Nobody Is Talking About This Magical Weight Loss Drug
One of the first medications created exclusively for weight loss, semaglutide, received FDA approval in June 2021. It's been a blessing for some people. However, does it also encourage fatphobia?
After a vehicle accident a few years ago, Shreya Mehta (anonymized)* started to feel severe chronic pain. She was unable to maintain her regular schedule and nutrition as a result. She grew 25 pounds really fast. She referred to it as "the end of the road" since she was unable to identify and embrace herself. She had battled with her body image for years. Now, everything seemed overwhelming. There appeared to be hope until all of a sudden. An injection of the medication semaglutide, which has the potential to lower body weight by 15%, received FDA approval in June 2021. It appeared like it was a scam.
That wasn't the case. Mehta* lost all the weight she had acquired in nine months. If she can, she wants to keep doing it indefinitely in the hopes of reducing another 10 to 15 pounds, saying that, given the choice, "Why would you ever be fat again?"
In recent months, as the first FDA-approved medication for chronic weight control, semaglutide, whose brand names include Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy, has gained popularity. The medication, which may cost thousands of dollars each month, is an effective therapy for diabetes and obesity.
But it has also earned a reputation as a quick, miraculous remedy for people who want to lose weight. Is semaglutide just another wealthy person's weapon to pathologize fat bodies in a society where the media is pushing the "return" of the "heroin-chic" figure and when celebrities like Kim Kardashian drop 16 pounds in three weeks to fit into a dress that Marilyn Monroe once wore? Or is it a desperately needed remedy for individuals who suffer disproportionately from comorbid conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and others? For the time being, the opinion of specialists is divided.
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