Front Burner – “Should everybody be taking Ozempic?” (December 11, 2025) Host: Jayme Poisson
Guest: Dylan Scott, Senior Correspondent, Vox

Episode Overview

This episode of Front Burner takes a deep dive into the rapidly rising use of GLP-1 weight loss drugs in Canada, specifically Ozempic, and explores their growing use, benefits, side effects, social consequences, and the question on many minds: should everyone be taking them? With the World Health Organization now conditionally recommending these drugs for long-term obesity treatment, and cheaper generics on the horizon, the conversation gets to the heart of medical, ethical, and societal concerns—featuring expert insight from Dylan Scott of Vox.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The WHO Endorsement & Global Context

• Obesity as a Global Health Crisis
  • The WHO now conditionally recommends GLP-1 drugs for long-term adult obesity treatment, calling them a “powerful clinical tool offering hope to millions.”
  • “Obesity is one of our biggest global public health challenges... it contributes to almost 4 million deaths worldwide every year.” (Dylan Scott, 03:27)
  • The drugs’ effectiveness—causing 15–20% body weight loss in clinical trials—has no precedent.
  • Equity Concerns: The biggest worry is access. WHO fears high costs could “widen the gap between rich and poor, both between and within countries” (WHO statement, 05:24).

2. How GLP-1 Drugs Work and Lived Experiences

• Science of Satiety & Desire
  • These drugs slow digestion in the gut (causing fullness) and affect the brain’s dopamine pathways—curbing cravings and making unhealthy foods less appealing.
  • “It makes it easier to eat less. It makes... those foods that are bad for you less tempting.” (Dylan Scott, 06:48)
  • Many patients report “quieting food noise”: less urge to snack or indulge in processed foods.
  • These effects produce real, sometimes rapid, weight loss—helping motivate widespread uptake.

3. Potential Beyond Weight Loss (Cravings & Cognition)

• Addiction and Compulsive Behaviors
  • Early research suggests GLP-1s may help with addictions—including substance abuse, gambling, or compulsive shopping—by blunting desire pathways.
  • “They can help to kind of break...that feedback loop that leads to compulsive addictive behaviors.” (Dylan Scott, 08:18)
  • Some clinics already prescribe them off-label for these purposes, though evidence is preliminary.
• Cognitive Effects and Dementia
  • Some studies hint at anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective effects, sparking hope for dementia prevention.
  • However, clinical trials (Novo Nordisk) show little to no benefit for those already developing dementia—possibly more preventive than therapeutic.
  • “It’s a nuanced picture, but there is...some reason to be optimistic that younger people who do end up taking these drugs...could also ultimately be delaying the development of dementia.” (Dylan Scott, 12:05)

4. Should Everyone Take Ozempic? Risks & Side Effects

• No Magic Pill: Health Risks Remain
  • Side effects are real: constipation, nausea, vomiting (expected when slowing the gut)—mild for most, severe for some.
  • “There’s no such thing as a magic pill...any kind of pharmaceutical intervention comes with a risk of side effects, potential downsides.” (Dylan Scott, 13:45)
  • Rare but serious risks: eye conditions, rapid fat and muscle loss, and even organ dysfunction if weight drops too fast without dietary/exercise changes.
  • Unexpected issues include loss of muscle mass and, paradoxically, decreased enjoyment of food and even things like caffeine—raising questions about quality of life.
  • “If you go on these drugs but don’t really change anything else...you might end up feeling really weak.” (Dylan Scott, 15:55)
  • “We want to be careful. Removing the desires for certain things [like food] is definitely desirable. Removing somebody’s desires...to do the things that make life worth living...that’s where we would be concerned.” (Dylan Scott, 19:32)

5. Access, Cost, and the Temptation to Overuse

• With Generics Coming—Will Ozempic Be Overused?
  • The high monthly costs (CAD 400–500) keep most people from casual use, but with generics pending, some worry about widespread, even inappropriate uptake.
  • There’s no evidence of GLP-1s being biologically addictive, but societal pressures regarding thinness could “create a pretty vicious feedback loop,” especially among people vulnerable to body image concerns.
  • “People want to be skinny, people want to lose weight...the temptation to get on these drugs...is going to become higher and higher.” (Dylan Scott, 22:01)
  • Not a fault of the drug, but a risk of misuse through cultural ideals about thinness.

