Katie Couric discusses "celebrity weight loss drug," Ozempic with obesity expert and Dr. Lou Aronne

[@karenvest9100]

I started Mounjaro in mid-July 2022 because I had diabetes. I’m now down 68lbs. I just got new bloodwork (A1c is 5.2) and no longer have diabetes glucose levels. I went from a size 16 to a size 4 in 6 months on doses 5mg to 10 mg. Hit maintenance at that 6 month mark but now to a size 2 at 12.5 mg No side effects. I haven’t exercised but I have tons of energy and have reversed many other medical issues. After being obese/overweight for 25 years I finally feel like I did in high school. Thank God for this medical breakthrough - life changing! Update, now 9/12/2023 down to 118lbs from all-time high of 200lbs 5’5”. My A1c is 5.2 & my LDL is 42, overall Cholesterol is 120. My triglycerides were over 1000 now 25. BP 118/78. I initially lost about 15lbs on WW from Jan-June 2022. Then started Mounjaro in mid July 2022. I lost the bulk of my weight on 5mg-10mg doses. I hit maintenance while on 10mg on Jan 2023. I’m currently on the 15mg dose because I was no longer able to get the $25 per month price. I have to pay $450. So my agreed increase does with the idea of spacing my dosing to every other week for maintenance. So far so good. My insurance will pay for Osempic so that may be a future option I’ll consider. Everything is still going great. My only regret is living with diabetes for 30 years & so miserable for so long. Why couldn’t I have been living the life I have now at 30? I’m now wearing a clothes size I haven’t been in since I was in high school. I’m grateful for my health now just wish I didn’t have to get to 60 yrs old before it happened. Most people I meet now think I’m in my early 40’s so that feels really good. I’m going to start exercising now and doing weights to maintain bone mass etc. Just so thankful for the energy to do it now. I encourage everyone with diabetes to try this. Good luck to all.

[@karenvest9100]

Response to Lena Wexler: thanks for your interest in my health. Update: now down 80 lbs total from all-time highest weight of 200lbs. And I am now in a size 2. I’m on the 12.5mg dose. My A1c is 5.1 so my Dr says I’m no longer diabetic but can still receive this treatment because of history of diabetes.

[@CindiWithanI.skyles]

That is so exciting !

[@yolandanichols3898]

Any loose skin?

[@flufwix]

That’s so wonderful for you! 😊

[@tsugal11]

I had a VERY SIMILAR result!

[@dapcook]

Started wegovy about a year ago, was 330, today I am 242. Life changing!

[@lilianemartel5281]

Question , if you get off the ozempic, will you re gain the weight ?

[@richardshultz6834]

Started Ozempic in 2019, Cost me my sence of tast and smell. My a1c went from 6.9 to 5.2 in six months. My weight went from 324 to 235. I worked at it really hard. I stopped taking it, thinking I could conrtol my weight from there. (don't like taking meds) Sorry did not happen I now weigh 298 and my a1c is 6.1. I went back to the doctor and got a prescription for Ozempic. The pharmacy had a waiting list for the script, I was number 140 on the list. Waited six weeks Sunday Feb 19, I got a call Ozempic was in stock. I had it with in the hour. If you don't think weight control is important get a back pack and put a bag of concrete (80 lbs) in it. Now walk around all day!!!! See how that workes. You would never tell and alcoholic to just drink less and expect it to work. Why would you expect a fat person to be able to just eat less?

[@LaureF-dq1gs]

Wait, you lost your sense of taste and smell due to Ozempic?

[@susanbeever5708]

A low carb or carnivore diet will do the same.

[@maryjones1]

I started taking Ozempic in November 2018, and did so for about 8 months. I was taking samples, as I am not a diabetic. My doctor felt that if I lost some weight, it would take some f the load off of my heart, and maybe my blood pressure would be under better control. I had an acute MI a year before, and the extra weight put more strain on my heart and such. I am 60 years young. If a person can get past the ‘tummy issues’, it works well. For me, it almost made me have an aversion to food overall. I stopped taking it, and now walk more and count the calories I eat each day, which is now working for me. I see Ozempic as having given me a jump start.

[@Pinkorchid72]

That’s a great application for these meds. A little jump start while making healthy lifestyle changes! Bravo!!

[@DanK123]

I hope everything continues well for you....though you may find you have bigger hunger urges soon. The body will want to revert to your old weight. Don't give up on it...maybe you can get by on a lower dose or a full dose less often.

[@Nan-59]

That’s what I need. Aversion to food. I attend OA. Overeaters Anonymous

[@HH-gv8mx]

Have you tried taking Berberine?

[@therealcrissyg]

I've lost over 50lbs and hadn't been this weight in over 20 years!!! This medication is a blessing🥰🙏🏽

[@pennychaney5161]

Way to go!!! How long did it take to lose the 50 pounds? I'm going to be starting Trulicity very soon. (Currently, have vertigo and didn't want to start new meds until I feel better)

[@daniellebelding7777]

How long did it take you to lose the 50 pounds? Very interested to know!

[@therealcrissyg]

@@daniellebelding7777 about 8 months🥰 I lost 40 in about 5 months then it took me 3 months to lose those last 10. I'm still losing slowly down 58lbs

[@robertfrapples2472]

I lost 65 lbs in 9 months by simply stopping all soda pop. I don't have to stay on your poison drug for the rest of my life because I have willpower. This drug is for the weak.

[@edyhendrix4087]

@@pennychaney5161 are you diabetic?

[@MarylandMermaid]

Just had 3rd injection. I began at age 76 5’3” 177 lbs. I’m 168 today. The reason I started Wegovy was for six months, I’d tried intermittent fasting along with 1200 calories, emphasis on Protein, low carbs. I was walking too despite a bad leg. Nothing. Nada. I gained on NOOM. So, I’m doing this as a jump start. Side effects have been nausea & constipation. Best thing is my insurance copay is $20 a month. If I’m depriving anyone of meds, I’m sorry, but I’m tired of struggling without results. I once weighed 232 and lost 80 pounds on my own. I’m trying to be independent and not rely on others in my old age. I’d like to reach 140-145, but mostly I want a bmi much less than 33. 7/4/24 UPDATE: I weigh 148 now. I quit Ozempic four months ago and lost the last 15 pounds by counting calories. The boost I needed was just a boost. The important thing is my kidney values are better and my BMI is 24

[@DEBH-i4d]

You go, girl! I'm in the same place at 70. I'd tried them all. Nothing worked. have lost 35 lbs since starting, 15 pounds to go. BP, lipids, Blood sugar all down to normal. Only side effect is lot of burping.

[@MarylandMermaid]

@@DEBH-i4d me too….burping and heartburn AND hiccups

[@zynabbah961]

Well done 👏🏼 my first injection today, diabetic for 25yrs, just over 50yrs and 170lbs

[@VoiceoverMomentum]

That’s amazing insurance! I’m type 2 diabetes and my insurance refuses to cover it-even though I have a severe reaction to other medications like Metformin.

[@DEBH-i4d]

Wow, $20! Mine is $90 with top-notch Fed BCBS. You must have amazing ins. My sister needs it too, but they aren't starting new scripts.

[@mistyhefner3790]

I have seen this work with my husband. It saved his life. He was almost 400lbs, people assumed he ate like a pig and was lazy which was not true. He had metabolic syndrome and a doctor put him on ozempic with a keto diet and it changed his life. He has lost over 100lbs and probably has saved his life.

[@TangieEdwards]

Congratulations to him 🎉

[@glennkoenig6078]

I have a very similar situation. How much of the weight loss do you attribute to the Ozempic vs. the keto diet? I started to loose just on the keto (low carb) diet before I took the Ozempic and am concerned about taking it forever or gaining the weight back when I stop taking it.

[@mistyhefner3790]

@@glennkoenig6078 my husband lost 80 pounds or more in a year with the diet and ozempic. Before the medicine he could barely lose 20 pounds. And he did not exercise.

[@tomoose1b629]

I am happy for him and I am happy for you also continued good luck, God bless.

[@susankilleen2011]

So very happy to hear your husband is getting results

[@selah7702]

this is a great interview - however, Katie, i feel that you conducted the interview as though perhaps you don't personally understand the battle of obesity, and that's fine if you have not experienced it in your life. But this guy gets it!!!! I really sensed Dr. Lou Aronne's advocacy for fighting obesity. Thank you sir!! I have been overweight, obese ro weight shamed for as long as I can remember at my earliest remembered pediatric dr appts, sometimes out of legit concerns and out of cultural expectations, but it never worked other than to make me feel ashamed. Now at 48 years old I am 10 months post bariatric (gastric bypass) surgery and I feel more alive and thriving than I can ever remember! A fresh start on life! He is absolutely right that these are life changing treatments and i am soooo very grateful to have had the opportunity to be helped overcome my obesity. I was 248 size 20/22 and now 151lbs size 6!!! Thank you sir for your dedication to all of us "fat kids" out here (That is who I have always felt I was in relation to every other peer) Katie, please try to open your mind to the experiences of the struggle of obesity. Thanks for this interview!!

