March 23, 2023

Weight Loss Meds: Is Ozempic a Miracle Drug?

by Science Vs

Background show artwork for Science Vs

People say they’re shedding tons of weight on new weight loss drugs like Ozempic. But are these drugs really all they’re cracked up to be? Or is this yet another dangerous weight loss fad? We talk to endocrinologists Prof. Tricia Tan and Dr. Daniela Hurtado. 


Note: In this episode we discuss weight and weight loss. Please take care when listening, and here are some resources:


U.S. helpline for the National Eating Disorders Association: 800-931-2237

SAMHSA's National Helpline US: 800-662-HELP (4357)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (8255), or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). 

Find other resources at: https://spotify.com/resources


Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/3FIPHv8


Find Science Vs Weight: Is Fat Unhealthy? Here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/771Gz9oycoeqSYtOVopRqp


In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) What’s going on with Ozempic??

(03:07) Do diets work?

(09:00) How do drugs like Ozempic work?

(21:13) Are drugs like Ozempic safe?

(29:32) What’s our take on these weight loss drugs?


This episode was produced by Rose Rimler, Wendy Zukerman, R.E. Natowicz, Meryl Horn, Joel Werner, and Michelle Dang. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Gimlet’s managing director is Nicole Beemsterboer. Fact checking by Carmen Drahl. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bobby Lord, Emma Munger, So Wiley, Peter Leonard, and Bumi Hidaka. Thanks to all the researchers we spoke to including Dr. Akshay Jain, Prof. Daniel Drucker, Dr. Eva Pila, Prof. Jeffrey Friedman, Prof. John Blundell, Prof. Peter Butler, and Ted Kyle. Special thanks to Brendan Klinkenberg, the Zukerman Family and Joseph Lavelle Wilson. And a big thanks to everyone who wrote or called in about their experiences on these medications.