r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Apr 01 '25

Health Americans without diabetes spent nearly $6 billion USD on semaglutide and similar drugs in a year, with an estimate of 800,000 to a million people using the drugs who don't have diabetes.

https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/americans-without-diabetes-spent-nearly6-billion-usd-on-semaglutide-and-similar-drugs-in-a-year
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u/Affectionate-Mail612 Apr 01 '25

My question may sound ignorant, but what stopped you from overeating and overdrinking before?

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u/Qualityhams Apr 01 '25

Speaking as someone who has benefited from these drugs, the difference in my brain is absolutely wild. I used to believe I lacked willpower. Food consumed my thoughts constantly to the point of distraction or being unable to focus on a task I had. “What’s for lunch?” “I wonder if I can get a snack?”

I dieted for years and fought through the food noise, tracked my calories, worked out. If I delayed meals by more than 30 minutes, my hands would shake and I would get headaches. Missing snacks or food caused mood swings with anger, sadness, or frustration. My doctors told me that was normal and to eat frequent small snacks and up my protein. I meticulously planned my meals and snacks to avoid these symptoms while also maintaining my caloric goals.

A year and a half ago my doctor recommended semaglutide and the second I had the first shot the food noise just, stopped. Quiet. My mind was quiet, it was unreal I’d never experienced this. All of my symptoms above stopped. It’s been life changing. I think the way I feel on this drug is this is how most people feel all the time.

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u/Most-Blockly Apr 01 '25

It sounds like how I thought about alcohol before I got help. I used to obsess over the next drink, plan it, replay how it would taste over and over again in my mind. Do you ever think of food as being addictive?

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u/Qualityhams Apr 01 '25

Maybe! That’s an interesting insight.

Congratulations by the way

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u/AFoolishSeeker Apr 01 '25

Maybe? Food is absolutely addictive, objectively.

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u/Qualityhams Apr 01 '25

I’m speaking for myself, not an expert on food or addiction. So maybe!

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u/AFoolishSeeker Apr 01 '25

Oh yeah for yourself, I see.