[@marias2746]

Bariatric surgery I find to be better than these shots … so many have great outcomes of surgery and to tell people surgery has more risks then these shots for life I find misleading … there are way years of bariatric surgeries success results then these shots … they are very new for weight loss and no one should be on a medication for life unless it’s really life saving not to look thinner as a Beverly Hills house wife

[@trixier6505]

@@marias2746 My daughter took Ozempic, which worked well for her. So well that her blood work showed normal levels of everything, so her insurance will no longer pay for it.

[@Nan-59]

@@trixier6505 Oh, that’s crappy! 😮

[@cherylkoski7184]

151 pounds is not size 6

[@virtually_mia]

Yes. This is a game changer for those who could not afford barbaric surgery. Or have the support system to help us through it.

[@thegrumpypapa5549]

So easy for her to have this point of view. She isn't 100,200+ pounds overweight. I'm 63, I have had 3 back surgeries and can't do a lot in regards to "just exercise". In last 18 months I've been able to go from 275 to 215 as of this morning. I'm no longer looking at having to have my right knee replaced. I can now walk for about 30 minutes at a time which I haven't been able to since before 2001. This has been a life changer for me.

[@DanK123]

@@melissamcdaniel1383 You "don't take drugs to lose weight"....Tell us you haven't paid attention to the content of this video at all. Unbelievable. It's not about WHAT you're eating, but how much. The reason people are taking this is because obesity is basically a brain disorder, making it extremely difficult, if not impossible to regulate exactly what we eat. Go from 200 to 150 and eventually your brain/gut wants to get you back to 200, so you start to become hungry again. Gaining weight and keeping it on resets your body to a new normal and the problem just continues. It's extremely difficult and Wegovy and similar medications slow how your stomach processes food and you feel full longer. You simply will not feel hunger as much at all and will not be driven to eat to get back to the old weight. Do you understand now??

[@abigailsanchez7722]

Grumpy Papa don’t take what she said to heart. She is meaning people that are 10 or 20 lbs overweight and not really considered obese. Those that want just any easy fix to lose a few pounds to look better in their bikini for the summer or look better in their TiTok videos. Those are the people that are being greedy and wanting to be on the medication when they have no serious health problems.

[@abigailsanchez7722]

@@melissamcdaniel1383 Well good for you but remember not everyone is like you. Not everyone can accomplish that.

[@Letstalktruthfam]

I was thinking the same. She was trying her best to say this medicine is bad

[@bernadettedunn6129]

I hope the decision makers at Medicare/Medicaid are watching. These drugs when used effectively will be a great savings to insurance in the long run.

[@sheilastanaland]

Do they really want people to get well?

[@jennyclapp4710]

Medicaid and Medicare would rather pay for the greater costs of hypertension and diabetes than prevent it.

[@Sticky-Situation]

I do have insulin resistant, I've been on it for the last 3 weeks. When I tell you this has changed my life so far I wouldn't be exaggerating. I sleep better, feel less impulsive, have been loosing weight, which is a great motivation to make better choices and move more.

[@daniellebelding7777]

How much have you lost so far?

[@Gypsyxo0127]

I'm insulin resistant as well. Also PCOS, post menopause. My body isn't responding to eating healthy, being active. I talk to my doc about Wegovy in 2 weeks. I'm very nervous, but anxious to get this fat/weight off me.

[@daniellebudriss880]

65lbs down on Mounjaro and I can tell you it’s been life changing. I have suffered from PCOS since I had my last baby. I didn’t get a period for almost 2 years and couldn’t lose weight no matter what I ate or did. Mounjaro has regulated my body again so much so I got pregnant. I cannot thank these weight loss drugs enough!

[@chicchi19771]

I have PCOS too. Did your insurance cover it?

[@hollyb6885]

I can no longer find ozempic or mounjaro. I wish the manufacturers would make more soon.

[@DanK123]

Fantastic! Congrats! I just started because otherwise nothing will ever change for me. This stuff is truly life changing.

[@Deva080]

55 Pounds Down. And Off for Three years and Counting and No Drugs.

[@edyhendrix4087]

Mounjaro has been designed for TYPE II DIABETICS. It is not a weight loss drug.

[@TandyMartin]

I really appreciated his sane and balanced approach. It’s so difficult to weed through the many different opinions. Thanks Katie. Thank you Lou.

[@AgendaInMind]

Most of the more severe illnesses happen to people by having a traumatic event take them by surprise, unexpectantly, impacting first in the brain, then in the corresponding organ which that part of the brain controls. The end of WWI had absolutely everything to do with the Flu and lung TB outbreak that occurred killing millions. In nature, the biological conflict linked with a territorial fear (just what it means-a fear in your territory, your home, your community, etc.) is a widening of the bronchia (tissue loss). Your body attempts to widen your bronchia in order to allow more air into your lungs to give you more strength and energy to fight to keep your territory safe. Stay with me.......The biological conflict linked with a death fright impacts the lungs. The lungs attempt to grow larger in order to allow more air in because breath equals life, as we all know. No breath equals death. While you are in the fear or death fright conflict, you notice no symptoms of “disease”, except you have cold hands, cold feet, you can’t sleep, you awaken at 3 AM every night, you have little appetite. During the war, millions of people were in fear of the bombing of their homes and cities where the war was most active. Fearing for their lives, their loved ones in the war, their ability to survive. The food in the stores was sparse due to shortages. This lasted for 4 long years! The longer the conflict, the worse the healing phase. Within 2 weeks of the German Chancellor announcing the end of WWI, these millions of people ALL went into the healing phase all at the same time. It is during the healing phase that you experience symptoms of illness! What is the healing phase of the bronchia widening? Severe bronchitis, pneumonia. The body attempts to refill this lost tissue and you experience inflammation, fever, coughing, body aches, fatigue, etc. What is the healing phase of the extra lung tissue that grew? Decomposing of the tissue by TB bacteria and fungi. The symptoms of this healing phase are: severe coughing up of blood and tissue, fever, inflammation, severe mucous, body aches, fatigue. During this decomposing of the extra tissue (tumor), the body expels a lot of protein, and without replenishment, severe protein loss can result in death. Antibiotics did not exist yet. If TB bacteria does not exist in a person or they have been vaccinated against TB (big mistake), then the tumor will simply encapsulate and become dormant and not harm you. Who died during the Spanish Flu? Mainly the poor who could not afford to buy meat and proper nourishment, and the people who were directly impacted by the bombings and destruction of their homes. Millions of people suffered fear and death frights during the fighting of WWI, and millions of people all went into healing at the end of it. Not everyone was affected because not everyone suffered the same way. It’s not a “flu”, it’s not something you “catch”. It’s biological, meaningful, and unavoidable. One hundred years later, a Fear Campaign begins, using the media to spread it......

[@DianebelongstoChrist]

I’m impressed with Dr. Aronne's kindness.

[@debbiezenaida]

So am I. He understands the real struggle and the real inability for some of us to lose weight and how difficult it is,.

[@ramahh979]

I truly appreciate that you informed her that not all weight issues are related to behaviors such as over eating or laziness. I personally have done the diets, the workouts and fasting and my body will adjust by slowing down the processing of food and will simply hold onto whatever I do eat whenever I do. This misconception of behavior simply isn’t always the case. I know several morbidly obese people who eat less than “normal sized” people, and can’t seem to lose weight.

[@SandeepPatel-kp8ox]

I propose to you you need to fast longer like six days

[@ramahh979]

@@SandeepPatel-kp8ox appreciate the suggestion, but it’s not recommended as a diabetic. Blood sugar can drop too low

[@patriciasosa384]

I don’t think fasting is a good thing either again because you constantly starve your body it will be faster to hit a nerve like the doctor mentioned I used to do this and i gained 150 pounds just for doing that I had no idea how I started gaining weight now i am w a dietitian and am reversing all of the problems i had caused my body. And like this doctor mentioned no matter what i did i lost 0 pounds and instead gained day by day and i had no idea to why. The weird thing is that they do all of these test on me and i am not diabetic, no thyroid issues no cholesterol issues. I do have water retaining issues but nothing else. They are even in shock of why i am so healthy but gain weight like nothing.

[@dranandame]

Is she asking his expert opinion? Or forcing her viewpoint and concerns on him?

[@ramahh979]

@@dranandame this is a deflection from my comment. Some so-called expert opinions while “practicing medicine” are often trial and error and tend to limit prognosis on just weight symptoms alone, without doing due diligence to determine underlying issues.

[@margaretweiss8107]

That was a wonderful presentation. So informative and well explained. I am a dietitian and a diabetes educator and I can say Dr. Aronne is a master of his craft. Much respect 🙌

[@happyviking3781]

If you believe drugs are the answer then you aren't a great dietitian

[@SarahtheDietitian]

Dietitian here too - I agree, it was brilliant! Providers who do not get on board are going to be left behind, ultimately harming their patients.

