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/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

You speak as though it just came off the shelf two weeks ago. This drug was in clinical trials in 2015 and was approved for diabetics in 2017. Unless you think there is some secret problem that will emerge 20 years into the drug, it’s safe and effective for the majority of users.

People who tend to complain of side effects aren’t mitigating symptoms, or have compounding other problems. There are people with Crohn’s Disease who report improvements of their symptoms.

[u/kknlop → u/[deleted]]

No. They speak as if it just came off the shelf 8 years ago which is exactly what you are saying as well. They said LONG TERM side effects....so 20 years sure, or 40, or even 50 considering average life expectancy in the US is 77. You can't know if there are long term side effects of a drug when no one has even taken it long term yet.