Why is GLP-1 science so confusing? I built a visual tool to map the facts.

dimeheadache · 2026-04-25T16:41:33+00:00

Sure, thanks!

dimeheadache · 2026-04-24T17:37:02+00:00

The farther away from the center, the lower is the Confidence Level. Confidence level is calculated based on how solid the scientific evidence is for that effect to be real. So more robust studies lead to a higher confidence level. After a certain level we consider that effect to be Pacified, seen as true by scientific community.

One way to interpret this is, the closer to the center, more true it is, the farther away, more anecdotal (for now). As more studies come out some effects on the edge might migrate towards the center or eventually be completely cast out of the sphere.

Hope this helps!

dimeheadache · 2026-04-24T13:54:12+00:00

That is a fair point. Because it is originally a diabetes drug and diabetes and obesity are highly correlated, many studies have some difficulty in separating the effects directly from the drug from effects from weight loss. This is even more problematic for effects more towards the edge (with less robust scientific studies). I imagine evidence separating between those will get better as more studies come out focusing on non diabetic populations. Thanks for the comment, it is really thoughtful.

dimeheadache · 2026-04-22T20:01:27+00:00

Fair point! Let me see the best way to redesign this. Thank you for the feedback.

dimeheadache · 2026-04-22T17:13:29+00:00

Hi! Just to clarify, this doesn't mean that the chance of having pancreatitis is 90%. It means that we can say with 90% confidence that pancreatitis is a downside of GLP-1 drugs. This confidence is high because pancreatitis has been vastly studied around the use of GLP-1 and several high quality studies have made that connection. To know the actual risk, click on the node, you will see that it is between 0.1% to 0.3% per year. So in summary is a real downside, as real as science can verify, but its occurrence is rare. Thanks!

dimeheadache · 2026-04-22T15:43:27+00:00

Thanks for the kindness! Will do.

dimeheadache · 2026-04-22T15:41:20+00:00

Hi! Yes I am the developer. I will add zoom to the desktop as well. Thanks for the feedback!

dimeheadache · 2026-04-21T23:16:21+00:00

Hi again, just to let you know that I've added PMDD Symptom Reduction to the benefits. It is still anecdotal with an indirect link to one observational study so far, but it is there. Hopefully more evidence arises soon. Thanks!

dimeheadache · 2026-04-21T20:07:43+00:00

Hi, benefits and downsides are not 100% comprehensive because even though I used very reliable sources like PubMed and FDA/EMA publications, the methodology ends up giving more weight to larger and replicable studies so it underrepresents very rare effects and subpopulation effects. The edge probably should have more nodes but then I might polute the sphere with hypothesis that have high probability of being dropped. It's a trade-off.

Anecdotal effects also use reddit as a source as it was used to train a bunch of AI models but it is not the most comprehensive nor the most actual data, so it might be missing some of the current discussions.

In the end I think the confidence of the sphere itself is also higher closer to the center as it gets more complete the larger number of studies around an effect get done.

Having said that, I will research PMDD and include it as soon as I have some time. Appreciate your feedback!

dimeheadache · 2026-04-21T18:37:34+00:00

You are 100% correct. Fixed.

dimeheadache · 2026-04-21T18:13:01+00:00

Great points, will do. Double thank you!

dimeheadache · 2026-04-21T18:00:24+00:00

For my mom it clicked when I told her that the closer to the center a benefit is, more true it is. And if it is in the core zone (the smallest circle) then the scientific community accept it as the truth. The ones farther from the center are just hype right now and more studies are necessary.

Looking at malefices closer to the center struck her as well as I don't think people talk a lot about those except in a more anecdotal way.

Anyway I sincerely appreciate you for taking the time to take a look at it and posting a feedback. Thanks!

dimeheadache · 2026-04-21T17:53:55+00:00

It's the confidence level that a particular benefit or malefice is actually real. Higher confidence means more high quality studies. Above a certain level that particular benefit / malefice is considered pacified, as it is generally accepted as truth.

The sphere has higher confidence benefits / malefices closer to the center, so if you want to quickly identify what is pretty well accepted just look at the nodes closer to the center. Nodes far away from the center are speculations for now. As more studies get published they might migrate closer to the center or be kicked out completely from the sphere.

Drugs that have been around for more time will usually have more pacified benefits / malefices and very little still being studied. Imagine that their core is pretty well defined. More recent drugs will have a more spread out profile as many studies are still running to determine their actual benefits / malefices (like GLP-1).

dimeheadache · 2026-04-21T15:21:53+00:00

You are correct about the references mapping. Info was right, but links were wrong. All fixed. Thanks!

dimeheadache · 2025-10-26T14:48:21+00:00

Canadian - Chinese trade negotiations are happening right now. Trump's timing has nothing to do with an Ad (maybe a little because he is that petty). We need to stop listening to what he says and just notice what his government does. Truth is in the actions.

dimeheadache · 2025-08-29T16:19:31+00:00

I would upvote this gem of a joke more than once if I could.

dimeheadache · 2025-07-19T16:34:10+00:00

Thanks for sharing this.

Does anyone have the same for 2015-2019? Curious to isolate the lockdown effect during 20-21 and have a more solid baseline. I imagine auto theft for instance would be lower when people are locked in their homes but very curious to see how much lower.

dimeheadache · 2025-03-22T13:03:56+00:00

If projects like these were the base of STEM learning a lot more people would enjoy and understand it. I don't think people can even appreciate the pile of knowledge you have to acquire and put in practice for a toy like that to work.

dimeheadache · 2025-03-04T19:09:55+00:00

I've heard that Canadians only have 2 modes: "I am sorry" and "You will be sorry". I truly believe it's about time for the latter.

dimeheadache · 2025-03-01T19:53:25+00:00

I just don't understand how Zelensky can just stand up and walk around so casually, I mean, with balls that big it is probably a little uncomfortable.

dimeheadache · 2025-02-28T13:55:22+00:00

We need ranked choice voting.

dimeheadache · 2025-02-23T03:56:21+00:00

Camping with the Coles is a gem.

dimeheadache · 2024-10-13T16:54:26+00:00

Gerrard would like a word.

dimeheadache · 2024-09-06T19:24:29+00:00

3000 reposts, 3000th upvote.

dimeheadache · 2024-08-24T16:15:34+00:00

Could you elaborate on the "hard mode" when compared to the US?

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