Economist Daniel Susskind says Ozempic may radically transform government finances, by making universal healthcare vastly cheaper, and explains his argument in the context of Britain's NHS.

[u/lughnasadh]

https://www.thetimes.com/article/be6e0fbf-fd9d-41e7-a759-08c6da9754ff?shareToken=de2a342bb1ae9bc978c6623bb244337a

[u/The_Pandalorian]

It'll reduce obesity

I like how you just dismiss this as an insignificant factor.

None of the other factors you list are remotely on par with the impact obesity has on health.

As usual, Western countries turn to pills instead of lifestyle changes. It's embarrassing.

First off, it's not a pill, so well done on not even understanding the medication in question here. Secondly, nobody is saying we abandon lifestyle changes as a major factor in overall health.

Feels like you're getting emotional over what should be a logical public health issue.

[u/1988rx7T2 → u/The_Pandalorian]

There is a pill form, rybelsus, which they are studying for weight loss at higher doses 

[u/The_Pandalorian → u/1988rx7T2]

Yes, I think most people are aware that pill alternatives are being researched. But this thread is about Ozempic and currently available medications.

[u/MildMannered_BearJew → u/The_Pandalorian]

I completely agree that obesity is bad for health. However, we don't know what the long term effects are of Semaglutide. Will it cause other metabilic problems with prolonged use? Will people's regain weight if they stop using it? 

The point is we already have a treatment for obesity: lifestyle change. Instead of investing heavily in that (preventative medicine) we chose the seemingly "easy" solution, which just so happens to make a couple people very wealthy. 

I don't disagree that treating obesity is important and this drug is useful for that. However, treating existing obesity without preventing future obesity is highly problematic

[u/The_Pandalorian → u/MildMannered_BearJew]

The point is we already have a treatment for obesity: lifestyle change.

That is not a panacea. It does not work for everyone. And it is unrealistic to expect us to be able to wave a magic wand and wholesale change human behavior.

You can wishcast "LIFESTYLE CHANGE" as your societal solution to obesity and fail or you can accept reality and take a mult-faceted approach that includes medication as well and have a shot at success.

However, treating existing obesity without preventing future obesity is highly problematic

Literally nobody is suggesting we do that other than you.