6. Wider Societal Ripple Effects

• Economy & Culture
  • Ozempic’s boom has transformed Denmark’s economy and shifted behavior in many sectors.
  • Its popularity is being compared to disruptive technologies like the iPhone or Uber.
  • Societally, the rise of these drugs has complicated progress toward less stigma around body weight:
    “It does seem like we’re kind of scrambling our relationship to obesity at a time where it seemed like we were finally getting to a sort of healthier conception of this disease.” (Dylan Scott, 26:11)
  • Celebrity culture and media speculation feed unhealthy aspirations, even as drugs offer real hope to those struggling with intractable obesity.
  • “These drugs...can be...a jump start, first steps towards better weight loss, because there are people for whom dieting and exercising is really difficult and doesn’t always work.” (Dylan Scott, 26:23)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the “Magic Pill” Myth:
  “There’s no such thing as a magic pill...any kind of pharmaceutical intervention comes with a risk of side effects, potential downsides.” – Dylan Scott (13:45)
• On Societal Misuse:
  “People want to be skinny, people want to lose weight...the temptation to get on these drugs...is going to become higher and higher.” – Dylan Scott (22:01)
• On Food and Pleasure:
  “I don’t think there’s any risk of anybody walking around being totally zombified because they’re on GLP1s. But we want to be careful.” – Dylan Scott (19:19)
• On Promise and Pitfalls:
  “Obesity is not a personal failing. It’s a medical condition that should be treated. And here these amazing treatments come onto the scene, kind of promising really effective weight loss.” – Dylan Scott (25:15)
• On Societal Shifts:
  “It does seem like we’re kind of scrambling our relationship to obesity at a time where it seemed like we were finally getting to a sort of healthier conception of this disease.” – Dylan Scott (26:11)

Important Timestamps

| Topic/Quote | Speaker | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|------------| | WHO’s conditional recommendation, reasons behind the shift | Dylan Scott | 03:00–05:24| | How GLP-1s work & “quieting food noise” | Dylan Scott | 05:40–07:30| | Addiction & cognitive applications | Dylan Scott | 08:05–12:20| | Risks, side effects, “should everyone take Ozempic?” | Dylan Scott | 13:25–17:32| | Loss of pleasure, worries about desire suppression | Dylan Scott | 17:32–20:25| | Cost, abuse risk, generics | Dylan Scott | 21:10–23:22| | Broader economic and cultural impact | Dylan Scott | 23:26–26:38|

Tone & Language

This episode maintains a balanced, curious tone—respectful of the excitement but cautious about unknowns and risks. Dylan’s explanations are clear, evidence-focused, and candid, and Jayme Poisson’s questions probe both science and social implications. The conversation is empathetic to lived experiences, but careful not to hype or condemn.

Summary by Topic Sections:

• What are GLP-1s/Ozempic and why is the WHO now recommending them?
• How do these drugs change appetite and potentially other desires?
• Are there benefits for addiction or dementia?
• What are the side effects and risks—including loss of pleasure?
• What could happen with cheap generics—overuse, societal pressure, and cultural change?
• Could these drugs backfire, reversing progress toward destigmatizing obesity?
• Conclusion: A nuanced, rapidly evolving picture with both huge promise and important open questions.

For listeners and non-listeners alike, this episode offers a comprehensive and accessible breakdown of the key medical, ethical, and social dimensions of an emerging pharmaceutical revolution—inviting us to pause and ask not just “can we,” but “should we?”