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Pop a pill to lose weight? The GLP-1 ‘magic bullet’ is enticing – and dangerous
Like antibiotics, the weight-loss drugs are at risk of being misused.
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The appeal of GLP-1 drugs is clear: weekly injections deliver fast and visible results. But emerging evidence suggests hidden health costs that may not show up initially.
PHOTO: ST FILE
Teo Yik Ying
It used to be that to lose weight, short of surgery, one had to endure the rigours of exercise and diet changes. Then came the GLP-1 drugs, better known by their proprietary names Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro.
Originally prescribed for Type 2 diabetes patients, the drugs soon became famous, hyped by celebrity endorsers and influencers as a “magic bullet” for rapid weight loss. They are not. But the idea is attractive – and is propelling the world towards a potentially hefty health problem if left unchecked.
