In the United Kingdom, the government is hoping weight loss drugs might improve public finances, eyeing their use to help unemployed people re-enter the workforce and ultimately save money on health care.

Researchers looked at the health records of 17 million Americans with obesity and determined that between 2022 and 2023, rates of bariatric surgeries dropped by 25%, while prescriptions for weight-loss drugs more than doubled.

Weight loss and diabetes drugs Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound are seen as game-changers for obesity and weight management but for many people, there are still questions around side effects, accessibility and results.

"For healthcare providers, these findings suggest that anti-obesity medications may offer dual benefits," one doctor reports of the research.

Medically reviewed by Danielle Weiss, MD After losing extra pounds on Ozempic (semaglutide), some are finding themselves dealing with an unexpected issue, what's become known as "Ozempic breasts." This possible side effect of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist medication users like Ozempic,