The Usual Place Podcast
Wegovy and beyond: Will weight-loss drugs change the way people look at obesity?
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Wegovy, the blockbuster weight-loss drug, is now available in Singapore more than two years after it was approved by the Health Sciences Authority.
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Wegovy, the blockbuster weight-loss drug, is now available in Singapore more than two years after it was approved
But its arrival here sparks a deeper conversation about who should take it, how it makes us rethink obesity and weight loss, and whether weight-loss drugs are a magic bullet.
Earlier in July, pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk, which makes Wegovy, announced in a statement that the injectable drug is now available with
The global hype around Wegovy, which is made for weight loss, stemmed from Ozempic, which was created as an anti-diabetic drug.
The latter garnered a lot of attention on social media a few years ago after its users, who weren’t all diabetics, showed off their considerable weight loss.
What connects Wegovy and Ozempic – besides both being made by Novo Nordisk – is that they contain the active ingredient semaglutide.
Mimicking the natural hormone glucagon-like peptide-1, semaglutide regulates blood sugar levels, curbs the appetite and induces the sensation of fullness.
One of the differences? Wegovy has a maximum dosage of 2.4mg, while Ozempic has a maximum dosage of either 1mg or 2mg depending on the country. In Singapore, Ozempic’s maximum dosage is capped at 1mg based on HSA’s approved label.
While the benefits have been laid out, what should those considering Wegovy look out for?
To answer these questions on this episode of The Usual Place, I have:
Senior consultant endocrinologist Dr Sue-Anne Toh from Novi Health, a specialist medical clinic and health-tech company. She has more than 20 years of experience in internal medicine, diabetes, and metabolic health.
Her patient Farhan Hanis, a 26-year-old university student and a former plus-sized model. He started on Wegovy about two months ago.
General practitioner Dr Bosty Chan, who co-founded health telemedicine providers Sire and Dame, which offers weight management as part of a suite of services.
Highlights (click/tap above):
3:03 Dr Toh on whether there is a difference between Wegovy and Ozempic
4:13 Gamechanger to the weight loss market in Singapore? How do these options compare with surgically invasive options?
8:00 Dr Chan: Singaporeans are quite well-researched before they ask about options; more clinical data available these days
11:12 Why Farhan chose this route two months ago; family history concerns and any side effects?
14:20 How Farhan dealt with his weight concerns before
16:15 Dr Toh on understanding biology, why some cannot lose weight easily; how GLP-1 hormones work
18:32 Drugs like Wegovy are not a magic bullet, critical to form the right habits alongside
20:02 What is ‘Ozempic face’?
22:00 Farhan on adopting the right habits; what he feels when he tries to eat processed foods now
24:38 Dr Chan on his digital experience in the telemedicine sector so far, the transparency needed to determine genuine consultations
27:00 There is still a secondary ‘hybrid’ channel for patients to come in, he says, but trust is critical
34:37 More normalised to talk about weight treatment now, patients more open about obesity
39:50 Managing costs of such GLP-1 medication
45:00 Dr Chan on whether weight-loss drugs are supposed to be for the long term
51:05 Dr Toh on understanding metabolic adaptation even in other ways such as intermittent fasting
53:41 Does Singapore have a problem with obesity?
1:00:17 Should Singapore redefine obesity markers for the population?
1:02:39 Farhan on being a plus-sized model and speaking out about definition of body positivity
Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah ( natashaz@sph.com.sg
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Filmed by: Studio+65
Edited by: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh, Rebekah Chia & Natasha Liew
Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong
Tune in at 12pm SGT/HKT to watch the stream, and share your thoughts on our revamped YouTube channel.
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