156: Part 2: Is Wegovy/Ozempic the Miracle Weight Loss Drug It’s Made Out to Be? (Part 2)
Feb 7, 2023
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Dive into the world of controversial weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, exploring personal stories from users and the scandals surrounding their marketing practices. The discussion highlights ethical concerns and severe side effects faced by many. There's a closer look at legal issues involving the drug manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, and its history. Listen to the challenges of informed consent and societal pressures linked to weight management while advocating for body diversity and self-acceptance.
Semaglutide's marketing campaign, which depicts obesity as a disease, raises ethical concerns regarding profit motives overshadowing public health interests.
Celebrity endorsements and glamorization of Ozempic have significantly influenced public perceptions of weight loss, complicating the stigma around body size.
The surge in demand for semaglutide for weight loss has led to supply shortages, impacting diabetes patients who urgently depend on the medication.
Deep dives
Efficacy and Marketing of Semaglutide
Semaglutide, marketed under names like Ozempic and Wegovy, has been promoted as a miracle weight-loss solution but has shown limited effectiveness. Clinical studies indicate average weight loss of merely two pounds a month, which is minimal in the context of weight management therapies. The marketing strategy of the drug has included claims that obesity is a disease, a narrative pushed by Novo Nordisk to gain favor with healthcare professionals and insurance companies. This framing allows them to align profit motives with public health, effectively fostering a culture where fatness is treated as an illness needing pharmaceutical intervention.
Influencer Culture and Weight Stigma
Celebrities and social media influencers have played a significant role in driving interest in semaglutide, often sharing success stories that glamorize its use for weight loss. Notable instances include Kim Kardashian's rumored use during high-profile events, which sparked a surge in Google searches for Ozempic. Despite its promotional veneer, the push to normalize the drug has been criticized for ignoring the considerable stigma faced by individuals in larger bodies. This intersection of celebrity culture and medical marketing complicates public perceptions of health and body size, promoting a one-dimensional view of wellness linked solely to weight.
Supply Issues and Off-label Prescribing
A surge in demand for Ozempic due to off-label use for weight loss has resulted in supply shortages, particularly affecting diabetes patients who rely on it for crucial management. Reports indicate that pharmacies are struggling to keep up with refills for diabetic patients as demand from weight loss users rises. This situation reflects a broader issue within pharmaceutical supply chains, where profitability sometimes takes precedence over patient needs. Additionally, the off-label prescribing of the drug raises ethical concerns and questions about informed consent for those using it for weight loss.
Side Effects and Personal Experiences
The use of semaglutide is fraught with potential side effects, which often persist after discontinuation, leading to adverse experiences for many users. Personal accounts reveal that while some individuals initially lose weight, they frequently experience severe gastrointestinal issues and rebound weight gain once they stop taking the drug. For example, users have reported episodes of nausea, vomiting, and long-term impacts on their relationship with food. Such experiences underscore the complexity of using pharmacological solutions for weight management and highlight the dangers of reducing health to merely a matter of body size.
Regulatory and Ethical Concerns
Novo Nordisk has faced significant scrutiny concerning its marketing practices and the transparency of its clinical data related to semaglutide. Historical legal battles and ongoing investigations into misleading claims have raised questions about the ethical implications of promoting such medications. There exists a stark contrast between the profitability goals of pharmaceutical companies and the health interests of patients, as evidenced by Novo's prioritization of profit from weight-loss markets over supplying essential diabetes medications. The podcast suggests that the push for weight loss medications should be viewed critically, advocating for an end to weight stigma and a shift towards a more inclusive understanding of health.
