I heard much about Ozempic (and other GLP-1 inhibitor drugs) during the past year. As someone who struggled with weight for much of my life, I have some opinions based on my experience. Still, I’m certainly no expert so you should consider this when weighing my opinions.
Recently on a podcast, I heard Johann Hari discussing his book, “Magic Pill: The Extraordinary Benefits and Disturbing Risks of the New Weight-Loss Drugs“. The next day I was thinking about the podcast when it occurred to me that these drugs may fail to address a problem I am familiar with – filling a hole inside of yourself.
I drank alcohol from age 15 until 36. Over the years my drinking progressed from once in a while binges in my early years to getting blackout drunk every night the last 5 years.
I drank for one reason – it made me feel great.
No matter what, when I was drunk I felt like weight was lifted off of my shoulders. I could relax. I could stop worrying about the past, the future, money, my wife’s health, my job, my inadequacies, my fears…all my worries disappeared during those blissful few hours of drunkenness.
When I had lost control and finally wanted to stop, I couldn’t. Eventually, I went to AA and found a way to quit. More importantly, AA taught me how to find peace without being drunk.
I remember reading somewhere in the AA literature that not drinking wasn’t enough – if you didn’t fill the hole inside of you that drinking covered over you were sure to drink again. Or kill yourself.
I wonder if Ozempic users will discover the same thing. Eating yourself into a sugar coma can be very soothing and comforting. I know, because I did it for most of my life. If you remove that pleasure from people, what will they do to feel great?
And, if they don’t do something to fill that hole, then what will happen?
Will people quit because they miss the “high” of comfort foods? Will they get severely depressed and possibly suicidal? Will they find other addictive behaviors to compensate?
I think we will hear stories if this happens soon. I will be watching.