Welcome to the future of obesity “solved” with a simple gesture: swallowing a pill. It’s called Orforglipron, the latest marvel of the “weight-loss” pharmacopoeia, promising to make us lose weight effortlessly, without diets, without sacrifices. The end of the “struggle” to be slim? Perhaps. But at what cost? And above all, what is the hidden truth behind this new wave of “miracle” drugs? Prepare to swallow a bitter pill, because reality is much less “vanilla” than they would have us believe.

Orforglipron: The “Magic Pill” is Served (Side Effects Included)

Orforglipron. A name that sounds like a spell, and in a sense, it is. This new oral drug, produced by the powerful Eli Lilly, is vying to become the “blockbuster pill” of the weight-loss market, surpassing the already hugely popular (and hugely expensive) injectable drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Orforglipron’s “magic”? To act on the GLP-1 receptor, the same target as injectable drugs, but with unprecedented convenience: a simple pill to swallow, once a day. No more bothersome subcutaneous injections, no more appointments with the nurse. Just one pill, and the game is won.

Preliminary data (phase 1 and 2 studies) are nothing short of exciting for the pharmaceutical industry: Orforglipron promises an average weight loss of 15-20% in a few months, percentages comparable to or even higher than those obtained with injectable drugs. In some studies, up to 47% of patients achieved a weight loss of 20% or more. Mind-boggling numbers, making millions of people struggling with their weight dream, and Big Pharma’s coffers rejoice.

Clinical studies have shown that Orforglipron is effective in helping people lose weight significantly. In a phase 2 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, participants taking Orforglipron lost an average of 8.6% to 12.6% of their body weight at 26 weeks, compared with 2.0% in the placebo group. The weight loss effect persisted up to 36 weeks, with weight reductions ranging from 9.4% to 14.7%. Orforglipron stands out for its long half-life of 29-49 hours, making it a potent partial agonist of the GLP-1 receptor. It has a stronger effect on cyclic AMP signaling than β-arrestin recruitment, resulting in a lower risk of receptor desensitization compared to other GLP1RAs. This means that Orforglipron could be a game-changer in the weight-loss drug market, offering an oral alternative to injectables and potentially improving patient adherence to therapy.

Beyond orforglipron, other injectable weight-loss drugs include:

• Liraglutide (Saxenda and Victoza) – used in the “SCALE trial”
• Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus) – used in the “STEP 1 trial”
• Tirzepatide (Mounjaro)
• Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
• Exenatide (Byetta and Bydureon bcise)
• Lixisenatide (Adlyxin)

These drugs work by mimicking the hormone GLP-1, which decreases appetite and delays gastric emptying. Clinical studies have shown that injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists are effective in the long term and lead to significant weight loss.

A comparison of three popular weight loss injections for non-diabetics, Semaglutide (Wegovy), Liraglutide (Saxenda), and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro), reveals the following:

Tirzepatide may be the most effective, with individuals losing an average of 15-22% of their body weight in 72-week clinical studies. Semaglutide (Wegovy) and Liraglutide (Saxenda) are also effective, with individuals losing an average of 5-15% of their body weight in studies. Wegovy is twice as effective as Saxenda in this regard, likely because it is longer-lasting. Wegovy is injected once a week, while Saxenda is injected daily. Some studies suggest that Wegovy may be better tolerated by some people than Saxenda.

But, as always, the devil is in the details (and in the side effects). Orforglipron, like all GLP-1 drugs, is not a harmless candy. The most common side effects are the usual ones: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, headache, fatigue. “Minor” ailments, generally mild and transient, pharmaceutical companies reassure us. However, some more serious side effects are possible, such as pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, increased heart rate, kidney problems, severe allergic reactions, depression, or suicidal thoughts. And this concerns what is known so far. But we are talking about drugs to be taken daily, perhaps for life, with long-term effects still largely unknown. And what if more serious risks are added to nausea and diarrhea? Pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, perhaps even tumors? Science tells us it is still too early to rule it out. But the pharmaceutical industry is racing, and haste, as we know, makes waste.