[@BlessedHotMess1]

@@happyviking3781 and you don't have enough education to be making this claim. The medications being discussed are to replace hormones by a physician who understands that hormone replacement can help in situations where even those folks who are eating all the right things, not eating all the wrong things are stuck and unable to lose. Our bodies operate via hormones in addition to muscles such as the heart. This isn't about the drug to lose weight, its about obtaining the glp and gip access.. A required hormone.

[@happyviking3781]

@@BlessedHotMess1 First off you don't have any idea of my level of education. Second, the issue is what is believed to be the right and wrong foods. We have been lied to for many years about the standard required American diet, which has led to the obese counrty we have become. You can believe what you wish.

[@mycatsnameiskaren8253]

I'm a Nurse Practitioner and I have no problem prescribing it for my patients who are obese with risk factors like HTN, hyperlipidemia, CAD. It's a great tool when used appropriately.

[@PamelaBrownTheBuzz]

He hit the nail on the head. It is like something is broken in my brain. No matter what I have done. The weight just kept coming on and I lived a very clean and active lifestyle. But it just kept packing. Like something was broken ☹️

[@psycomom291]

me too

[@jojoply]

I have never been a binge eater. I have been on steroids for rheumatoid arthritis and severe asthma. The result was morbid obesity. I am also handicapped and movement is hard. I have been on ozempic for a while. I also have congestive heart failure. So far I have lost a bit. Praying for more in the near future.

[@meredithheath5272]

I haven't started on steroidal shots, yet, but am prescribed them every several months, starting next week. Not a pill but administration by needle, and I'm wondering does it increase your appetite? If it does, I will go back to just doing physical therapy, and not the shot - my new doctor did not tell me about those weight gain side effects of the shots, if that is what happens....

[@63ah1275]

Eat

[@robnarie]

Omg u jus described me i have all the things u have a now and as a result im morbidly obese and i cant exercise due to RA & lupus..My doctor just prescribed ozempic bcuz of my weight and im pre diabetic..

[@63ah1275]

@@robnarie You don't need to exercise to lose weight (in fact, it's nearly useless). Eat two meals a day (no snacking), less than 20g total carbs/day in a 6 hour window and you will quickly lose weight and find your ailments disappearing.

[@c.l.montoya2972]

Please research the side effects of the type steroids you use. I was prescribed Prednisone for RA. I gained weight quickly. I also fractured three ribs by merely bending over. I was shocked to learn brittle bones & weight gain are common side effects of Prednisone. After reading a very informative book “Wheat Belly” by Dr. William Davis, I immediately decided to remove flour & sugar from my diet. Turned out to be the best thing I could do for my health. I lost the extra weight & no longer need medication for RA. I feel wonderful & have even more energy following the implementation of intermittent fasting.🙏🏽

[@laurabeaudry3905]

I have been on Wegovy for 8 days. It’s the first time in my life that the food “noise” has quieted. I am watching what I eat and workout 6 sometimes 7 days a week. I was working out 7 days a week before Wegovy but the diet issue was incredibly difficult. I have had mild side effects so far. Took my second dose yesterday. This is a life changing medication. It’s clear that Katie is biased. Tune that out and listen to what the doctor shared. Just as drug/alcohol addicts are misunderstood so are those who are obese. It’s very hard to understand if you have not been obese.

[@Tonia787]

Similar experience on meds now. Life changing. Without having my guts cut up via bariatric surgery. It’s going. To take time for stigma/bias to change. Just tune it out

[@jackiemward]

I was in the 50% morbidity rate. I've lost 40 lbs using this med. I feel so much better. I've got 30 more to go. I'm so thankful for this.

[@oneitalia2312]

Are there side effects?

[@bobboscarato1313]

All medications have side effects! When you stop taking diet medications you may regain your lost weight and then some...!

[@jackiemward]

@@oneitalia2312 it makes me tired and there's a lot of vomiting until you learn how much and when to eat. I hardly eat but I take vitamins. I can get by with one small nutritional meal a day. Protein is important. It becomes about diet and portion size.

[@dianewhitehurst5861]

I have always struggled with my weight. Up until the age of 50 or so, I had been able to maintain a healthy weight through exercise and a healthy diet. Then the menopause process began. Slowly, my weight began to creep upward. By 56, NOTHING worked! I was told by my primary care physician as well as my gynecologist that it was just a fact of life. By 60, when my BMI passed 35, and both my triglycerides and cholesterol were now firmly in the “high” range, I was told I needed to do something. I am active and conscientious about what I eat. I do not drink, binge, or eat fatty food/snacks. Evidently, eating less than 800 calories and exercising every day was not working because my weight just continued to rise. I was desperate. Mounjaro has been a game changer both physically as well as mentally. After 7 weeks, my BMI is down to 30. Yes, there are people who would benefit if they put away the chips and ice cream OR got up off the couch, but this characterization is not reflective of everyone with extreme weight issues.

[@Mscookie3131]

So do you feel less hungry on it? I thought the whole idea of the drug was to help people be less hungry, hence eating less, hence losing weight? In that case, since you were already eating 800 calories to begin with, I’m assuming you are now eating roughly 400 calories a day now? I think some people are in denial with how they a truly eating and how truly active they are.

[@MaineEmOcean]

Thank you for sharing! People that have never struggled with weight think it is a moral issue, then bash others...which IS a moral issue! It is not always "stuffing your face" as the ignorants like to believe.

[@LK-bz9sk]

This doctor knows how to do a knowledge transfer and knows his audience. Very good.

[@Auntchovi]

So he consults for pharma companies? Wondering if he consults for the very aggressive pharma co Novo Nordisk which makes these drugs. These drugs may be a game changer but why are they not discussing the BLACK BOX WARNING LABEL (the most serious of drug label warnings) of these drugs for THYROID CANCER. At this time mice are getting thyroid cancer on Wegovy. Wegovy hasnt been around long enough to know true long term side effects on humans. Pancreatitis is another serious potential side effect. Once again, we are ALL guinea pigs while these companies make a fortune. He and other docs are minimizing side effects for Wegovy (much stronger than ozembic after first 2 doses) to simple gastric side effects and not discussing the potential serious side effects of high dose, long term usage as in Wegovy. Time will tell. 5-10 years?

[@ladyd9437]

So glad to run across this interview! I have been morbidly obese for over 20 years while trying everything except surgery. I was almost there and my Dr. told me to research MJ and decide if it is a tool I could use to help me lose weight. I decided to give it a try in Nov and I am finally losing. I have lost 40 lbs and have 60 more to go but this is changing lives of people who feel hopeless. I hope when I see my dr to be taken off of some of my meds. I have high BP and high cholesterol and was pre-diabetic. To live a healthy life is my goal looking better is just a Bonus!! I am just unsure what I will do next when I can no longer afford MJ and my coupon no longer works.

[@JoanDoris1]

40 lbs. in about 2 to 2-1/2 months! Wow!! Congratulations. I'd like to try it, but I don't want to be on something for the rest of my life. I tried the Wellbutrin-Naltrexone combo about 3 years ago but had to stop because of awful pains I would have in my stomach.

[@happyviking3781]

Don't listen to these drug pushers. Try a carnivore diet for 30 days and you won't need any of these drugs. SUGAR is what is keeping you fat and causing you any chronic illnesses.

[@carolkemp5935]

Well done you!

[@NN-qk7wn]

when it gets available in all EU countries it will be too late for me i guess. I have severe heart problems and loosing some of my BMI 37 weight would be helpful for that as well, but noooo it s theme you can t discuss with doctors, they mark you as lazy.

[@amymac41890]

@@NN-qk7wn huh???

[@debbiecain1679]

I’m a type 2 diabetic. I joined a gym and eating salads and couldn’t lose weight. I was at the heaviest weight I’ve ever been. I asked my doctor about Mounjaro. I started on it in September and have lost 30lbs! My doctor cut my Metformin in half! I’ve found if you eat small meals and drink lots of water, you can keep side effects to a minimum. I’m very pleased with the results of this drug.

[@gaylefurr]

I have lost 50 lbs on Ozempic but only with a complete change in diet as well. I follow a renal diet for kidney disease it is mainly plant based little dairy low sodium low protein and more. I have stopped taking Lantus and NovoRapid, my blood pressure has gone down, I have stopped 2 blood pressure meds, my a1c is 6.1, and my eGFR has improved from 33 to 50 (my kidney disease has improved). This is what Ozempic was made for treating diabetes.

[@ambulance3873]

melatonin can increase estrogen levels - never use it if you are trying to loose weight!

