Magic Pill: The Extraordinary Benefits and Disturbing Risks of the New Weight-Loss Drugs

Ozempic and Wegovy carry “huge potential benefits... and huge potential risks,” according to this balanced assessment. Journalist Hari (Stolen Focus) explains how the research on GLP-1, a hormone that’s released in the gut after eating, led to the development of weight-loss drugs that generate long-lasting copies of the hormone, helping users feel sated for longer after meals. There are pros and cons to these medications, he contends, noting that while they reduce the likelihood of cardiac events by 20% and stabilize blood sugar levels in people with diabetes, the long-term risks remain unknown. More troubling, he argues, is that the drugs allow the food industry to escape culpability for manufacturing harmful, ultra-processed products designed to generate cravings while providing little nutritional value. Hari, who was formerly considered clinically obese, probes his own ambivalence about taking Ozempic, recounting how his confidence swelled after losing more than 30 pounds on the drug, even as he felt guilty about not losing the weight “through hard work.” The levelheaded analysis recognizes how weight-loss drugs can serve as band-aids for broader problems even as they provide real benefits, and Hari’s candid introspection reveals the complex psychological effects of taking the medications. One of the first books about the Ozempic age, this sets a high bar for those to follow. Agent: Richard Pine, InkWell Management. (May)