Its a synthetic version of the hormone GLP-1, which helps regulate our metabolism and hunger.
This following conversation has been edited for clarity and grammar.
And how much have things really changed since their arrival?
An Ozempic injection pen.© Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty
Alexandra Sowa:When I found the field of obesity medicine, there was no looking back for me.
I wanted to be a doctor working in preventing disease, and this field allowed me to do it.
And that it deserves thoughtful, caring, and comprehensive treatment.
So weve had other toolsthey just werent as effective.
And thats led, I think, to the meteoric rise in press coverage.
And then social media has been part of this too, with people just sharing their stories.
And thats been really wonderful to see.
You should just try harder.
But these medications are not a magic wand.
I also think that theres a big disconnect between people writing for the medications too.
As an obesity medicine specialist, there are only thousands of us out of millions of doctors.
Somewhere around 0.3% of doctors have obesity medicine training.
Secondly, to that point, is that people are looking at this potentially as a short-term solution.
But really, these medications are intended and approved for long-term, potentially forever, use.
Are we likely to see really common serious health risks pop up down the road?
Well, weve had GLP-1 drugs around since the early 2000s.
They have been studied extensively.
Theyve been used exclusively for weight management for over 10 years.
reasons why a treatment should not be used].
Whats so unique about these drugs is that theyre not just for one indication.
And what were seeing is a trickle down effect, right?
It comes back to this concept of obesity care as preventive care, preventive medicine.
We have very large databases, with hundreds of thousands of people on these medications.
GLP-1 medications are a true modern medical miracle, and a revolution in how we can treat patients.
But with that comes great need for respect of the process.
Gizmodo:Where do you see the future of obesity treatment in general going?
Sowa:Obesity is complex and there are a lot of hormones at play and many, many genes.
So I think it will just become more targeted to what your specific needs are.
The largest barrier to widespread use right now is cost.
And I think well start to see potentially easier modalities of taking the medications.
Maybe its a once-a-month injection, maybe its pills or patches.
Gizmodo:Whats the biggest takeaway that youd like to leave our readers with?
Sowa:Ive written this book because I want people to feel really empowered.
The other thing is I think theres been a rise of influencers talking about these meds.
And its wonderful that people can share their story.
But expertise matters with these meds.
And this is why Ive written this book so that people can become their own experts.
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