alt Hacker NewsIt’s been studied pretty well. Possible effective solutions to the US obesity epidemic are pretty much limited to:
1) Radically alter aspects of food culture, work culture, social policy, and business regulation.
2) Magic pill (/injection)
There appears to be no imminent progress on the many parts of #1 that need serious work, so if we want a big turn-around in the next half-century, #2 has suddenly and surprisingly become a real possibility.
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> Possible effective solutions to the US obesity epidemic
Just wanted to mention that this is not a US problem, and framing it as such won't help find solutions. Even in southeast Asia the rates over obesity are steadily increasing. Europe is already much fatter than southeast Asia. This is a worldwide phenomenon.
From the article "Estimates suggest GLP-1s can reduce body weight by at least 15% when taken regularly". That's a 5'10" man starting at 250lbs (obese, BMI > 35) and finishing at 220lbs (obese, BMI >30).
Or a 5'10" man starting at 220lbs (obese) and finishing at 187lbs (overweight, BMI > 26).
It ain't nothing, but that's not a magic pill which will fix the obesity epidemic. And these people have skipped changing their lifestyle, exercise, diet, and attitudes around food.
But is it time to give up just because there hasn't been much progress yet? It seems now that we have #2 there's little incentive for #1, whereas there was plenty incentive for #1 before even if little action.
I know someone who has lost about 60lbs. The reaction of most people is 'what pill did you take'. They find out it is basically no sugar and limited amounts of food with some mild exercise. Pretty much every one of them is 'thats hard' and do not do it. And frankly it is hard. Like 95% of a grocery store has way to much of what you need for your daily intake in some form or another. It is that 5% you have to dig thru the whole mountain of crap to find. Then once you find it hope like hell the manufacture does not stop selling it. Or enjoy making everything from scratch (even that is a pain).
I would not jump on that current pill yet. Wait and see. There are probably serious side effects that we mere plebes do not get to find out about yet (that is for 20 years from now). Like what is the side effects when you stop taking it? What if your dose is too high/low? What is the long term usage like for other parts of the body?
Sounds similar to most major world/cultural issues today. You can make the exact same argument about climate change for example.
But at the same time, part of me wants to ask... why is this a problem? Why shouldn't we just use science and technology to fix human problems and remove any unfortunate consequences from society?
What's wrong with a world where anyone can eat as much of anything as they want, do no exercise at all, ignore their dental health and smoke like a chimney, yet still have perfect health without any downsides?
Objectively, it would be a better society, with everyone materially better off and a system that doesn't need anywhere near as many resources to care of its citizens.
Why would it matter what route is chosen here?