The Business of Obesity: A Billion-Dollar Market

Behind the “magic pill,” a colossal business is hidden.

The weight-loss drug market is growing rapidly, driven by the increasing prevalence of obesity globally. The global weight-loss drug market is estimated to reach $44.12 billion by 2029, with a CAGR of 49.85% over the period 2024-2029.

GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as Orforglipron, are among the most promising weight-loss drugs. The GLP-1 market is expected to reach $100 billion by 2030. Lilly, the company developing Orforglipron, has accumulated a pre-launch inventory worth $548.1 million, “primarily related to Orforglipron.” Analysts estimate that Orforglipron could generate $10 billion in sales.

However, the high cost of these drugs is a significant barrier to access. For example, the annual list price for Wegovy is about $16,000 or more. In the United States, Medicare and most state Medicaid plans have covered the drugs only for diabetes. Private insurers ¹ are also struggling with the costs.   

But why have we become so fat? The uncomfortable but inescapable answer is before our eyes: poor diet, sedentary lifestyles, bombardment of junk food, loss of food culture. We eat too much, we eat badly, we move too little. And the responsibility is collective: from food multinationals that flood us with hyper-calorie and ultra-processed products, to aggressive marketing that pushes us to consume more and more, to social laziness that makes us prefer the shortcut of the pill to the effort of a healthy life.

Fat is Beautiful? The Uncomfortable Truth About Obesity and “Fake” Food

Obesity: not a destiny, but the result of an explosive mix of factors, therefore, with “poor diet” acting as the main detonator. And by “poor diet” we mean the menu that the food industry offers us as “normal”: calorie bombs, sticky saturated fats, a barrage of sugars that send the body into tilt, tons of salt to make junk food “tasty.” All strictly lacking in what really matters: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, the building blocks to build a healthy body, not a landfill of toxins.

Obesity: A Global Pandemic in Stars and Stripes (and Beyond)

The obesity epidemic is no respecter of persons, but it strikes differently depending on passport (and wallet). Here is the contagion map:

• America, World Champions of Extra Pounds: In the United States, the black jersey of obesity: more than 40% of adults are officially obese. A figure that makes you reflect on what “well-being” really means in the land of unlimited consumption.
• England, the Chronically Overweight Island: The United Kingdom is no exception: 28% of confirmed obese, and another 36% dangerously “close to the finish line.” More than half of Britons are fighting a losing battle against the scales.
• Europe, Old and Fat?: In the Old Continent, the situation is patchy, but the trend is clear: obesity is galloping. Romania, Poland, Croatia, and Slovakia lead the men’s ranking, Ireland, Romania, and Croatia the women’s. And as always, the usual bitter truth: the lower you are on the social ladder, the more likely you are to become obese.
• Asia, the Obesity Time Bomb: Asia, once a model of “line” and frugality, is adapting to Western models, but in a negative way. Obesity is rapidly increasing, especially in “developing” countries and among young people pursuing “modern” (and wrong) lifestyles. Obesity percentages in some Asian countries: China (8.1%), India (5.5%), Japan (4.5%). Figures still “contained,” but the growth is alarming.

But what are the social causes of this pandemic? Here are some points that have become commonplace in the lives of too many people:

