A promise, a responsibility

Across continents, a profound shift is unfolding in how societies approach weight loss and health. Medicines, such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, have moved obesity from the margins of personal struggle into the centre of medical and public discourse.

- DR PREETHA REDDY

In many ways, this marks progress. Obesity is increasingly being recognised as a chronic disease shaped by biology, hormones, environment, stress and modern living, rather than a simple failure of willpower.

In the US, prescriptions for these drugs have surged at an unprecedented pace. It began as treatment for diabetes and then rapidly expanded into weight loss, fuelled by clinical results, celebrity narratives and social media amplification. Demand soon outstripped supply, leading to shortages for patients with medical need and a parallel rise in unregulated online sales. Regulators have since warned repeatedly about counterfeit versions circulating through digital platforms, some containing incorrect doses or unsafe substitutes.

Canada's experience has been more cautious and they restricted exports of weight-loss drugs, after cross-border demand from the US threatened domestic availability. In parts of Europe, regulators have tightened prescribing norms and advertising rules, while reinforcing that weight-loss drugs are not intended for cosmetic use or rapid transformation.