Drugs that melt away pounds still present more questions than answers, but Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro could be key tools in reducing the obesity epidemic
The ConversationJun 01, 2023
The UK is planning to launch a two-year, £40M pilot program that would give more Britons access to the Wegovy weight loss drug through the National Health Service (NHS), amid ongoing concerns over its supply and potential public health benefits.
PM Rishi Sunak has called the drug a "game-changer" which will help alleviate the "huge pressure" obesity — which costs the UK approximately £6.5B a year — places on the NHS. Estimates suggest that at least 12M adults in England are obese.
Obesity is a global public health crisis, and modern medicine has given us an indispensable tool in this fight. Clinical results for the drug suggest patients could lose up to 20% of their body weight. Reducing the costs of the drug and making it more accessible could ease the massive cost obesity places on our healthcare system and save many lives. The UK is taking a big step forward in putting weight loss within reach for Britons.
Drugs like Wegovy are crucial for diabetics and those with severe obesity. However, governments and media are wrong to tout these drugs as miracle cures for weight loss. Long-term impacts are unknown, and research suggests a patient will need to stay on them for a lifetime to maintain a healthy weight. It is reckless to expand the coverage of this drug, as it will cause healthcare costs to balloon and put the patients who need it most at risk.
There is an 80% chance that oral semaglutide will be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration or the European Medicines Agency by 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.