• Reduced Budget, “Affordable” Junk Food: We are being forced into a rather distorted reality of the food market: healthy food costs, junk food costs little. It seems that healthy and fresh food is an exclusive for a few elites, that it is expensive, inaccessible. And the choice is therefore often obligatory: fill your belly with low-cost calories, even if empty and harmful. Ready meals, take-away. People no longer know how to cook, but only how to defrost or reheat.
• “Deserted” Stores, Fast Food Everywhere: In neighborhoods, “real” grocery stores disappear, replaced by discount stores full of industrial food and fast food on every corner. Access to healthy food becomes an obstacle course, while junk food is literally “given away” (in terms of price).
• Hunger and Binges, the Infernal Circle: Economic insecurity and food insecurity generate stress, anxiety, depression. And what happens when you are stressed and hungry? You seek immediate comfort in food, especially the most gratifying (and harmful). Compulsive binges alternating with periods of deprivation: a lethal mix for metabolism and waistline.
• “Fat-ogenic” Environment, Forced Sedentary Life: Living in degraded neighborhoods, without green spaces, without safety and services, leads to sedentary lifestyles and the consumption of hyper-calorie food. The “gym” becomes the sofa, “sport” the remote control, the “restaurant” the fast food place down the street, where you don’t even go anymore, just a delivery service and food arrives directly at home in a few minutes, at any time, whenever you want.

The Culture of Laziness: I Want Everything, Now, Effortlessly (and in Pills)

Orforglipron and other “miracle” drugs are the perfect symbol of our age: the age of the “culture of laziness,” instant gratification, the easy solution in pills. We don’t want to work hard to lose weight, we don’t want to change our bad habits, we don’t want to give up the immediate pleasure of junk food and the couch. We want everything, now, effortlessly. And possibly in pills.

But the truth is, there are no “magic pills” for health. Healthy and lasting weight loss is achieved with an integrated approach: balanced diet, regular physical activity, stress management, adequate sleep, awareness of your body. Medicines can be a temporary aid, in specific cases and under strict medical supervision. But they cannot and must not replace a healthy lifestyle. Whoever believes in the “magic pill” is deluding themselves, and risks paying a very heavy price.

The Dark Side: Dependence, Hidden Side Effects, and an Increasingly Sick Society

Behind the glittering facade of pharmaceutical marketing, a disturbing dark side is hidden. The massive use of weight-loss drugs, like Orforglipron, opens up worrying scenarios:

• Psychological and Physical Dependence: The “magic pill” can create a psychological dependence, pushing people to completely delegate responsibility for their health to chemistry, giving up taking an active role in changing their lifestyle. And we do not rule out risks of long-term physical dependence, still to be thoroughly investigated.
• Underestimated and Hidden Side Effects: The history of pharmacology is full of “miracle” drugs initially presented as safe and then revealed to be harmful, even years later. The long-term effects of Orforglipron and other GLP-1 drugs are still largely unknown. And the pharmaceutical industry, driven by the logic of profit, is not always interested in highlighting potential risks.
• Normalization of a Sick Society: The mass diffusion of weight-loss drugs risks “normalizing” an increasingly sick society, which instead of addressing the root causes of obesity (poor diet, distorted social models, stress, inequalities) merely treats the symptoms with a pill, delegating to chemistry the solution of complex and deep-rooted problems.
• Discrimination and “Drug-Assisted” Body Shaming: If losing weight becomes as easy as swallowing a pill, what will happen to those who do not use it, or cannot afford it, or simply prefer a natural approach? Do we risk a new form of “drug-assisted” discrimination and body shaming? Will those who are not thin “with the pill” be considered “lazy,” “careless,” “out of fashion”?

The Bitter Truth: There Are No Shortcuts to Health (and Happiness)

Orforglipron is yet another siren song that deludes us into thinking we can get everything, now, effortlessly. But the truth is, there are no shortcuts to health, and not even to happiness. True “magic” is not in a pill, but in awareness, in responsibility, in the effort to change our bad habits, in the pursuit of a healthy balance between body and mind.

Perhaps, instead of chasing the umpteenth “miracle pill,” we should more seriously question the root causes of our social obesity, and rediscover the value of a healthy food culture, an active lifestyle, and a society that puts people’s real well-being at the center, and not just Big Pharma’s profits.

Because, when all is said and done, the real “magic pill” is ourselves, with our ability to choose, to change, to take care of ourselves and the world around us. We just need to decide to swallow the bitter truth, and spit out the sweet illusion of laziness.”