[@debbiezenaida]

I hear you! I do not have diabetes, but all of my life I was tiny. Never had to watch my weight. Then I went through menopause! UGH! I have gained 40 pounds over the last 10 years and CANNOT LOSE IT! The only way I can lose it is if I walk two miles every day, which I was able to do during Covid because I was working from home, and eat nothing but lettuce. At my last doctor visit my doctor wrote me a prescription for Wegovy. She told me you will never lose weight no matter how hard you try. You've gone through menopause and it is very difficult to lose weight once you no longer produce estrogen, etc. I have several friends on Mounjaro (neither one is diabetic) and they've both lost between 30 and 40 lbs! My doctor would not put me on Mounjaro because I am not diabetic, but did write me a prescription for Wegovy which is for obesity. I totally agree with this doctor. Once you lose the weight, the high blood pressure goes away and the cholesterol resolves as well. But my insurance doesn't cover Wegovy. I'm so sad.

[@Therealgirlinthedesert]

Thank you Katie. This was very informative. I am taking Ozempic for my diabetes. This subject needs to be talked about. The one huge problem I see with Ozempic is that it’s back orders and unavailable almost everywhere. At least here in Arizona. Now that Tik Tok blew up with how it helps weight loss, a huge amount of people are taking it, leaving us diabetic without it. This is the only medication that brought my high sugar levels down. My pancreas is not producing the insulin it needs. I need it desperately but can’t get it anywhere. Doctors need to stop prescribing this to just anyone who don’t medically need it.

[@subellekazooti9589]

My doctor told me health insurance won't cover this for non-diabetics, so they are paying cash, full price. Of course the drug companies are going to prioritize and ship to the cash-paying population!

[@karenkonecny]

The drug companies are offering a coupon to sell for $25 for everyone who goes to their website, except if you are on Medicare and need it most. I am totally disgusted with those taking this to shed a few pounds. I cannot get my proper dosage currently and have not been able to get it for more than 30 days now. the under the table doctors and selfish people who are taking this for a quick fix are hurting those who really need it.

[@mebefore9103]

@@subellekazooti9589 i can't even imagine paying out of pocket for this medication! I'm a pharmacy tech, I see so many people who need this for their diabetes go without because of the cost. Now these pharmaceutical companies are going to quadruple profits but never alter the price of the medication. It makes me sick

[@nancyshirah8427]

I’ve had the same experience with Trulicity. It’s lowered my A1c from 10 to now 5.7…Recently mine was on back order. My doctor called in a different mg and I was able to get it. So maybe ask your pharmacy about that?

[@serena7397]

I agree with you. The doctors enabling their patients to use this medication for cosmetics are taking it away from those of you requiring this medication for your health. Good luck!

[@Becca4.2]

This is by far one of the best interviews and informative videos I've watched about the GLP-1s. And in a way that's understandable to most of us. Thank you so much, Katie and Dr. Aronne. This was wonderful.

[@mandierock3683]

I had weight loss surgery (gastric sleeve). It didn't work for me to the degree I wanted. For the record I was 135 lbs overweight with severe sleep apnea and chronic pain in my feet. Not to mention depression. My doctor started me on compounded semiglutide after nearly 2 years, and I lost the rest of the weight I needed to. I no longer have sleep apnea and pain. I don't regret it at all. I wish I had known about the meds before I had the surgery. In fact, I lost 60lbs through surgery over 2 years with regain toward the end. I lost 70+ lbs was lost in under a year after I started the shots. I do feel like my significant success is because I also had the surgery. I think that helped, but I will likely have to take this forever. I tried to cut back and stop the meds to see how I did on my own and I could feel the 'food noise' come back with a vengeance. I was able to eat larger portions and saw the writing on the wall. I'm now talking a maintenance dose, and I don't intend to stop. I can work on my farm and my full day, high stress finance office job day in and day out without overwhelming exhaustion or needs for breaks. It's improved my mood and my relationships. I highly recommend it to anyone BEFORE they consider surgery

[@nancymillet8210]

Hi Katie, I’ve had great success on Wegovy. I was suffering with a chronic illness that would have eventually taken my life. Now my numbers are great and I’ve lost just under 70 pounds. I’m sad that I may be on and off the medication for the rest of my life. At the same time I’m happy that my health is much better. This was a great interview. Thank you both for the information.

[@marylove7898]

Thank you Dr. Lou for pushing back on her,😂 she asked you the same questions probably three or four different times you didn’t cave I admire that. Keep up the good work God bless👍

[@theodorapriska9860]

Oh my God…you are quoting a population pool of 1 = Chelsea Handler? Where are your journalistic skill and ethic. Really, Chelsea Handler ?!!!? (by the way - he wouldn’t take the bait and just never acknowledged whether he had heard of her… Good for you!!! Who the hell is Chelsea Handler????) 🎉She really wanted him to say that these drugs are being misused, and he just wouldn’t go there.

[@sabrinasolomon6387]

💯💯💯 Exactly! As if she is only looking to confirm Chelsea & everything negative.

[@rejaneserao3822]

Dr Aronne was my doctor at Weil Cornell and he is just amazing. Now I live in CA and miss him!

[@robertbiser7565]

I am so happy to hear this message from you and Dr. Aronne. I am overweight about 20-30 lbs. It is a struggle every day. It is very difficult to get these medicines from your Family Doctor.

[@fawnpate9223]

Because you don’t fall in the guidelines. You are just overweight not obese. It sucks because healthcare guidelines are out dated

[@Tonia787]

Wegovy is prescribed for weight loss. Things are changing. More drugs to help people who have struggled for decades are in the pipeline

[@debbiezenaida]

@@fawnpate9223 If you are 30 to 50 pounds overweight, that is considered obese.

[@Letstalktruthfam]

She keeps criticizing. Who hands out like that

[@jeanmcbride3572]

I too am so glad to have run across this interview. I just started taking Ozempic (1st week). I started a Weight Management Program connected to my doctor. Appreciated the added information this interview gave me. My weight just kept going up and up even though I don't eat tons of food. It has been so frustrating and embarrassing. Hopefully, this will work for me. I have controlled diabetes and other health problems going on.

[@Dori-hp2mp]

Have you checked your thyroid?

[@trisha1989]

You have to INCREASE your water intake!!!! 💦

[@RG-hf4et]

Katie and other people of normal weight can't understand the ongoing struggles of gaining & losing weight & regaining weight.

[@jackieyoung3359]

No, but she’s had her fair share of serious medical issues (cancer) both with herself and her late husband and late sister. She knows what it’s like to deal with a health problem that seems to have no cure all and I’m sure she’s felt frustrated, hopeful, depressed, etc. over it at certain points in her life.

[@RG-hf4et]

@@jackieyoung3359 We all know about Katie's involvment with cancer and so has most everyone else. Most of us have had family with cancer. My mom had lung, colon, breast & ovarian cancer all at different times. My moms brothers & sisters - the whole family died of different cancers.....You are trying to compare apples and oranges. They are totally two different topics. Katie clearly is clueless about the ongoing, day to day never ending struggles & frustrations of everyday people.....the two topics can't even be compared. ....Good Lord....

[@Tonia787]

@@RG-hf4et exactly. No comparison. Ugh.

[@jackieyoung3359]

@@RG-hf4et Wow. You have issues.

[@RG-hf4et]

@@jackieyoung3359 No, honey. You are comparing 2 totally unrelated issues. It's pretty simple. 🍎🍊

[@virtually_mia]

I could feel her bias. My BMI was over 39 at 5'3" with HBP, shortness of breathe, and pre osteoporosis I've lost almost 40 lbs. and brought my BMI down close to 31. Tell me it isn't life saving. I'm no spring chicken and my mother 1st took me took me to a diet doctor when I was in middle school. Yup. Back in the day when speed was legal. Everything he talked about about gaining and losing desensitized. Thing was? I was hardly ever like, hungry, hungry. & I couldn't eat big amounts but I figured that came from being bulimic when I was younger. Oh yes. Obesity did a number on my life. How many doctors would I sit and explain to that I could not understand why not only could I NOT lose weight but sometimes gained weight when I truly didn't overeat. (I will admit I loved my Coke) & not be believed. I thought I could never give up Coke, but it was the 1st to go)This is changing my life and it's just validating that there was a real medical answer all along. So Katie? There is a need & yes, at my highest weight I was pre-diabetic with late-life diabetes running through both my father and paternal grandmother. With the medication, I just had my blood work done & it was excellent! BECAUSE of the medication 💊

[@dafccmoran]

Mia, I believe you're right, question, how long are you on it ? This is a life saver 🙌

[@susanyakus7364]

You are so right. People who have never had a weight loss problem would have a problem understanding. Sorry Katie, you are predjudice about this. Weight is the last bastion of prejudice.

[@virtually_mia]

@Dafne CCMoran it's been three pens so three months? I started at .25, went to .50 and with no side effects, will be going to 1.0 but it's on backorder. And I understand I may have to be on it for life, but apparently I'm insulin resistant & years of medical (and maybe not-so-healthy) ways of trying to control obesity have messed with my body's ability to lose weight through caloric intake and exercise. A BMI of over 39 was terrifying at 5'3"

[@virtually_mia]

@Susan Yakus yes. SUCH prejudice. When you sit in front of doctors trying to explain you don't overeat, you DO exercise. I have always had Body Dysmorphia and that comes with its own set of issues.

