The boom in weight loss jabs: medicines as a solution for societal failure?

Medicines have revolutionised clinical practice over many years, and we have now entered an era of healthcare where medicines have become normalised within society. The number of prescriptions issued in the community over the past 25 years has more than doubled. Medicines have helped improve symptoms, prevent disease, and extend life. And their use is not only reflected in our approach to health and healthcare, but in our broader attitudes towards wellbeing, life in general, and what is considered “normal”.

A striking example of this is the recent emergence of injectable medicines for the treatment of obesity – so-called GLP-1 agonists. The rapid growth in their use is unlike any other therapy we have seen in recent years. Their unquestionable clinical effectiveness offers what appears to be a miracle solution to the millions of individuals struggling with their weight, and to a society wrestling with the public health crisis that is obesity.

But is the widespread roll-out of these medicines appropriate? The issue of obesity needs urgently addressed, with the cost to health services and the broader economy enormous. Yet the cost of GLP-1 agonists, if given to everyone who might benefit, would bankrupt the NHS. Money spent on weight loss jabs is money not spent on asthma or mental health or epilepsy. Furthermore, are we simply taking the easy way out, and not tackling the root causes of the obesity epidemic? Are we even creating new problems for ourselves, such as fostering unhealthy behaviours, creating unrealistic expectations of personal appearance, or making obesity an issue of wealth? And whose responsibility is this issue anyway – the overweight individual, the health service, policy makers, industry or wider society?

In this talk, Professor Rupert Payne will reflect on how such medicines have become a part of everyday life. He will discuss the rise in obesity, the development of GLP-1 agonists, and the effectiveness (and indeed safety) of these medicines. He will consider the normalisation of weight loss jabs, the potential risks to individuals and our society more generally, and the alternatives available to us. And finally, he will consider who should be accountable for ensuring we use these new “wonder drugs” in a responsible way and offer some thoughts on the way forward.

Practical Information

The presentation will include time for questions and discussion. Booking is strongly advised.

Access

The venue is wheelchair accessible with an accessible toilet on the ground floor. Please contact us regarding any specific accessibility requirements you may have by emailing [email protected]

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher The Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society