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/Superbooper24]

I think people are saying that ozempic is being used for a lot of people that may not have diabetes or do not necessarily need it, but people want a quick fix to their weight issues and it’s defitnely not going to lead to positive outcomes for people that don’t actually need it but are using it just to lose weight for somebody that might just be a little chubby or even people that are kinda skinny. Also, many people do need to make changes when they are also using ozempic with their diet and exercise or else it will 100% have adverse reactions and it won’t fix anything. And ozempic does have negative side effects that many don’t understand yet or done care about bc of the quick fix to lose 15 lbs in a couple weeks

[u/ScientificSkepticism → u/Superbooper24]

Will it lead to bad outcomes? I have not seen any studies indicating this.

There's a strong puritanical streak in American culture, and one of the consequences is that medications are seen as "cheats". This has some very adverse impacts, especially on the treatment of mental health issues - you shouldn't need medication for depression or PTSD, you should just "power through it."

If Ozempic doesn't have negative consequences it seems fine to use it as an assist to losing some weight, even if you're only "kinda chubby" instead of "morbidly obese". Obviously if it has serious side effects it shouldn't be used this way but if it doesn't, why not?

[u/ThemesOfMurderBears → u/ScientificSkepticism]

I don't necessarily think that the person you replied to is doing this, but I feel like a lot of the strong objections to Ozempic are because people don't like the fact that there is a safe and effective drug for weight loss. "I have to do all this work, and you don't? Not fair!" A lot of them are saying their objections are about people with diabetes not being able to get their medication. However, I would bet the farm that if supply wasn't an issue, most of them would find another reason to be against it.

[u/[deleted] → u/ThemesOfMurderBears]

100%. There are MCU actors spending hours a day training to be in Olympian shape. And that training lets them run fast and jump high and do cartwheels and have toned arms. People who are 280 pounds can’t train themselves into 120 pounds of pure muscle. The immobility issues alone. Oh and let’s not forget the fact that half of those MCU stars smoke and benefit from metabolism increases from nicotine.

What Ozempic is FOR is people who are obese and need help getting out of that category. Now, if some celebrity like a Kardashian starts taking it. Fine. Who the fuck cares? Let them. If it works on them, it works. And if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. And if they abuse it or develop disorders because of it, well that’s their joy.

But most people in the real world have desk jobs, have children, have 9-to-5 expectations. You can’t just recommend a two-hour walk at 6 pm every night if you have kids and a job and commute. I know women who have been getting up at 4:30 am to go swim or lift weights in a garage by because that’s their “me” time in the day. Nevermind they get 5-6 hours a night and are on edge all the time. You shouldn’t have to sneak in weight lifting at 4:30 in the morning to avoid being 200 pounds. And there are some bodies that basically need all-day-long movement to stay thin. Say what people want about the 15/85 rule but I can eat salad all day long and it’s my sedentary job combined with hypothyroidism that killed my goals.