We’ve all heard about Ozempic. But there are the GLP-1s we colloquially call “Ozempic” (see also: Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound) and then there’s the cultural role of Ozempic.

Given the price of these drugs, barriers to access, and class implications of weight stigma, this topic presents a unique opening to talk about inequality in health outcomes and the profitable business of individualizing social problems.

In part one of this rare two-part series, we’re covering: 

• The wage penalties associated with (and relationship between) weight and women, and the parallels between the American attitudes about thinness and wealth


• The Danish pharma company that put Europe’s entire economy on its back


• A conversation with a 12-year veteran of drug and device advocacy who said some of the surrounding issues represent, and I quote, “everything wrong with health policy in our country,” especially given the shortages, costs, and online pharmacies springing up to bridge that gap with non-FDA-approved solutions

Let’s take a peek at the inside the business of weight loss drugs, and join us here next week for part two.

Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/weight-loss-drugs.

Money with Katie’s mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs.

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