Health With McCall McPherson, PA-C
Podcast Duration : 59:34
Podcast Publish Date : 7/27/26
I am so excited to bring you this week’s guest, McCall McPherson, PA-C, a thyroid expert, functional medicine practitioner, and founder of Modern Thyroid Clinic. As a former thyroid patient who once struggled with debilitating symptoms despite being told her labs were normal, McCall brings both clinical and lived experience to a conversation many people are following closely. She is also a TEDx speaker, podcast host, and the author of Take Back Your Thyroid.
This episode is timely because the public conversation around GLP-1 medicines is often reduced to weight loss headlines, fear-based sound bites, or promises that are too broad to be useful. McCall and I take a more nuanced look at the topic. We discuss what GLP-1 receptor agonists are designed to do, why individual dose selection and follow-up matter, the guest’s clinical observations about inflammation, and the difference between an FDA-approved use and an emerging area of research.
If you have questions about metabolic health, thyroid symptoms, persistent inflammation, or how to evaluate GLP-1 information responsibly, I made this episode for you.
Important note: This episode is educational. The guest’s discussion of microdosing, inflammation, thyroid antibodies, autoimmune conditions, and other possible applications reflects clinical observations and emerging research. It is not a recommendation to start, stop, dose, or adjust a medication without a licensed clinician who knows your medical history.
What I Cover In This Episode
Why the GLP-1 Conversation Needs More Nuance
GLP-1 medicines are powerful prescription medications, not a one-size-fits-all wellness trend. The FDA has approved specific products for specific uses. For example, Wegovy, a semaglutide product, is approved for chronic weight management in certain patients and, for adults with established cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity, to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack, and stroke when used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
We start with a broader question about GLP-1s: what happens when we move beyond a scale-only conversation and consider metabolic health, symptoms, nutrition, and the quality of clinical monitoring? McCall explains why the right discussion is not simply whether a person is for or against GLP-1s. It is whether a treatment is appropriate for a particular patient, whether its risks have been screened carefully, and whether it is being monitored responsibly.
Microdosing and Inflammation: An Emerging Discussion
McCall shares clinical observations from her work with thyroid patients, including reports of changes in inflammatory markers and symptoms among some patients using low-dose approaches. She uses the term microdosing to describe doses below the lowest standard starting dose and explains why her clinic has explored gradual, individualized titration.
That distinction is important. The conversation in this episode should not be read as proof that a microdose treats Hashimoto’s, Graves’ disease, arthritis, cancer, or a neurodegenerative condition. Instead, it is an invitation to understand where clinical curiosity and research are heading. A responsible next step is to discuss your goals, current diagnoses, medications, and risk factors with a qualified prescriber rather than trying to reproduce a protocol from social media.
Why Side Effects, Nutrition, and Follow-Up Matter
One of the most practical parts of this conversation focuses on side effects. McCall explains why a patient’s experience may be affected by the starting dose, speed of dose escalation, nutrition, hydration, and whether follow-up is readily available. The FDA’s prescribing information for Wegovy includes a boxed warning and several warnings and precautions, including pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, kidney injury, diabetic retinopathy complications in people with type 2 diabetes, and other risks. Common adverse reactions include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, and abdominal pain.
The takeaway is not to ignore side effects or to assume they are inevitable. It is to take them seriously and have a clear monitoring plan with the clinician who prescribes the medication. Medication decisions should never come at the expense of adequate nutrition, strength training when appropriate, or attention to muscle preservation and overall health.
A Necessary Conversation About the Thyroid Cancer Boxed Warning
The episode also addresses the boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors. This is not a detail to minimize or skip. The FDA states that Wegovy should not be used by people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2.
McCall offers context on how the warning emerged and why she believes patients deserve a more informed discussion than a single alarming headline. The responsible message is neither blanket reassurance nor blanket fear. It is individualized screening, transparent risk-benefit conversations, and adherence to product-specific prescribing information.
What Is Established, and What Is Still Being Studied
The conversation explores possible links between GLP-1 medicines and inflammation, autoimmune conditions, cancer, cardiovascular health, and neurodegenerative disease. These are not all equivalent evidence categories. The established cardiovascular indication for Wegovy is grounded in a large randomized trial. In that trial, major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in 6.5% of participants receiving Wegovy and 8.0% of participants receiving placebo.
Other topics discussed in the episode, including autoimmune disease, cancer-related outcomes, and brain health, remain areas of active research and clinical debate. These conversations are valuable when they are framed as questions to explore, not promises of a cure or a substitute for standard medical care.
Why Medication Sourcing Is Part of Safety
McCall and I also discuss the risks of buying injectable medicines from unverified online sellers or trying to self-manage dosing. The FDA warns that unapproved versions of GLP-1 drugs do not undergo the agency’s review for safety, effectiveness, and quality before marketing. It also reports concerns about dosing errors, improper storage, fraudulent labeling, and adverse events associated with compounded and illegally marketed products.
If you are considering a GLP-1 medicine, source it through a licensed clinician and a state-licensed pharmacy. Do not rely on gray-market products, social-media dosing instructions, or an online source that cannot provide appropriate screening and follow-up.
The Practical Message From This Conversation
This episode is not about chasing a shortcut. It is about asking better questions. What is the specific goal of treatment? What are the approved uses and known risks? Which symptoms need a fuller workup? How will nutrition, movement, and muscle health be supported? Who will be available if side effects arise?
McCall’s central message is that people with chronic symptoms deserve careful listening and individualized care. My hope is that this conversation helps you approach the GLP-1 discussion with curiosity, discernment, and the support of a qualified medical professional.
About McCall McPherson
McCall McPherson, PA-C, is a thyroid expert, functional medicine practitioner, and founder of Modern Thyroid Clinic. Her professional work combines thyroid, hormone, and metabolic-health care with her experience as a former thyroid patient. She is a TEDx speaker and hosts the Modern Thyroid & Wellness podcast.
Resources Mentioned:
Pre Order Your Copy of Take Back Your Thyroid
Modern Thyroid & Wellness Podcast
Connect with Dr. Myers
Connect with McCall McPherson
TikTok: @mccallmcpherson
Instagram: @mccallmcphersonpa
Instagram: @modernthyroid
Youtube: @McCallMcPherson
Episode Timestamps
00:00 Show intro and episode preview
01:44 Welcome and guest introduction
02:48 McCall’s personal thyroid story
03:51 What GLP-1 receptor agonists do
05:21 The discussion of microdosing and inflammation
10:47 Thyroid antibodies and clinical observations
18:43 Side effects, nutrition, and dose escalation
21:13 Thyroid cancer warning and risk conversations
25:06 Dr. Myers’ Inner Circle
27:54 Cardiovascular outcomes and longevity discussion
37:38 Research questions in neurodegeneration
38:43 Autoimmunity and individualized care
40:32 Dosing supervision and safety
42:01 Online sourcing, compounding, and quality concerns
50:41 Graves’ disease and block-and-replace therapy discussion
55:14 Three ways to take back your health
56:26 Where to find McCall McPherson
57:38 Episode wrap-up
References
[1] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves First Treatment to Reduce Risk of Serious Heart Problems Specifically in Adults With Obesity or Overweight. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-treatment-reduce-risk-serious-heart-problems-specifically-adults-obesity-or
[2] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA’s Concerns With Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs Used for Weight Loss. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-alerts-and-statements/fdas-concerns-unapproved-glp-1-drugs-used-weight-loss
[3] Modern Thyroid Clinic. McCall McPherson, PA-C. https://www.modernthyroidclinic.com/mccall-mcpherson
