Semaglutide: a game-changer in the fight against obesity
It’s been a year of buzzworthy health trends, and few have dominated the conversation quite like semaglutide, the active ingredient in the weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy.
From Hollywood A-listers to everyday folks, these medications have been heralded as game-changers in the battle against obesity.
For some, they’ve sparked dramatic transformations — so much so that terms like "Ozempic face" have entered the cultural lexicon, a nod to the gaunt appearance caused by rapid weight loss.
But beyond the headlines and celebrity endorsements, these drugs are tied to a much bigger picture: obesity, a condition that affects millions and has long been a burden on both personal health and the healthcare system.
With over 200 diseases linked to obesity, curbing its prevalence could mark a monumental shift for public health — and early signs suggest we might finally be heading in the right direction.
For the first time in over a decade, obesity rates in the United States may be declining— or at least levelling off.
A recent study published in JAMA Health Forum found that the national obesity rate ticked down slightly, from 46% in 2022 to 45.6% in 2023. While that 0.4% dip may seem small, it’s a significant milestone after years of steadily climbing rates.
“What we’re seeing for the first time is that the curve is bending,” said Dr John Brownstein, co-author of the study and professor at Harvard Medical School. It’s a sign of hope for something that has been a persistent threat to American public health,“ he told ”ABC News“.
The study analysed the body mass index (BMI) of 16.7 million US adults over a decade. While the average BMI rose annually to an all-time high of 30.24 in 2022 — well within the "obese" range — it plateaued and then slightly declined to 30.21 in 2023.
Women and adults aged 66 to 75 experienced the most significant decreases, with the South, a region with a high prescription rate of weight loss drugs, also seeing notable improvements.
Semaglutide is part of a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists. Originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, these drugs work by mimicking a hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar levels.
By curbing hunger and improving insulin sensitivity, they’ve been repurposed for weight loss and the results have been striking. According to a study in Annals of Internal Medicine, the use of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss increased by a staggering 700% between 2019 and 2023.
Brownstein believes these medications are playing a role in reversing obesity trends, but he’s cautious about attributing the decline solely to semaglutide. “There are a lot of forces at play,” he noted.
While the rise of GLP-1 drugs is promising, the study’s authors emphasize that other factors may also be contributing to the dip in obesity rates. For one, the pandemic fundamentally altered how people live and move.
As life returns to normal, many are shedding the sedentary habits they picked up during extended periods of lockdown. Increased physical activity and healthier routines could be part of the equation.
But there’s also a sobering statistic to consider: the South, which saw the largest decrease in obesity, also experienced disproportionately high Covid-19 mortality rates among individuals with obesity. This tragic reality may have affected the region’s overall obesity data.
Even with this glimmer of progress, obesity remains a pressing public health issue. Nearly 60% of US adults with obesity have high blood pressure, and 23% have diabetes, according to the CDC.
Obesity also increases the risk of heart disease, liver disease, and dozens of other chronic health conditions that can shorten lifespan and diminish quality of life.
And while BMI is a useful metric for tracking trends, it’s not the whole story. Experts like Dr Anne Peters of the Keck School of Medicine stress the importance of looking beyond the scale.
“A person’s weight should be considered alongside other risk factors for a full picture of their overall health,” she said.
Drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have opened the door to new possibilities, but they’re not a silver bullet. Sustainable weight loss still requires a holistic approach: proper nutrition, regular exercise, and long-term lifestyle changes.
“You’ve got to combine weight loss with a healthier diet and physical activity,” said Peters. “If we can change how people eat fundamentally, that would be much better than relying on medications alone.”
While it’s too early to call this a full-fledged trend, the slight decline in obesity rates is a hopeful sign that progress is possible.
Semaglutide and its counterparts may be helping to bend the curve but lasting change will depend on a broader cultural shift toward healthier living.