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Eli Lilly releases data for a new weight-loss drug to tackle obesity : Shots - Health News : NPR

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This drug is a true gamechanger

In the SURMOUNT-1 study, people who took the highest dose of tirzepatide, most of whom had a BMI of about 30 or higher but did not have diabetes, lost about 21% of their body weight during the 72 week study. As researchers point out, for people who have bariatric surgery, typical weight loss is about 25% to 30% of their weight, one or two years after the surgery. In the tirzepatide study, 36% of people taking the highest dose lost 25% or more of their body weight.

this is comparable to bariatric surgery

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As NPR has reported, when patients can't afford to stay on obesity medications, they are likely to gain much of the weight back.

If I were Eli Lilly and Company, I would invest into food science, trying to make as many different hyperpalatable foods aimed at teenagers and young adults as possible. The more people have BMI of 30 by the time they are 30, the bigger the market for their drug is. Imagine the government first handing out food stamps to poor Americans, then paying for their obesity treatment via Medicaid.

Are "whales" really where McDonald's makes its money, as if it's like a company putting out free-2-play games for PCs and smartphones? I remember the iconic message you'd sometimes see spelled out on those signs outside: "Over 1 Billion Served." I'd assume that McD's business model relies less on sporadic-yet-still-plentiful gluttons and more on the literal billions of average joes who might choose the convenience of a double cheeseburger, fries, and a drink at least every once in a while.

That said, I'll acknowledge that your basic point might still be right, that this might be at least a small disaster for certain parts of the food and drink industry.

It's a disaster for weight loss industry . weight watchers, Adkins, nutrisystem, slimfast, and so on

Now hold on, I'm pre-registering the prediction that it will have a tangible effect, but I'm skeptical it will be a wonder-pill that will send multiple industries into a downward spiral.

At least one industry (weight loss centres) is already feeling the effect:

https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/28/business/jenny-craig-weight-loss-ozempic/index.html