Sort of. We have drugs that can help you lose weight, but they come with their own challenges and risks, and you still need to eat right and exercise. And even then, it's prescribed and covered for diagnosed diabetes. If you want it to lose weight, you probably have to pay for it.

Eating right is much more difficult than people pretend it is, and exercise is simply not possible for a lot of overweight people. You might as well say "don't be poor, and also don't be poor."

So when you say on top of that, "we've made it easier for you to lose weight with this new drug, as long as you aren't poor," that's not really helpful.

They are, and they absolutely changed my life. I was never obese, but almost always overweight since childhood.

As an adult, I used Saxenda (liraglutide) for almost 3 years, prescribed by my gastro doc. I lost 25 kgs with it, out of which only 3 was muscle mass. I only needed half the max dose, and now they even have a newer and more effective formula.

I was afraid I would gain it back after stopping, as I was warned, but I stopped half a year ago, and I lost 5 kg more with only diet since then. And by diet I don’t mean starving myself, just switching to super healthy and natural stuff, and staying away from processed food.

Before this med, I ate too much, and even though I tried to stay away from stuff with added sugar or too much fat, it just added up. The drug took away my excessive hunger, and at the beginning I just ate less, but after a few months I also changed my diet to be more fresh and healthy, and the fat just kept melting away.

Now I’m in my mid 30s, and look better then ever, and also got rid of health conditions (like minor high blood pressure) that would cause a mess later. And again, I was never obese, only overweight, so I can’t even imagine the impact this would have on dangerously obese people.

Incredible technology, I think a lot of people will take these in the future. And my case shows that it’s not true that you have to take it forever: if you can adjust your diet and life over a period of a few years, your body will “heal” and help you to keep the fat down later.

And unbelievably expensive, and unbelievably good at regulating an A1C.

Now if you excuse me, I am gonna go and break down crying to the insurance rep about how Ozempic is way better than metformin at not making me shit my pants. I swear I am not making excuses just to lose weight. (Please someone, stop the madness, if I can get semiglutides that doesn’t make you lose weight but regulates my A1C I would be so happy)

Friend of mine has been on wegovy and has lost almost 40 pounds in 4-5 months. It was almost discouraging to hear that as it has taken me two years to set the correct habits to lose almost 35 pounds (and keep it off).

The side effects of those drugs are real though. My friend says she constantly feels nausea and it's weird to see her eat so little... When we go out I would be surprised if she even eats half her plate, if that.

It's been a long journey for me personally to lose weight. I had to teach myself how to use gym equipment, cut out all sodas, and to suppress my cravings. To see people take what looks like "the easy way out" can sting... but in the end, I feel better then ever.

The patient needs fat to live.