[@dafccmoran]

@mia johnson I see, i hope it s gets to be available when you need and no backorder. My good friend is on it but she is looking for another job, and although she is approved for a year, the changing of insurance might affect her. Wonder how this works. Thanks for your answer and good luck.

[@kayccorson]

I have yoyo dieted my whole life since 16(60 now). I have been to life (and back)with WW and I have been going to a gym for ten years religiously and have been obese 34BMI and could not lose and keep off more than 5lbs. Enter MJ. OMG. -27% weight loss, food chatter GONE, serving sizes cut in half, snacking no more, no unpleasant side effects. I am cured. I will take this for my life if needed. This is the beginning of curing obesity IMHO. Thank you for explaining this med clearer!

[@kathyhanzal1017]

Hello what is MJ Mounjaro? How many milligrams?

[@kayccorson]

@@kathyhanzal1017 I am on 12.5. Heading to 15 soon. I have taken all the Mgs (5 mg for three months) I should be able to do maintenance on 15 and titrate to every other week eventually.

[@ondrej1893]

The interviewer is really pushing the doctor to say he is worried about overweight people using the meds. But the reality is that if you have BMI of 27 (who doesn’t?) and one condition related to weight (hypertension, lipids etc.) you already meet the guidelines. There might be some danger of lean mass loss along with fat if you use these meds to get to bodybuilding podium or to look like a supermodel. But once the meds are in stock and cheaper, it seems people around BMI 30 or 27+comorbidity will really benefit from the meds.

[@gaylefurr]

The problem is doctors are giving it to people who are not obese but just want to lose a few pounds. So it is not a medical use by them but cosmetic. The shortages will not stop, and are almost world wide now until they crack down on doctors using it for cosmetic use.

[@Gioli565]

This man is a true warrior for the obese, you can tell he really cares.

[@mackarma2923]

I’m on Mounjaro and it’s been a blessing. I have type 2 diabetes. I’ve lost 18 pounds. I feel amazing! No side effects for me. None. Started at the lowest dose, so it works if your doctor does that.

[@Sandralmorgan]

I lost 50 lbs over 4 months. The best thing about my weight loss was I had no back pain. I was in tears at times due to my pain so Ozempic was 100% worth it.

[@Watch4Me]

I'm on dose #2 and am hoping for back pain relief.

[@sharontavana587]

The story of the benefits of these medications is being drowned out by the campaign to moralize about who should be taking them. Dr. Aronne is an expert and he is excited by the efficacy and safety profile of these medications. The interview began with “aren’t you concerned?” and ended with “Yeah, but aren’t you concerned?”-all focused on people with smaller amounts of weight to lose. They are not the story. Cost will drive them out at some point when the new fad arrives. The story is the potential for these meds to help the overweight/obese people (some who have struggled for years or decades or their entire lives) to extend their lives and improve their quality of life without removing a chunk of their stomach or rerouting their intestines (procedures now accepted). And by the way, for those of us with chronic weight issues we have lost and regained weight countless times. When you stop the regimen you regain-even with bariatric surgery. That isn’t something particular to these drugs although it is portrayed as a “gotcha!”

[@ittt6339]

Amen!

[@Tonia787]

Totally. Such bias and stigma.

[@debbanks8183]

I agree, also this medication can make you feel pretty terrible at times - most wouldn't want to cope with the side effects if they hadn't battled with food and weight for years. I 'only' have 31 pounds to lose to be at the very high end of a so called healthy bmi, but that is a huge amount for me at 5 ft 3 and with an aging metabolism. Been on OZ for four weeks and it is slow going but I am finally not ruled by thoughts of eating/not eating.

[@whatthesamhill5682]

Good points, well stated.

[@fofita17]

Amén!!!

[@jsweezey6487]

QUESTION PLEASE? Are there any research facts/stats regarding any of these 3 drugs for people with fatty liver issues like NAFLD or Liver Steatosis? Does it work for those people? Are any of the 3 drugs higher or lower risk/worse side effects for those with fatty liver diseases? Thanks Katie - so grateful for the experts you bring to us who are listening/watching.

[@emilyburnworth5815]

Dr. Aronne you are a leader both in what you are doing and how you are presenting this to the world. Your class against misinformation is a lesson in grace and advocacy.

[@bate01071]

He’s a strong advocate for his industry but I appreciate the caution some have for a drug that will need to be used for the rest of your life and may have side effects that aren’t currently known. I considered it but decided I will have to lose weight slow and steady instead. I don’t want to take a $900 month medication for the rest of my life.

[@lab4389]

Thanks Katie. Fascinating conversation. I’ve been very curious about these drugs. The doctor was very informative.

[@betsyc6055]

The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study in the 1990s showed how this is related to childhood trauma. Once I had PTSD and gained 100 lbs it has been impossible to lose - now I understand the other part of the picture from this doctor. Thank you!

[@sarahdee374]

My 40 year old daughter has taken both of the weight loss meds. She was forced to take higher than the optimal starting dosages because the lower dosage was not available. In my opinion the manufacturers need to get on the ball and make available what's needed to take these properly and long enough to be safe.

[@strawgynxking5944]

Wow, who forced her? That's outrageous

[@happyviking3781]

Maybe she should stop eating carbs instead of taking these drugs.

[@Nan-59]

@@happyviking3781 I think this is the video where it pretty much stated the reasons behind why everyone can’t lose weight the same way as every other person. Everyone’s different.

[@mariannejensen9107]

it has been so popular that Nova Nordisk ran out and stopped the marketing for a while!

[@gaylefurr]

If she was not diabetic she should not have started it.

[@davidmurray2829]

This is great information. Clear complete and illuminating. Its what happens when a professional interviewer has time to ask and follow up without worrying about being up against a hard out commercial break. 👏👏👍👍

[@Shayitisntso]

Katie thanks for bringing the expert and for covering this relevant and very useful topic! I have been prescribed this by my doctor who is following the guidelines, and I’m a bit nervous about trying this medication, but my weight gain is making me feel terrible physically and mentally! I don’t feel like myself at all. This discussion is making me feel better about using this medication.

[@treasuretrovel3816]

Just be aware that the "experts" in medicine frequently turn out to be very wrong. These medications are not just appetite suppressants but affect a lot of biochemistry in the body. There is mounting evidence that the muscle atrophy side effect is real and real dangerous and not simply a normal side effect of calorie restriction and rapid weight loss especially since the weight loss people are experiencing is not rapid but steady and at about a pound or two a week similar to the rate of old fashioned methods of will power. It is a fact that there was never a Weight Watcher face loss of facial muscle noticed or a Jenny Craig face or butt. Don't believe any doctor who continues to say that the muscle atrophy also happens with un-medicated calorie restriction. Just be careful is what I am warning.

[@ASMR4calmmoods]

Thank you so much for this in-depth interview. I learned so much!

[@lolaottinger3038]

Last month I was prescribed a drug, Restasis, I’m on Medicare and they denied this drug as it’s pretty expensive, my son looked on Mark Cuban’s pharmacy and it was $85, as opposed to $1500 through a regular pharmacy. Medicare eventually did give approval for the drug for me.

[@distantkc]

I am glad you did this interview. I am in the morbid stage and am about to start this. Looking forward to the weight loss.

[@kellyray2566]

Gosh I wish Katie was as concerned about the misuse or abuse of narcotic meds that are being wrongly prescribed. This dr has such a great point of view that it should be used to help people from developing health issues caused by obesity. I wish I had it sooner but better late than never

[@bate01071]

I think she was speaking from a concern that people are getting put on a drug they will have to take for life, especially with its current cost in the us. There should be caution flags given due to this given the demand.

[@lhoising]

Thank you for not confusing obesity and vanity weight. I can't afford wegovy. Walgreens wants 3000 a month. I wish you would have talked about how they can sell the SAME drug at the SAME dose marked up 3-5x the cost to obese patients who probably can't get insurance coverage compared to the same drug for diabetes.

[@mmsfoxxie1]

This is an excellent doctor. He e plains in a way for a layperson to understand.

[@serena7397]

Katie! This is an excellent topic. Thank You so much. Jokingly I have begged my physicians for that magic pill to help me lose weight. But, in all reality I have struggled with my weight since I was a child. I'm 68 year's old and still have a desire to get too and stay at a normal weight. Thank You Dear. This sounds promising! 🌹

[@yasminjaneeyre1795]

I feel Katie you seemed hell-bound to prove this drug to be mis-used or dangerous. I do not agree with you - I agree with Dr Aronne 100% - it will do more good than staying fat and obese which brings no end of misery .. Dr Aronne is so balanced in his view - I trusted him completely and would try the drug if it was available in the UK

[@AlienAria68]

On Ozempic, my A1C came down two full points (from 7.7 to 5.7), over the course of three months. I also lost some weight, which is a secondary bonus.

