False Fears of a Flood of Obesity Medicine Use
Headlines and health plans depict the demand for advanced obesity medicines in terms of mania or a stampede. “The Ozempic craze is booming in the United States,” says the University of Kentucky healthcare system. But is it reasonable to describe the people seeking these medicines as crazed? Or is this really an expression of false fears about a flood of obesity medicine use – a moral panic?
A recent survey of U.S. adults conducted by Morning Consult confirms that most people – 73% of relevant respondents – are just not interested in losing weight with these new medicines.
Morning Consult was doing this particular survey for PCRM – an activist group that promotes vegan diets. But the results are very similar to other surveys Morning Consult has done. For instance, the research firm conducted a detailed study back in May. They found that 71% of respondents had no interest in trying these drugs for weight loss.
So no, there is no stampede that has everyone demanding these drugs.
But Aren’t One in Eight Adults Taking Them?
News reports often tell us that one in eight adults have taken these drugs. This is a factoid from a KFF survey published in May. We hear it over and over again from people trying to invoke the idea that everywhere you look, people are taking these drugs. But this flood narrative omits the fact that most of the people taking these drugs are taking them for diabetes. Not for obesity or weight loss.
Let’s be clear. The need for obesity care is great. Obesity is a costly disease that lies at the root of many other chronic diseases. Until now, the use of obesity medicines has been close to zero. So the emergence of these effective options has sparked growth that seems very high in comparison to use that previously was nil. When one starts at zero, growth rates are infinite.
The false fears of a flood of obesity medicine use come from weight bias. The impulse to think it is somehow wrong to seek medical care for this complex chronic disease is strong. But it is nothing more than an expression of moral panic.
So we are a bit tired of people writing about an “Ozempic craze.” People who seek medical care are not crazed. They are trying to improve their health.
Click here and here for reporting on the latest Morning Consult poll and here for their earlier, more thorough research. For the KFF survey, click here.
The Flood, painting by Hans Baldung / WikiArt
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October 20, 2024
