Alva Review-Courier -

Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are becoming household names. Just like Advil, a brand of ibuprofen, they are being recognized as shorthand for a whole class of drugs called semaglutides.

Ozempic was developed in 2017 as a diabetes treatment but users discovered weight loss as a secondary effect. Developed by Novo Nordisk, a Danish company, they are struggling to keep up with demand as more and more prescriptions “fly off the physician’s pads.”

“Obesity is an epidemic,” according to Dr. Sahar Takkouche of Vanderbilt University. Like any epidemic, it calls for caution, but does it require treatment? Since many of us are “well with conditions” and suffer from “polypharmacy,” should we even be treating obesity?

The CDC claims that in 40% of U.S. adults and 20% of children, obesity is putting them at risk for health problems. We have seen a spike in type 2 diabetes and increased heart disease in ever-younger individuals.

Historically, diet and exercise have been promoted to maintain a desired weight but according to Jamie Ducharme in Time mMagazine, “People get hungrier the more they move offsetting whatever calories they burn at the gym.”

In the 19th century, being overweight was a sign of wealth but now carries a stigma of discrimination and fat phobias have led to bullying. While obese people may appear metabolically healthy, there may be underlying issues such as fatty liver, sleep apnea, or cancer.

Since “what you eat is what you are,” I’m lucky I don’t look like a pizza.