Ozempic, first approved in China to treat diabetes in 2021, is often referred to as the “internet celebrity weight-loss drug”. Its use there has soared, as it has almost everywhere.
Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy seemed to work magic when they were launched and are quickly being joined by other drugs that work to have the same effect.
For the first time there is a medical intervention that leads to significant weight loss – up to 15 per cent of body weight, sometimes even more. And it is a lucrative business.
Global obesity spending reached nearly US$24 billion in 2023, a sevenfold growth in three years. From this year, that market is expected to grow by a further 30 per cent, reaching US$131 billion in 2028 – not just because these drugs affect weight, but because by extension they alleviate a host of other health conditions.
Most of us know that being too heavy is bad for our heart, and losing weight reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. Several studies support this.