>>> IN DECEMBER OF 2017 A
MEDICATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF
TYPE 2 DIABETES WAS APPROVED BY
THE FDA.
IT WAS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAME
OZEMPIC.
IN RECENT MONTHS THE DRUG HAS
BECOME A NATIONAL PHENOMENON FOR
A DIFFERENT BENEFIT, WEIGHT
LOSS.
THE TALK OF HOLLYWOOD RED
CARPETS AND SUBURBAN BOOK CLUBS.
OZEMPIC IS EFFECTIVE, BUT IS IT
SAFE FOR EVERYONE USING IT?
SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT DR.
JOHN TORRES HAS OUR "SUNDAY
FOCUS."
>> Reporter: FOR DECADES IT’S
BEEN AN OBSESSION FOR MILLIONS
OF AMERICANS.
>> ARE YOU READY TO DO THE
WORKOUT?
>> Reporter: HOW TO DROP THOSE
EXTRA POUNDS.
IN THE OLD DAYS IT WAS ALL ABOUT
EXERCISE AND EATING BETTER.
BUT NOW PEOPLE LOOKING TO LOSE
WEIGHT HAVE A NEW TOOL IN THEIR
ARSENAL.
>> BABY, THE HYPE IS REAL.
>> Reporter: PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
CALLED SEMAGLUTIDE COME IN A
PEN, OZEMPIC AND WEGOVY
DEVELOPED TO HELP PEOPLE WITH
TYPE 2 DIABETES IN PATIENTS WITH
OBESITY BUT WITH A DESIRABLE
SIDE EFFECT, WEIGHT LOSS.
>> OH, UP TO 12 POUNDS.
>> Reporter: ELON MUSK AND
CHELSEA HANDLER HAVE ADMITTED TO
TAKING IT.
THIS TREND HAS TAKEN THE WEIGHT
LOSS WORLD BY STORM.
>> EVERYBODY LOOKS SO GREAT.
WHEN I LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM I
CAN’T HELP BUT WONDER IS OZEMPIC
RIGHT FOR ME? >> Reporter: THE ADS FROM PARENT
COMPANY NOVA NORDISK AND
MOUNJARO FROM LILY, SHAKING UP
THE $75 BILLION WEIGHT LOSS
MARKET.
POPULAR PROGRAMS LIKE WEIGHT
WATCHERS AND NOOM ARE JOINING
THE CRAZE ACQUIRING AND
LAUNCHING TELEHEALTH PROGRAMS TO
OFFER THE DRUGS ALONG WITH THEIR
DIET TRACKING SUBSCRIPTIONS.
PART OF A STRATEGY THAT
RECOGNIZES OBESITY AS A CHRONIC
AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY DISEASE.
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT WEIGHT
WATCHERS AND NOOM ARE NOW
INTRODUCING THESE WEIGHT LOSS
DRUGS FOR THEIR CLIENTS?
>> WE CAN’T SHOULDER THIS BURDEN
ALONE, AND I APPRECIATE THE
INDUSTRY IS TRYING TO STEP UP TO
THE PLATE. >> Reporter: OZEMPIC WORKS BY
MIMICKING GLUCAGON-LIKE PEPTIDE
WHICH ALLOWS PATIENTS TO FEEL
FULL LONGER.
WEGOVY HAS BEEN FDA APPROVED TO
TREAT THOSE WHO ARE OVERWEIGHT
OR OBESE BUT NOT THOSE WHO DON’T
MEET THE STANDARD WITH SOME
DOCTORS SOUNDING THE ALARM ON
USING THE DRUG FOR VANITY.
>> IF YOU’RE DOING THIS FOR A
SHORT-TERM GAIN YOU’RE NOT GOING
TO GET THE LONG-TERM BENEFIT AND
THE SUSTAINED SUCCESS WE WANT
FOR PATIENTS THAT DO STRUGGLE
WITH DISEASE.
>> Reporter: THESE DRUGS DO COME
AT A COST BOTH FINANCIAL, WITH
NOT ALL HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS
COVERING THEM, AND PHYSICAL,
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS LIKE
NAUSEA, STOMACH PAIN, CON
CONSTIPATION
CONSTIPATION, DIARRHEA.
>> I THINK I’M 14 POUNDS DOWN.
>> Reporter: IRIS WAS FRUSTRATED
AT HER WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY WHICH
HER DOCTORS BELIEVE STEM FROM A
HORMONAL IMBALANCE.
>> I WAS DOING TWO-A-DAYS FOR 12
WEEKS, AND I GOT NOTHING.
>> Reporter: SHE’S BEEN TAKING
OZEMPIC SINCE FEBRUARY AND IT’S
HELPING HER ACHIEVE THE WEIGHT
LOSS SHE ALWAYS DREAMED OF.
>> VERY NORMAL ONE POUND A WEEK.
I CAN SEE MYSELF BEING ONE ON
THE MEDICATION FOR A WHILE AND
WEANING MYSELF OFF OF IT.
>> Reporter: ALTHOUGH IT IS
CHANGING THE WEIGHT LOSS
INDUSTRY, IRIS WILL TELL YOU
IT’S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR DIET AND
EXERCISE.
>> I’M A BELIEVER THAT OZEMPIC
IS A TOOL, AND THAT WE ALL VERY
WELL HAVE TO STILL COMMIT TO OUR
LIFESTYLE CHANGES.
SO I’M STILL GOING TO WORK OUT.
>> AND DR. TORRES JOINS ME NOW
LIVE.
DR. TORRES, GOOD MORNING.
THERE’S A REASON OZEMPIC IS SO
POPULAR FOR WEIGHT LOSS.
IT WORKS.
DO DOCTORS HAVE LONG-TERM
CONCERNS ABOUT SUBSCRIBING IT TO
LONG-TERM HEALTHY PATIENTS?
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING,
WILLIE.
THE VAST MAJORITY WILL SUFFER
GASTROINTESTINAL ISSUES,
BLOATING, CONSTITUTION,
DIARRHEA.
EVEN THE WEBSITES WARN OF KIDNEY
ISSUES, THYROID, TUMORS, EVEN
VISION CHANGES.
WE DO KNOW IN ONE STUDY THE VAST
MAJORITY OF PEOPLE, 70%, STOPPED
THE MEDICATION OVER A TWO-YEAR
PERIOD AND WHEN SOMEBODY DOES
STOP THE MEDICATION THEY’RE
GOING TO GET WEIGHT CYCLING,
THEIR WEIGHT WILL GET BACK TO
WHAT IT WAS, MAYBE EVEN HIGHER,
INCREASES IN BLOOD SUGAR, AND
THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO GET
INCREASES IN APPETITE AND
CRAVINGS.
IT DOES TAKE A COUPLE WEEKS FOR
THE MEDICATION TO WEAR OFF.
THEY’LL START NOTICING IT BUT
ESSENTIALLY WHAT THAT’S TELLING
US THE MEDICATION WORKS BUT ONLY
AS LONG AS YOU TAKE IT, WILLIE.