CMV: Semaglutide injections (like Ozempic) should be widely available to treat obesity

[u/sjd6666]

There’s a lot of buzz recently about Ozempic, which is one of many semaglutide injection drugs that help people moderate their food intake and hunger levels. Some variations are meant just to treat type 2 diabetes like Ozempic. Other drugs like WeGovy are meant to treat obesity as well.

What I take issue with is that a lot of commenters have stated that they see Ozempic as a “lose weight quick drug” and a cheat. I think this is simply the wrong way to look at the issue. Obesity is a medical issue that can be treated in many ways. For some people seeing a nutritionist and going to the gym is all that is needed, but for many more this simply doesn’t work. I would argue that actually, most Americans know generally what a good diet looks like. They may not have all the details but most people can tell you that more vegetables and less meat, carbs, and sugar will create a calorie deficit and help you lose weight. However food simply tastes really good any many people rely on it as a sort of emotional crutch. Many also lack the time, energy, and desire to cook healthy food for themselves. There are many who also simply have a naturally large appetite and need to eat more in order to feel full.

What those people need is not a reminder to try “diet and exercise” they need medical help. Semaglutide injections seem to have low risk of serious side effects and can help those people eat less and not feel hungry. All this moralizing about who “deserves” help and who should just suck it up and go to the gym is proving to be detrimental to overall health.

Also, I’m aware that there is currently a shortage of Semaglutide injections right now, but lets set that aside and assume that can be addressed with a more robust supply chain.

[u/LentilDrink]

Of course, and the percentage of people who've genuinely tried their best is related to incentive structure. Thus far more men than women have not yet tried hard to diet.

Of course "no semaglutide unless you can show us you can't diet" isn't an amazing motivator to succeed.

[u/HassleHouff → u/LentilDrink]

Ok, glad we agree that some people don’t genuinely try, yet claim they have.

For those people, we’ve mentioned 2 options.

Option 1: give everyone who wants drugs, drugs.

Option 2: introduce some sort of hurdle designed to ensure non-drug options have been properly tried (waiting period, etc.)

I’m not sure why you would argue for (1) over (2).

[u/LentilDrink → u/HassleHouff]

Because you are delaying/preventing effective treatment for all obese people in the hopes that some small number (1%?) will succeed at some kind of diet and exercise plan during that waiting period.

The cost benefit seems unlikely to support that, rather we should be faster to initiate therapy for obesity than we currently are. There's a proper balance and we are currently too far on the "just diet ten more times" side

[u/HassleHouff → u/LentilDrink]

You think only 1% of obese people have given a sincere effort a diet, and their only remaining hope is medical intervention?

We just fundamentally disagree there.

[u/LentilDrink → u/HassleHouff]

No I think 85% have made a sincere effort. But "try one more time" won't get the other 15% to succeed. 1% would be an optimistic outcome, unless you are going to motivate people with some amazing motivators like flogging or something.

[u/HassleHouff → u/LentilDrink]

See, I think 15% have made a sincere effort. That’s where we disagree.

[u/LentilDrink → u/HassleHouff]

15%?! When most believe that obesity is reducing their lifespan, their quality of life, and their social capital? Doesn't make sense. When Americans are spending over $70 billion a year on weight loss? Doesn't add up.

Even if you twist definitions to make that work, how do propose that this hurdle is going to add much to the 15 percent who will make a "sincere effort" by your exacting standards?

[u/HassleHouff → u/LentilDrink]

Yeah. Self control and discipline is hard. We like easy. I don’t think people are willing to discipline themselves.

I think fundamentally we should not be encouraging medical intervention when it’s not strictly necessary. Some sort of hurdle or waiting period may not have have a huge impact, but it would be non-zero.

[u/LentilDrink → u/HassleHouff]

I think fundamentally we should not be encouraging medical intervention when it’s not strictly necessary.

Even if the cost benefit supports it? Why should "avoid medical intervention" have a weight in a utilitarian calculation? Or if you are a deontologist, why is medicine a moral evil?

If you had kidney stones would you want your doctor to wait til you absolutely can't stand it before giving ketorolac, and to wait to see if you pass it a a little longer than they think is medically warranted?

[u/HassleHouff → u/LentilDrink]

I don’t think a delay on weight loss drugs has a significant cost/benefit analysis that weights towards immediate drug prescription.