What Is Ozempic and Why Is It Getting So Much Attention?

> More people are turning to a diabetes medication to induce weight loss — but experts say it’s not a miracle drug.

It may as well be a miracle drug given the alternatives. Before Ozempic, long term weight loss without surgery was essentially impossible on a population level (some do achieve it, but not many). You had obesity doctors raving about half of patients with "intensive lifestyle intervention" losing 5% of their weight and keeping it off [0]. A quarter made it to 10% loss.

While they may find this "heartening", losing 5% of weight when you are fat enough to go to an obesity doctor is hardly a resounding success at getting people fully healthy again. You need about 20% at least to get from obese to a normal weight.

Ozempic is delivering 15-20%.

[0] https://www.vox.com/2016/5/10/11649210/biggest-loser-weight-...