Popularity of weight loss drugs soars, but weight stigma persists

Weight loss has always been a hot topic in the media, and now, with the rise in popularity of a class of drugs that induce weight loss, it’s more controversial than ever. These drugs, including Ozempic, which is approved by the FDA only for treatment of type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy, which is approved for weight loss, work by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone, GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1) to suppress appetite. A newer drug, tirzepatide, currently prescribed only to treat type 2 diabetes, is a dual agonist that shows even greater promise in terms of weight loss by users and is under review by the FDA to be prescribed for weight loss.