This is part 2 of the breaking down of the newest diet drug frenzy. In today’s episode, we are talking about personal stories of those using the drug, Novo’s lawsuits, and scandals including their marketing campaign which co-opts fat liberatory language in order to trick its consumers. Plus what other new drugs are about, what is happening with celebs and the supply shortage? We have a ton of stuff for you! TW: mentions of side effects
Episode show notes: http://www.fiercefatty.com/156
A So-Called Game-Changing Weight Loss Drug Is Here—So What Happens Next?: By Ed Cara for Gizmodo: https://gizmodo.com/a-so-called-game-changing-weight-loss-drug-is-here-so-w-1847309279 Wegovy Isn’t A “Game Changer”, But An Update by Mikey Mercedes: https://www.marquiselemercedes.com/writing/wegovy https://untrapped.com.au/weight-loss-drugs-part-2-saxenda-and-wegovy/#more-2729 https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Semaglutide https://www.novomedlink.com/obesity/products/treatments/wegovy/efficacy-safety/clinical-trial-1-results.html https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183 https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-drug-treatment-chronic-weight-management-first-2014 https://people.com/health/remi-bader-says-she-gained-double-the-weight-back-after-stopping-weight-loss-drug-ozempic/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social-share-article&fbclid=IwAR0biGrvtM0QhVywA_LsYTzJ8Z1Kb2L3OvjIyaVMBP2uxxYGkF_5uUaQQsk&mibextid=Zxz2cZ https://www.drugwatch.com/manufacturers/eli-lilly/ https://www.thecut.com/2022/11/ozempic-side-effects.html https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/weight-loss/wegovy-vs-saxenda https://untrapped.com.au/weight-loss-drugs-part-2 https://canjhealthtechnol.ca/index.php/cjht/article/view/SR0725/953 https://jezebel.com/people-are-buying-raw-chemicals-to-concoct-diy-ozempic-1850012753 https://www.instagram.com/fionawiller/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CnhbcomoM5Z/ What is Wegovy: https://www.goodrx.com/rybelsus/what-is https://www.goodrx.com/wegovy/what-is https://www.goodrx.com/glp-1-agonists https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/diabetes-type-2 https://www.goodrx.com/ozempic/what-is https://www.goodrx.com/rybelsus/what-is https://www.goodrx.com/saxenda/what-is https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/spl/data/dade58f4-0941-498f-87bc-0fa4725ed9a9/dade58f4-0941-498f-87bc-0fa4725ed9a9.xml https://www.goodrx.com/victoza/what-is Overview of the drugs: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Semaglutide Outcome of the trials: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I3NMTf7VJoCE_r3Qa_q4gxR7esXGFk1231Qi9snuoFs/edit?usp=sharing Weight Stigma and Marketing: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4988332/ https://www.wbur.org/commonhealth/2013/06/21/obesity-ama-fat-acceptance https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/fat-is-not-the-problem-fat-stigma-is/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4654677/ This Diabetes Drug Is Being Prescribed Off-Label for Weight Loss. Now There’s a Shortage, Glamour: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?geo=US&q=ozempic,wegovy,semaglutide,mounjaro https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/kim-kardashian-full-body-scan https://www.tga.gov.au/alert/joint-statement-prioritisation-semaglutide-ozempic-supply-people-type-2-diabetes-during-shortage https://mutualaiddiabetes.com/ https://www.novopricing.com/ozempic.html https://costplusdrugs.com/medications/categories/diabetes/ https://www.tga.gov.au/alert/joint-statement-prioritisation-semaglutide-ozempic-supply-people-type-2-diabetes-during-shortage https://www.ashp.org/drug-shortages/current-shortages/drug-shortage-detail.aspx?id=813 https://www.drugs.com/drug-shortages/semaglutide-injection-813 https://sports.yahoo.com/ozempic-touted-tiktok-weight-loss-185703390.html Personal stories: https://people.com/health/tiktok-star-remi-bader-treatment-for-binge-eating/ You Might Go Through Hell for Your Post-Ozempic Body, The Cut: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1-diabetes/expert-answers/lada-diabetes/faq-20057880#:~:text=Latent%20autoimmune%20diabetes%20in%20adults%20(LADA)%20is%20a%20slow%2D,producing%20cells%20in%20the%20pancreas. https://hangrywoman.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn880dmDmPU Did your doc tell you all the warnings including the box warning for thyroid cancer?: https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/informed-consent-what-must-physician-disclose-patient/2012-07 Novo’s Lawsuits and scandals: https://www.drugwatch.com/news/2017/09/13/victoza-maker-paying-58-million-doj-settlement/ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-novo-nordisk-settlement/novo-nordisk-settles-u-s-probe-over-diabetes-drug-for-nearly-58-7-million-idUSKCN1BG315 https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/994741/download From Fierce Pharma: https://www.novonordisk.com/news-and-media/news-and-ir-materials/news-details.html?id=78734
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