The media is promising the public a quick fix for obesity via the new class of weight loss drugs, but in a rush to promote headlines, they’re leaving out some essential information for patients. These drugs must be taken for life and combined with diet and exercise, but our instant gratification public wants results without effort.
Weight Loss Drugs
While social media “buzz’ can alert marketers to issues with their products and marketing, it should not be used alone to measure your campaign’s effectiveness. The conversations around the new weight loss drugs are happening almost in real time, and it’s not good.
My post yesterday on weight loss drugs had a lot of comments on social media. However, when I communicated more with people, they went silent. It seems they don’t understand some basics about these drugs or who is responsible for sharing the complete information. So here it goes.
Months into the weight-loss-drug bonanza, various medical, cultural, and political challenges have materialized. Doctors are reporting rampant use of these new weight-loss drugs among the rich. To make matters worse, as use expands, more people report unwanted side effects.
Sales continue to soar for all the weight loss drugs in 2023. Earlier this month, Novo Nordisk told the CBS news program 60 Minutes that the company can finally supply all dose levels of Wegovy. Social media and celebrities drive demand for a drug whose side effects are not yet completely known and cost over $1000 a month.
Diabetes is expected to surge dramatically in young people over the next several decades in what experts say should be a wake-up call to prioritize health in America. Researchers estimate that in 2060, there could be as many as 220,000 people under age 20 with Type 2 diabetes, an increase of nearly 700%, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study. But Lilly’s new weight loss drug could be massive. According to an estimate from Bank of America analyst Geoff Meacham, annual sales of tirzepatide could hit a record $48 billion.
Many people, on social media, are saying that they’re losing weight on the new diabetes drug Ozempic. This drug works by lowering blood sugar and spurring insulin production, but insurers are reluctant to cover it, and it can cost $900 or more a month. However, some people who have tried the drug seem to have serious side effects.
TikTok is full of influencers showing off their stunning before-and-after shots and their weight loss after using the new class of weight loss drugs, but too many patients see this as a “quick fix” without the possible downsides.