[@yolandagutierrez1041]

Really enjoyed this interview. I feel it’s important to understand that obesity or “clinical” obesity is not an entirely clear cut diagnosis. The diagnosis can be “upgraded” for someone within the lower end of BMI if it includes other health problems. These problems can be the chronic triad (diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure) or any combination there of. Obesity or excess weight can cause musculoskeletal issues, sleep problems (some severe) and even physiological issues like depression and anxiety. We absolutely need to keep in mind that only the doctor and the patients know the extent of the conditions potentially being considered when the physician prescribes these medications. In a new and appropriate era of body inclusivity there is still room for people to look to become a healthier version of themselves if that is what they wish to do. We absolutely should not shame people for not being able to lose weight “on their own” and who instead look to modern medicine and science for help with this chronic medical condition. Finally, We can never know anyones private medical issues and what looks like a cosmetic fix might be something more serious. That being said, the medicine should always be prescribed by a licensed physician so that they can monitor progress and any adverse effects.

[@cosmlayla]

What about regulating the food industry so they won't give our children so much sugar? What about taxing sugary drinks? Or stop feeding children candy and garbage food? people should take some responsibility in what they eat. Does anybody even question the direct connection between the type of foods we eat versus what people ate before 1970's? people back then didn't consume all the factory and processed foods that people eat today. Instead of eating garbage and then taking a pill to fix it, let's teach our children to eat whole foods.

[@bernadettehurst6541]

How about teaching people to stop buying crappy food. If it's not in the house you won't eat it. Eat 3 balanced meals every day. Snack on popcorn. Why is this so difficult?

[@cosmlayla]

@@bernadettehurst6541 Popcorn is also garbage, specially with all the artificial flavors and bad oils added in. How about snacking on carrots?

[@bernadettehurst6541]

@@cosmlayla Good point and I love carrots. I make my own popcorn in a pan on the stove with coconut oil but carrots are still better.🙂

[@helenmcdonnell2585]

More regulations by nanny government?? Parents need to be responsible care givers of their children

[@deniseganey6890]

@@bernadettehurst6541 Fast food nation and people find it too difficult to actually cook healthy balanced meals. I was raised thus way and all of us never had weight issues We raised our children the same way and they are raising healthy children. It's taking time to plan .

[@Tonia787]

Mounjaro is saving my sanity and my life! I have struggled with varying levels of obesity my whole life and Im 60 years old. So you can imagine I have had and have some of the weight co-morbidities that result from that. I have lost and gained weight my entire life and know recently that I have obesity genetics…. No surprise at all for me to hear that actually..it is validating my life experience. I see a good physician now who is helping me…and more doctors need to get on board with education so that the stigma and antiquated education around what they have been taught in the previous decades can be put to rest. Obesity stigma and bias needs to end. I think so many people are just upset that the old idea of “suffering to lose weight, pulling yourself up by your bootstraps etc will eventually be turned on its ear. with the advent of these medicines some with life-long “thin privilege” that they never actually “earned” will be joined by some of the rest of us. I spent my entire childhood stigmatized by peers and educators alike..it def contributed to disordered eating on top of the genetics I inherited. Sad that science had not advanced when i was a child. Treat the children early so they don’t suffer similar struggles! If I could shout this from the rooftops, I would! Big food must be frightened that some of their formulas won’t be able to work in getting some of us to continue to eat garbage food. Also the Billion dollar weight loss programs will be screaming that we should not use medicine as it will cut into their business. Watch out for all of that drama too. The medicine has quieted my brain around food. What a total and complete relief. I still have another 30 to get to the top of my weight range generally speaking. For the first time in my life I feel hope and most of all peace and hope that I will be able to MAINTAIN this weight loss!!! I will end this by just posing the question to a thin person who wonders if being 25 lbs overweight is “healthy”..how would you feel to gain even that much weight? Stop and think for a minute how your mental health would suffer, your joints? Your liver? Your heart? your energy level? Your ability to climb stairs? Your knees? NO…even 25 lbs heavier doesn’t feel “healthy”. By the way..I would travel to a foreign country to get my medicine so that I can live in peace and health if I needed to do that.

[@AChickandaDuck]

Happy for you! Mounjaro’s been a miracle for me too.

[@torineace8715]

Been on Oz since May and while I still get hungry I’m not binge eating and have that crazy hunger in the middle of the night. The media needs to stop calling it the celebrity weight loss drug because we are all normal people that are using it. And where do they think the celebs heard about it?

[@selah7702]

I am soo soo happy for you and grateful for your speaking so frankly in your comment! 10 months post bariatric surgery and I echo the things you have said 100%! Bless you and congrats!

[@serena7397]

Thank You for sharing your encouraging story. ❤️

[@Tonia787]

@@torineace8715 exactly. Need to get rid of the sensationalistic headlines regarding celebrity use. Who cares? Also…no binging at all! Life changing.

[@susansusan4969]

I had to laugh while I watch Katie try to shoot down the safety of using this drug. Saying there hasn’t been long term usage studies while knowing she took the covid vaccine and boosters which had no long term studies nor was it FDA approved. The Dr was spot on about the treatment of obesity.

[@treasuretrovel3816]

And, the covid vaccine did not/does not work because it does not prevent infection or transmission. The whole Keeps you out of the hospital propaganda was made up at the last minute and not substantiated just a lie.

[@KakashisOnlyGirl1]

I like his view and explanation of 99% of things. Unfortunately, to say “NO DOCTOR” is just looking at an overweight kid or person and dismissing them, simply isn’t true. Anyone with lifelong obesity has had at least one experience with a doctor taking one look at them and making a thousand assumptions. Hopefully, that is the minority of doctors, but it happens far too often.

[@joanderson9542]

I’ve been taking Ozempic since May 2022 and the taste aversion to certain foods is real.

[@deloiswashingtonmcmillan8896]

Taste n smell.

[@amessina4333]

I love how she kept desperately TRYING to get him to be negative and put words in his mouth. Honestly she looked like such an ill-informed novice and not a serious journalist. Felt like I was watching a KZbin influencer just trying to get controversial views. Too bad for her he’s a level-headed professional in the trenches and problem-solving instead of falling into every trap she set. I never understood her appeal…this just cements it for me.

[@debbiezenaida]

She's probably a size 6 and thinks all of us fat ladies don't try hard enough -- which is part of the problem!

[@mkneely4539]

She’s a conceited elitist. She could not care less about anyone struggling with weight challenges or the accompanying problems.

[@talonyoung6160]

I thought she was simply asking logical questions based on fact she, and her viewer questioners as well, know they are not educated in the lab on how these drugs work and if long term they are safe. It was logical to ask if it is appropriate for doctors to give to people who don't need for health reasons to lose 15 pounds. Logical to ask if when going off meds the old urge to keep overeating comes back. She did not sound remotely judgmental, just curious and trying to understand by learning what she and viewers might think is true but is not.

[@Watch4Me]

You are spot on. I wasn't sure if it was old school journalism when you could play dumb. These days interviewers are much more educated and come with facts.

[@deb628]

Thank you for bringing this gentleman to explain weight issues. I could feel the just eat less exercise more from Katie. I’ve done that and every other diet, gimmick, worthless pills, starvation, you name I tried it. I gained a lot of weight quick after a dr. Prescribed a blood pressure pill that totally worked against my hypothyroidism. I have had that weight on my body for the past 30 years. 20 lbs off but then 20 plus back. It’s easy to think you know someone’s struggle but you don’t! My back hurt constantly for many many years. My knees just started out of the blue two months ago. I don’t care as much how I look at 68 years old but I’d like to stop hurting in my joints and be able to do some of the things I enjoy on a daily basis. I am on day 40 of Mounjaro and down 20 lbs. I have much more to lose! I’m so grateful for this medication. I haven’t even told my friends because I am so afraid of failing again I don’t want them to know.

[@Watch4Me]

She almost caught the point when he said it's a hormonal change. Somehow we can understand that people can change genders but obesity is a voluntary choice.

[@trishemerald2487]

What he describes does sound like the effects of bariatric surgery. 20 years after mine, I still can't believe the size of the meals I used to eat, and how many. The idea of all that food is still unpalatable to me decades later. (Still at goal weight, too.) [edited for spelling]

[@susanyakus7364]

22 years for me. Congratulations!

[@Kindred.Lines.Genealogy]

Thank you Katy! I’m a newly diagnosed diabetic type II with a BMI of 49. The shortage is affecting my health currently. Thank you for spotlighting the issue of misuse. I’m hoping this medicinal tool will help me while I’m learning to take control of my diabetes and weight loss. Thank you so much.

[@Neeeeeeeko]

You got diabetes because you’re BMI is 49. Wouldn’t you have preferred to lose weight before you got to that stage?

