Over the past decade, Ozempic has risen to prominence as one of the leading drug treatments for those with type II diabetes. The active ingredient in Ozempic, semaglutide, works by mimicking our body’s natural GLP-1 hormone, lowering blood sugar by increasing insulin production and decreasing glucagon release. In the same vein, Wegovy functions identical to Ozempic but the only difference is that Wegovy is prescribed specifically for weight management while Ozempic is for type II diabetes.
As these drug’s popularity surges, however, a multitude of ethical concerns have emerged, particularly concerning Ozempic’s intended purpose which is increasingly overshadowed by its appeal as an easy path to weight loss. One of the main ethical concerns against prescribing semaglutide drugs for weight loss is that it will leave those who ‘need it most’ for therapeutic purposes worse off (Ryan et al. 2025). This is because there are more people affected by their weight than type II diabetes - here is where the controversy kicks in.
Arguments against prescribing these drugs for weight loss are firmly grounded in the idea that the overwhelming majority of people (at least in the U.S) who request this drug for their weight, are victims of their own lifestyle. Rather than working on one's lifestyle, people see these drugs as an easy way out of the problem they have caused, and continue to cause. Similarly, it can be argued that the U.S government takes the same stance because prescribing semaglutide’s is easier than dealing with population obesity caused by issues with the healthcare industry. Additionally, there is growing fear that the widespread use of semaglutide could reinforce fat-phobic rhetoric due to the notion that getting one’s body ‘back into shape’ is considered a moral activity.
On the other hand, there are many viable reasons to prescribe semaglutide drugs for weight loss, starting with combating obesity. While most perceive obesity as someone who is just lazy, it is needless to say that it is much more complicated than that. In addition to treating obesity, prescribing semaglutide offers a less risky therapy compared to bariatric surgery due to the differing side effects of each. Common side effects for bariatric patients include nutritional deficiency, anaemia, osteoporosis, neuropathy, calcium oxalate urolithiasis and infertility, while common side effects of semaglutide include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, and constipation.
The point of this blog is not to be comprehensive, rather it is meant to spark interest and encourage further self research into the subject. While I briefly spoke on some arguments for and against prescribing semaglutide for weight loss, there is far more to uncover. Such as: How does long term use of Ozempic or Wegovy affect female reproduction? Should those who struggle with their weight be bailed out by this drug, or should they be encouraged to change their lifestyle first? Should the U.S government reallocate its subsidies for Wegovy to Ozempic? Who takes priority when requesting Ozempic, diabetics or obese patients?
Ryan, N., & Savulescu, J. (2025). The Ethics of Ozempic and Wegovy. Journal of medical
ethics, jmw-2024-110374. Advance online publication.
https://doi.org/10.1136/jme-2024-110374
as someone who works as a pharmacy tech, i never stopped to think about how these medications affect a woman's reproduction system. Also it's sad how some medications fix some problems but can cause others :(
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