This paper was written inline with this years HOSA research theme “should the GLP1 agonist be available to anyone who wants it?”
My take was No, here its why,
48% of Americans are obese. This staggering statistic is implied by the fact that there is a McDonald’s approximately every 4 miles of metropolitan areas in the US, making the alluring temptation to get that savory snack hard to resist when the nearest Big Mac lurks just around the corner. Though GLP 1 drugs, such as semaglutide and liraglutide, aren’t as attainable as your nearest Big Mac, over 13 million adults aged 18-64 have been on some configuration of a GLP1, whether it was for its intended use, diabetic control or, the unexpurgated reason of this paper: weight loss. But nevertheless, the question still lingers, “Why wouldn’t we want the use of a drug proven to help the obesity epidemic plaguing America?”
Well, the answer is simple. Despite the staggering appeal of weight loss, there is insufficient research to make complex claims about the real side effects of the drug. The GLP1 drug was introduced in 2005, meaning we have only around 20 years of research regarding diabetes, and a mere 7 years regarding weight loss, when the FDA recommends at least 10 years of research before one is able to make a complex claim concerning long-term side effects of any existing drug. Let’s regard another demographic; the GLP-1 drugs work by mimicking hormones produced by L cells in our intestines, triggering bodily responses similar to those that occur after food intake. Consequently, this mechanism lowers glucose levels, and simultaneously emulates natural bodily processes that occur with eating food with nearly 90% homogeneity. Moreover, if you observe this critically, its similarity is quite terrifying as it raises the questions: “If a drug mimics natural body reactions, how does the body know when to stop producing its own hormones?” To better illustrate this concept, consider nicotine, where prolonged dependence on the drug eventually deteriorates the natural level of dopamine, promoting a dependence on the drug for that content feeling everyone seems to be chasing nowadays. Now, if this is the case regarding the GLP-1 drugs, mimicry such as these could disrupt natural hormonal balances, impacting digestion and metabolism in unknown ways. This leads to the lingering question, “What could happen during a long-term dependency?” and the answer “You are the lab rat.”
According to Mayo Clinic, once on the GLP1 agonist, you will start dropping pounds swiftly (est. 15-30.) Simultaneously, this change gives people the motivation to chase the life they have always dreamed of, the life of blending into society, and not having to worry about clothes fitting, but with that success, there are obstacles. The wall, the body’s ideal weight which is identified as a “set point” will eventually be hit, making the number on the scale stop, and stagger a couple digits. This type of countermand can be devastating to one after seeing so much progress, and cause you to give up, and revert to your previous ways of comfort, which generally relies on unhealthy activities such as binge-eating. Moreover, mental health studies conducted by UNC state that approximately 18% of obese individuals have suicidal tendencies, the rate doubling when weight is regained, making this not just a physical risk, but a mental one too. So, should everyone have access to GLP-1 drugs? The answer is no. The statement “anyone” stands out significantly, since with the influence of social media, numerous individuals could be swayed to consumption, especially younger generations striving for the “perfect body.” The American Diabetes Association itself has stated that sale of the drug have dramatically increased, and not because more diabetic cases are ascending, but the #Weight-loss trend is. These drugs should be reserved for diabetic control with careful regulation, where the critical question remains, “Do you really need it?”
Thank you for reading!