[@gloriasaliba3395]

Start cutting out processed carbs and sugar focus on good amounts of protein and good fats verges salads - try walking if only for 10-15 mins a day incorporate full fat foods like cheese yoghurt olive oil avocado - if you can eat your meals within a 8-10 hour period - 2-3 litres of water per day - I’ve lost 60 pounds making these small changes - I have 2 large meals per day and one small snack - I’m close to reversing my diabetes

[@samanthaborman6847]

I was at a bmi of 29.6… now bmi of 23.3. Not been this weight for 20 years… ozempic changed my life

[@KaraLey98]

This was very good and explained a lot more about these new drugs that other things I’veseen-also the doctor shed a lot of light on the subject.

[@RG-hf4et]

I had gastric sleeve surgery, BMI 36, lost 55 lbs and gained it all came back. My surgeon just shrugged my disappointment off by say "Sleeve surgery doesn't work for everyone. You now need a gastric bypass". ....No way am I getting more surgery. These medications would be a big help.

[@k8eekatt]

I'm so glad you are looking into other ways to help your self. I know several people who had some form of gastric surgery and there are soooo many side effects. All the best to you in your health journey.

[@pinkvixen686]

Had gastric 8 years ago..put back on the weight.

[@carolwilliams2356]

Everyone I know who had the gastric surgery has returned to their higher weight.

[@k8eekatt]

@Carol Williams If you look up statistics for outcomes you will find the sad likelihood that cruelly mutilating the organs that make life sustained, does not result in long term weightloss for almost 50%, 1 in 50 die. 10% need repair surgery. How can it still be legal?!

[@FOXYPEACH2]

I'm 72 and started Ozempic for A1C control. Started out ok, but the cost increased quickly over 1k per month. Not in most retirees budgets. Side affects for me was bad constipation, severe reflux and nausea.

[@arisnersissian5374]

If you can zone out Katie's bias...this is a very informative discussion.

[@debbiezenaida]

Absolutely. For us regular ladies who work 7 am to 7 pm it is not possible to work out and plan every single meal. I'm fairly certain that Katie has a personal trainer and someone to make healthy, low calorie meals for her.

[@npbsstuff]

One thing that struck me is the prediction that the population of obese people will increase -- 25% of the population will have a BMI of 35 or above (obese). If this is a hormonal problem that these drugs are correcting, what is the root cause that would cause it to increase and how do we prevent that? What is it about now, or in the future that is different than the past that is causing the disruption of the hormone?

[@cherylcoulter5316]

My mother was very obease and I remember her saying there was something wrong with her bee cause she was still hungry after a meal that satisfied the rest of the family which goes with what you are saying.

[@jmcneil4891]

I’ve come to believe that it is a brain disease as well.

[@donnabeach1250]

She had what's called "head" hunger not physical hunger.

[@lauramarshall2072]

Katie, I love seeing you on a different platform...you have always been my very favorite journalist. Your sweet giggle and expressing your in depth intelligent journaling style was a big part of my life while raising my now grown sons. It is appreciated more importantly that you continue to stay grounded and very real during big disasters (ex elections) On a final note both of my sons were born ages 30 and 27 during the Today show on in the delivery room. On a final note your warm voice, kind, compassionate reactions continues to give me hope in these very frightening times. ( that we share)

[@RM-lj8bv]

So great to see Katie Couric again after watching her for many years while I worked abroad. I remember once on her breakfast show that when eating sweets she doesn't swallow them to not get the full calories from them and spits them out. This is something I have tried with my eating discorders for many years since.

[@shortdognate]

I've done this for 2 decades works well. People think it's crazy.

[@susanmcbeth4220]

It was so rewarding to hear him! She so wanted to make it negative. She was so ignorant about it. But many are. He helped all of us who need this medicine! So informative. Thank you!!

[@laurieroth4589]

I am going through my dr who has it compounded with B12 and has very slowly increased my dosage and my side effects are minimum. I was not obese, but, could not get the weight off any other way I was not overeating and the weight loss was not happening and I'm active!!. I think this is a good thing and this should make the drug companies realize how badly this is needed. I lost 15 lbs in 2 months and I have 5 lbs more to go. Then I will go off AND continue to eat healthily! I am 5'2" at 150 lbs and now 5'2" at 135...any diet you go on and then go off and eat whatever you want will gain the weight back...you cannot go off any diet and eat the way you did prior to that and expect to maintain the weight loss. Remember the Atkins diet? People lost a lot of weight and then started eating carbs and gained it all back...you have to use common sense.

[@gaylefurr]

You did not need it to lose that little weight. You took life saving medication from someone else because you did not want to do the work to lose weight. I hope you get some of the worst side effects like looking much older and haggard. Possibly get retinal detachment. You were not severely obese or diabetic. You did not qualify for treatment.

[@bonbonbennett8553]

Any update?

[@pambain9415]

Congrats. I will start on a compound product in a couple of weeks-after my Doc reviews ❤all of my blood work..his medicine also include B vitamins.

[@robinstoner6624]

I took it for 5-6 weeks in October-November 2021, & my stomach has not been right since then.

[@Arggggggggg]

My daughter with special needs was getting chunky because the school food is so bad and they gave her chocolate and strawberry milk every day, and snacks. I cracked down on what they fed her, told them to only give her water, and made them cut out snacks (who needs to eat 4 times a day from 8 am to 2 pm???). She lost 20 lbs. It can be done.

[@debbiestherapy]

Refreshing to hear a doctor speak knowledgably and respectfully about obesity. I wish that was more common place. I kept feeling like Katie while not outwardly saying anything judgmental, was very judgmental. Weight is such an emotional and triggering topic for so many of us.

[@cyndilu9]

Thank you Katie and Dr. Aronne!! Great information

[@cindywalker253]

I am hoping that once I people reach their goal that they will be able to taper off the drugs. This could , over time, eliminate the need for treatment.

[@Ms.AggieMac]

Great interview. Thanks to you both. Excellent questions asked & answered.

[@audielowe2700]

Really a great interview..I just started my journey on this medication..many of my questions you answered…thank you

[@AChickandaDuck]

Something that I think a lot of people don’t understand is that with ANY intervention that leads to weight loss, weight will be regained when it’s discontinued. The regain rate for diet and exercise is 95%, and people often gain back more than they lost. Even for bariatric surgery, the most effective tool we have, 25% of patients regain what they lost. So longterm usage makes sense for people who take these medications for obesity.

[@TheDriftwoodlover]

Not necessarily. I lost 50 lbs over the past six years, using Optifast twice to jumpstart a loss. Everyone said I’d gain it all back in three months. If you work to change your diet while doing this, it can allow you the time needed to adjust your eating and what your body craves.

[@susanyakus7364]

I had bariatric bypass 22 years ago, and I am still doing well. It's a mental thing to get rid of your mental addiction. Not everyone can do it.

[@debbieschultz106]

Thank you. Lost 55 pounds my A1C is down sugar levels are better. I'll be on ozempic for life.

[@2ndChanceCrafting]

And PCOS/IR is a tough one also to loose weight. Mounjaro is a game changer. I could never loose weight. My pancreas now knows what to do! Amazing stuff!

[@lita4458]

I really do not understand so many people's problem with Katie. She is asking important questions. These are drugs that have no had long-term studies. And for a good part of the interview Katie was asking viewer's questions, so if there were repetitive ones - she is listening to the doctor and editing through viewer's comments and questions, at the same time. Can not be easy. I appreciated the doctor's balanced view on the BMI, re:body composition.

[@higgybee6509]

No medication for me for weight loss. I did ask my Doctor about it and he said not to go that route. I gained weight after not moving due to severe back pain from a broken back and eating junk food during the pandemic. My brother had lost 75 pounds on Keto low carb eating and he convinced me to try it. I was 300 pounds. I watched all Dr Westman's videos on You Tube, started the diet September 2 and so far have lost 45 pounds. I have never found a way of eating so easy. I am not eating nearly as much fat as you can on this diet and it is still working. Eating the protein from food makes you feel full and satiated you don't even need or want to snack. From the 2nd day I never craved sweets or the starchy foods I could no longer eat, not once and that is pretty amazing because I was a carbohydrate junkie. 20 whole carbs a day for me now and this is no longer a diet to me but just my way of eating healthy real food. I actually fit into a top I wore 16 years ago and it is looser on me now than it was then. Side effects from medications scare me and who knows what the long term effects are. I am sure this medication is good for some people but not for me. I have tried all kinds of diets since I was a teenager and this low carb eating is the only one that works and one I can continue to follow. My health is so much better. I have also learned losing weight on Keto can help reverse Type 2 Diabetes and get you off your medications just after being on the diet for a short time.

[@367Play]

That’s great! You took improvement in your health into your own hands. That takes commitment and consistency. It’s simple but not always easy. 👏 🎉. You don’t need to hear it from anyone but yourself, but I’ll say it, congrats on loving and respecting yourself.

