Magic Pill
The Extraordinary Benefits and Disturbing Risks of the New Weight-Loss Drugs
1 of 1 copy available
In January 2023, Johann Hari started to inject himself once a week with Ozempic, one of the new drugs that produces significant weight loss. He wasn’t alone—some predictions suggest that in a few years, a quarter of the U.S. population will be taking these drugs. While around 80 percent of diets fail, someone taking one of the new drugs will lose up to a quarter of their body weight in six months. To the drugs’ defenders, here is a moment of liberation from a condition that massively increases your chances of diabetes, cancer, and an early death.
Still, Hari was wildly conflicted. Can these drugs really be as good as they sound? Are they a magic solution—or a magic trick? Finding the answer to this high-stakes question led him on a journey from Iceland to Minneapolis to Tokyo, and to interview the leading experts in the world on these questions. He found that along with the drug’s massive benefits come twelve significant potential risks.
He also found that these drugs radically challenge what we think we know about shame, willpower, and healing. What do they reveal about the nature of obesity itself? What psychological issues begin to emerge when our eating patterns are suddenly disrupted? Are the drugs a liberation or a further symptom of our deeply dysfunctional relationship with food?
These drugs are about to change our world, for better and for worse. Everybody needs to understand how they work—scientifically, emotionally, and culturally. MAGIC PILL is an essential guide to the revolution that has already begun, and which one leading expert argues will be as transformative as the invention of the smartphone.
* This audiobook edition contains a downloadable PDF with additional resources and endnotes.
-
Creators
-
Publisher
-
Release date
May 7, 2024 -
Formats
-
OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593943380
- File size: 243092 KB
- Duration: 08:26:26
-
-
Languages
- English
-
Reviews
-
July 8, 2024
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. -
September 13, 2024
Journalist Hari (Stolen Focus) offers a personal perspective on humankind's increasingly dysfunctional attitudes toward food and on the benefits, risks, and inner workings of weight-loss drugs. Hari investigates his own complex relationship with food, weight, and body image and examines its impact on his life. (He himself takes the diabetes drug Ozempic.) He explores the global rise in obesity, the availability of highly processed foods, and evolving cultural attitudes toward fat-shaming and body acceptance. Hari also explains the mechanisms behind the new GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, highlighting their effectiveness while questioning the long-term implications and potential links to disordered eating. To offer contrast, he discusses the low obesity rates in Japan, exploring the country's food culture and nutrition education that starts in elementary school. Hari's narration is captivating, drawing listeners in with his natural storytelling ability and passion for the subject matter. He skillfully navigates personal anecdotes with thorough summaries of scientific research, maintaining engagement throughout. VERDICT With a blend of personal stories, scientific insights, and cultural analysis, listeners will be captivated. Hari's personal journey and the extensive research into obesity and the pros and cons of new treatments resonate deeply.--Christa Van Herreweghe
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
-