Doctors explain how Wegovy and Ozempic work - 60 Minutes - CBS News

Anti-obesity drugs are increasing successful popularity successful the United States arsenic a greater fig of Americans are being diagnosed with obesity than ever before. 

This week connected 60 Minutes, analogous Lesley Stahl reported connected treatments for obesity that are often costly and not ever covered by wellness insurance.

Among the medications discussed successful the study are Wegovy and Ozempic. The drugs are some made by the pharmaceutical institution Novo Nordisk and incorporate the progressive constituent semaglutide. Other than their recommended dosage levels, the medications are the same. However, Novo Nordisk applied for support for them from the Food and Drug Administration nether antithetic marque names to dainty antithetic conditions. Ozempic was archetypal approved by the FDA arsenic a benignant 2 diabetes medicine successful 2017. Wegovy was approved by the FDA arsenic a chronic value absorption attraction successful 2021.

Both drugs are administered done an injection utilizing a instrumentality that resembles an EpiPen. In the video above, Dr. Caroline Apovian, a value absorption specializer astatine Brigham and Women's Hospital successful Boston, who consults for Novo Nordisk, explains however the medications work. Dr. Apovian besides noted that immoderate of the broadside effects of semaglutide see nausea, vomiting, and constipation. A implicit database of side effects for the drugs tin beryllium recovered online. 

While reporting this story, 60 Minutes learned that immoderate patients person experienced challenges uncovering Wegovy and Ozempic contempt being prescribed the medications by a physician. 

In a statement, Novo Nordisk told 60 Minutes the intermittent shortages of Ozempic pens dosed astatine 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg were caused by "demand coupled with wide planetary proviso constraints." The institution said each doses of Wegovy are connected way to beryllium "broadly disposable astatine retail pharmacies crossed the country" successful the opening of 2023.

Novo Nordisk Statement to 60 Minutes

You tin ticker Lesley Stahl's afloat study connected obesity below.