[@pegboyd4312]

Congratulations to you. I have been seeing a bariatric nutritionist that trained under Dr. Westman for over two years. My weight was up there too. This keto weight loss plan has been the most successful to me as well. My physician did mention Wegovy. The price is crazy expensive. The price point is a deterrent for me although I can afford it. I just do not want to revert back to the up and down weight loss scenario.Although not a diabetic, my blood sugar levels are stable between 89-110 and my HbA1C is (5.0). My friend is on one of those GLP-1 drugs. No one tells you, getting multiple myeloma, a cancer is a real possibility. My friend, a long time diabetic has this. This weight loss drug is a NO for me. Fighting weight gain is a daily battle. Doing a keto plan resolved a lot of issues for me. I could do better with exercise and intermittent fasting. However, learning to live with your chronic illness and using the tools available will help with longterm illness such as type II diabetes. Keto has been the treatment long before insulin was ever invented. Everyone knows this fact, as soon as you are quit any structured plan or drug, reverting back to old habits, the weight comes back with awful consequences. Folks who were on one of the GLP-1 talk about the ballooning weight gain after not taking the drug. This is contrary to any weight loss plan.

[@zoomby4380]

Good on you. Yes Keto is a great way. My appetite has been under control with intermittent fasting.....we can be healthy without the drugs and side effects.

[@T-aka-T]

Ditto - carnivore or ketovore. Helluva lot cheaper than drugs! Never sick or hungry, building muscle instead of wasting away through expensive medication. I'm willing to bet a lot of the people who " tried everything" didn't try that. (Also I think the doc is a really worry. The way he answered that he's not compensated, he "consults for" the drug companies. Hmmmm

[@kimnsteffey3349]

Glad I kept reading the comments. Have tried it all. Got the lap band and did well until thyroid cancer was discovered and with all that came the return of the 100 pounds lost. Now, since Oct, have been doing Keto and IF. Have lost 40 lbs. I feel this could be a lifestyle I can live with. I’ve tried it all and in my mind anything else you do that relies on and something other than yourself has the potential to backfire and cause damage. Been there, done that.

[@jeffreypua1981]

Dr. Louis Arrone is Vice-Chair for the American Board of Obesity Medicine. A brilliant doctor and expert in treating the disease of obesity. Also for context Katie Couric was in the Movie Fed Up regarding the obesity epidemic. So kudos to both to speaking about it and clarifying some of the issues surrounding the stigma of treating obesity. It is not just eating better and exercise, for the majority of obesity patients the disease changes the receptors in the brain making it harder and harder to maintain a normal weight. People think the medications are just a short term fix but that is not how we treat chronic disease, we treat them chronically and adjust doses as needed.

[@joycestempa5647]

Thank you for this information. I will use it to discuss with my doctor in hopes Wegovi might help me. I gained 100 pounds over 4-5 years when I went through menopause and my (then) doctor wouldn’t prescribe hormone replacements to slow the weight gain. Instead I was told to use herbal remedies and to stop eating so much. Now at 60 I’ve ended up with a huge belly that makes me look 10.5 months pregnant. I do not have high blood pressure nor do I have high cholesterol so I am not on any medication whatsoever. Prior to age 52, when I started menopause, I was a size 9-10, at 5’.6” tall that still made me on the meatier side but after 52, my weight skyrocketed so quick it made me become a recluse because I so embarrassed to be seen by anybody I knew. My weight has somewhat plat-toed these last 3 years and I stay within 5 pounds (up or down) of 230 pretty consistently. My diet has changed very little since I was in my 40s - I eat lots of fresh veggies and fish (which are my favorite meal choices). I struggle to eat fruits but will gladly eat salad twice a day. Like all heavy people my biggest problem I think is carbs and lack of exercise. Exercise is painful for me due to torn meniscus in both of my knees and tarsal tunnel in both of my feet due to my beyond ridiculous size. I hope what I learned here today can help me, otherwise I’m just going to stay in my house until I die of a heart attack!

[@rainbowlove5391]

It's true, I was placed on it, I was considered obese and need a hip replacement. Been trying to lose weight for over 3 years. Had all my blood work and a complete physical I'm in good health. My index was 48 @ 5'8. I only take 1 pill and it's a blood pressure pill. I immediately started losing weight because I literally lost my appetite. I changed how I eat, lots of salads, salmon, berries. I can't get thru a whole plate of food, so I now use a saucer. I don't drink soda, just cucumber water. But I am walking better, my hip feels better and its bone to bone. I'm starting to incorporate 30 mins of weight lifting. Trust me the only side effect is my weight loss. I feel blessed that my new doctors recognize that I was being honest about my weight loss journey. I feel amazing. And it's a jump start to wanting to continue to eat one meal a day. I did have to wait two weeks because the pharmacy was out. Thank you doctor for the information.

[@Tplyons]

I was 25 lbs overweight until a couple of months ago. Since 2018, I was putting on that weight slowly - and steadily! It was gradually and obviously progressively getting worse. I was (still am) suffering from chronic back ache - that also just got worse gradually together with the weight gain. I also started suffering from constant fatigue. Fatigue and pain resulted in less exercise. Less exercise and fatigue caused more overeating and, therefore, more weight gain and more back pain. Just a really bad cycle. I started taking the Wegovy and have lost about 8 lbs in two months. The craziness out of control cravings ended. My energy to work out is not in full force again yet, but has definitely improved. Same with back ache (not gone, but better). To say that this prescription is not appropriate for me is at least unfair, if not plain wrong medical judgment. If I had taken it when I was still only 10 lbs overweight and had stopped the obviously weight uphill route I was at, it’s likely that I’d not have suffered from so many bad consequences of this weight gain for all these years. It makes zero sense to me to say that I had to keep putting weight for another year or so, just suffering more and more from back pain, fatigue, depression for feeling hopeless on controlling my nutrition and good health habits until I’d then qualify to start treatment. No doctor would have recommended me to wait to get myself worse for another year or so if I had high blood pressure or any other disease in order to start treatment. Frankly, I had a feeling that Dr Lou agrees with what I am saying but just could not verbalize it because the current official guidelines is for this drug to be used in heavier people. I was lucky to get access to the drug outside the U.S. since no doctor here would prescribe it to me. I feel sorry for those here who can’t get it, and just listen from their doctors that it’s their fault that they are fat and sick. (Overweight is the only health issue I know that doctors blame us - put responsibility on us, patients, to fix. When I hear doctors saying “you need to eat healthier, whole - and not processed - foods, and exercise more” it sounds like a joke or sarcasm to me - as if I didn’t know, or that I know but just “decide” that I will continue to overeat and not exercise. Really?

[@strawgynxking5944]

Hot epsom salt baths work miracles for back pain and a whole host of other maladies. I use it generously, a 6 lb. Bag per bath.

[@aquariusrizing]

Who can afford fresh, healthy foods these days?

[@margielambert-sen8253]

I couldn't agree more with what you said -- exactly the same for me! May I ask what country you were able to get the prescription from since I may have the same issue. I haven't tried yet to get it as I was nervous about taking it since I"m "only" overweight and not diabetic.

[@ginadillon2072]

I wish he were my doctor. He explains everything so perfectly.

[@FCPA1997]

Thanks, Katie! This is so helpful!

[@soniaprovard8259]

I really appreciate that Katie is using her journalistic skills to get some responsible answers regarding this drug that has reached such a degree of popularity!! Thanks Katie!

[@cherylbrantley4736]

Skills??? It shows she’s not that intelligent.

[@nancyshirah8427]

I’m on Trulicity which has the same effects of ozempic, glp 1 agonist ….I’m glad it’s not as popular as these others….I’m diabetic and I have mostly been able to get my medicine except for once it was on back order. I’m sure oz is much harder to get.

[@mebefore9103]

I work at a pharmacy Ozempic and monjaro have been out of stock for months. I feel terrible for our patients

[@lindabrock602]

Thanks Katie! Great information.

[@lindabrock602]

M

[@elaineedwards2530]

After 6 months on Ozempic I no longer felt the full feeling and overeating led to extreme vomiting. Diarrhea was fierce. I did loose 40 lbs. on it, but the vomiting and diarrhea was just too much to overcome.

[@fredtrent8992]

What dosage are you using?

[@Hotredchilipeppa]

Yeah, that’s why people don’t overeat on this, that’s what it does..

[@gaylefurr]

That is what it does. It is to make you not want to over eat or you will get sick. You choose to take the sick and over eat. Did you just go on it for weight loss? Most diabetics cope with the side effects by not over eating because it is literally a life or death thing to begin with.

[@Mommaslew]

Outstanding interview! Thank you both!🎉🎉❤❤😊

[@virtualistrust2335]

Been on Ozempic for months. Hasn't helped much in weight loss or suppression of my appetite. I'm more focused on diet, fasting and daily exercise.