The 40% of American adults who are obese have been offered an effective yet expensive answer to their problem. Reported to be as effective as gastric-bypass surgery in producing weight loss, these new, injectable (for now) drugs appear to be miraculous.
Not yet covered by insurance, pending assessment of broader benefits and potential side effects, the drugs are currently available only to the wealthy, many of whom surely use them just to trim their figure a bit. But these drugs result in more than appetite suppression; they interfere with metabolic processes that are vital to glucose metabolism. What side effects might arise are yet to be determined.
Of the 40% of Americans who are obese, I suspect a small minority have genetic-based metabolic disorders that are responsible for their condition. Most have obesity that began in childhood or early adulthood (due to familial factors such as poor dietary habits and lack of exercise). These new therapies might offer a convenient form of effective therapy but a lifestyle change will also be necessary for the benefits to persist; then there are the potential side effects.
See also: The Cycle of Obesity
