In America, processed foods are nearly unavoidable — especially when eating on a budget — and a nearly one trillion dollar food industry has quite a bit to lose if Americans start losing weight.
New treatments for Type 2 diabetes have been found to cause significant weight loss, causing a surge in off-label use of the drugs, and posing a potential threat to the behemoth industry.
Though the posturing of food manufacturers — especially those that sell confections and snacks — has been confident, a recent report from Morgan Stanley estimates that this could cause a significant decline in sales of sodas, alcoholic beverages, and food in general.
As obesity and diabetes rise, a recent push for Health At Any Size (HAAS) — said to approach health in a way that destigmatizes being overweight — seems curiously timed, leaving some wondering whether the food industry is pushing the narrative.
Just six years ago, a new drug — semaglutide, known by the brand name Ozempic — was approved by the FDA to treat Type 2 diabetes. Developed by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, Ozempic can reduce blood sugar and appetite, often resulting in substantial weight loss — between ten and 20 percent of body weight within one year. The drug also saw a 20 percent reduction in cardiovascular events.
In 2011, Novo Nordisk received FDA approval for use of Wegovy — a higher dose of semaglutide otherwise identical to Ozempic — to treat obesity in adults and children over 10 years old.
Tirzepatide, developed and manufactured by American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, has been found to cause similar weight loss, though the FDA has only approved the drug — sold under the brand name Mounjaro — for use in treatment of Type 2 diabetes.
Both semaglutide and tirzepatide are taken through weekly self-administered injections. The drugs mimic GLP-1, a gut hormone that controls blood sugar levels and reduces appetite. This prompts the body to produce more insulin, and interacts with brain signals that affect appetite and a feeling of fullness.
In America, an escalating obesity epidemic has contributed to a rise in Type 2 diabetes, a condition where insulin resistance is developed, resulting in blood cells not being able to convert blood sugar into energy.
The pancreas, which produces insulin, cannot keep up with the increased demand, resulting in uncontrollable blood sugar levels, which damages the body and can cause heart and kidney diseases, vision loss, poor blood circulation, and myriad other ailments.
Today an estimated 15 percent of Americans have diabetes, more than 37 million — 25 percent of whom are yet undiagnosed, 90 to 95 percent of whom have Type 2 diabetes. Though most common in those over 60 (an estimated 30 percent), an alarming number of children and youth under 20 are now being diagnosed — and increasing by nearly five percent each year. The biggest risk factors for developing Type 2 diabetes are being overweight and a lack of exercise.
Diabetes has a disproportionate effect on different populations. 21 percent of Hispanic, 19 percent of Black, and 18 percent of Asian populations in America are diabetic, compared to 12 percent of White Americans. Low income Americans and those with less than a high school degree are at least twice as likely to have diabetes.
A stunning estimated 42 percent of American adults are obese, and an additional 31 percent are overweight — 73 percent of the adult population. An estimated 20 percent of children are obese. Though about 40 percent of Americans aged 20-39 are obese today, iit is estimated that 57 percent of current children will be obese by age 35.
Once a patient is prescribed semaglutide or tirzepatide, treatment must continue for the effects to be sustained. If treatment is stopped, the drug fully leaves the body within two months, appetite returns to previous levels, and the weight — and its negative health effects — can quickly return.
Over the last five years, demand for semaglutide has surged by 4,000 percent, and for the last year shortages in both Ozempic and Wegovy have made it increasingly difficult for patients to find the drug. Because Wegovy is more expensive than Ozempic, physicians are often prescribing Ozempic for off-label use for patients seeking to lose weight. This has caused a disruption in treatment for patients with Type 2 diabetes, who are competing with those seeking to lose weight for the drug.
Novo Nordisk says shortages of its semaglutide products are expected to continue through at least 2024, though they are increasing production, opening additional production sites and contracting with additional manufacturers.
“Demand continues to outpace our increasing production of Wegovy,” their website advises, “as a result, we anticipate ongoing supply disruption, and are aware that some patients will continue having difficulty filling Wegovy prescriptions.” They recommend patients seek refills from their pharmacies much earlier than normal, and be specific about the dose strength to ensure pharmacies are able to order what they need.
