A new class of drugs for weight loss could end obesity
They promise riches for drugmakers, huge savings for health systems and better lives for millions
How did Kim Kardashian, a reality tv star, lose enough weight to fit into a slinky dress once worn by Marilyn Monroe? She has talked about a diet and exercise, but lots of her fans think it could also be thanks to new weight-loss drugs that many far-from-fat celebrities are said to be taking to keep their figures supremely svelte. There is no need to speculate about Elon Musk, a famed entrepreneur: he readily admits that one such drug, Wegovy (semaglutide), has helped him shed weight. In fact, social media are awash with pictures of delighted patients flaunting before-and-after snaps that prove just how effective these novel medicines are.
This article appeared in the Briefing section of the print edition under the headline “Big shots”
From the March 4th 2023 edition
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