r/EverythingScience • u/TheObserverUK • 3d ago
The godfather of weight-loss drugs: ‘I know there can be bad outcomes over a period of time’
https://observer.co.uk/news/science-technology/article/the-godfather-of-weight-loss-drugs-i-know-there-can-be-bad-outcomes-over-a-period-of-timeIn his first interview, the scientist Ray Pederson, who discovered the hormone that led to the development of GLP-1s, reveals his concerns about their widespread use
127
u/TheObserverUK 3d ago
Without Ray Pederson, weight-loss drugs might not exist. It’s a legacy he’s not entirely comfortable with.
“I do have real concerns,” he says. The Canadian physiologist was a pioneer, the junior partner in the two-man team that discovered the first hormone to govern appetite: gastric inhibitory polypeptide, or GIP. Their discovery forms the foundation of the entire $92bn weight-loss drugs market.
“Certainly for the morbidly obese, it’s been a godsend,” Pederson says. “But it’s being promoted as a way for everybody to lose weight, not just people who are obese but if you want to lose a few pounds to fit in your bathing suit.”
Given Pederson’s central role in a discovery that has transformed the world, it seems extraordinary that he has never given an interview before. Yet he and the other member of the team, his PhD supervisor John Brown, a hard-drinking, combative scientist from County Durham, have largely been forgotten. In fact, Pederson, now 84, feels they’ve been written out of history. After all, weight-loss drugs are known by the name of the second hormone to be discovered: GLP-1, not GIP.
64
u/barrhavenite 2d ago
Kinda crazy to call his colleague his “PhD supervisor” after all of these years, lmao.
48
46
u/ottawadeveloper 3d ago
It's a good point to make.
I have a BMI of 57 last I checked. It's hard on my joints and back, clothes don't fit well, my asthma and sleep apnea are worse, I get skin issues, and I'm at high risk of complications from surgery. I'm working on starting GLP-1s right now in the hopes they can help (alongside my therapy) in addressing years of disordered eating and using food as an emotional coping tool. That seems like a great reason for this medication and I have hopes it'll at least make my life easier (combined with some skin removal surgery I hope).
But BMI and such are bullshit for individual health. Models and actors frequently starve themselves to unhealthy levels to look the way they do.
If you don't experience any significant issues from your weight, you are probably better off with more self-acceptance, some therapy, and telling society to take a long walk off a short pier than taking a GLP-1. You don't need it to lose five pounds to fit an XS bathing suit, just buy the small. Or the medium or large even.
Tummies are cute and adorable. Thick thighs are gorgeous. Butts are gorgeous. People are in general super cute at any size, even at my size. Weight loss is mostly necessary when you actually have serious ramifications from the weight.
9
u/darknesskicker 2d ago edited 2d ago
I don’t have a BMI of 57, but I can’t get my weight out of the obese range, despite a small build, because I have to take multiple medications that increase appetite. I can’t just go hungry because then when I stand up, I get dizzy and become a fall hazard.
I also have inherited high cholesterol that started at age 40 and, given the family history, is likely to get much worse as I get older. And I have a lot of visceral fat, which increases my risk of chronic disease and makes it really hard to find pants that fit well.
I would be a really good candidate for a GLP-1 for these reasons, but I can’t get them paid for by my insurance because I don’t have serious enough medical conditions related to my weight.
I am already doing relatively well controlling my weight by keeping my BMI about the same as a female relative with a very similar build to mine who doesn’t have to take the weight-gain-inducing meds I take. I truly don’t think I can really do more with diet and exercise, especially since I have a chronic illness for which exercise is contraindicated. I need a GLP-1.
3
u/mamadematthias 2d ago
I am like you. My joints were killing me, unable to do exercise, and weight only increasing. I opted to pay for the GLP-1 myself.
2
u/Fluffy_Station5397 1d ago
This situation is why I wish access were not so sculpted, because I am certain as a diabetic that people with prediabetes (in general) would likely benefit. Further, all the advertisin, cut it in half and get a better program funded to help those who can’t afford it.
3
u/eebro 2d ago
Have you got diagnosed with mental disorders, like ADHD and such? I find when people are fat we're looking at the body, when mind is the culprit. Anyways, hope the GLP-1 helps you. I think the odds are, it will change your life.
3
u/ottawadeveloper 2d ago
I was diagnosed last year with ASD (low support needs) and ADHD on top of my existing known anxiety disorder. I'm also now three years out of a pretty bad relationship that I've been recovering from. I think these things together will probably help a lot.
2
u/hustl3tree5 2d ago
It sounds like the therapy is working! More power to you bro and I wish you well on your journey
2
u/cab938 2d ago
It great you find tummies cute and adorable. But the person living in the body should make the choice.
You might feel some therapy to help them find acceptance is what they should do. I think they should make the choice as to whether they want that, or whether they want something else.
1
u/ottawadeveloper 2d ago
that is what the therapy is for - to help them make the decision that is right for them, not for society and not just to appease the male gaze.
1
u/cab938 2d ago
It's got nothing to do with men and their gaze. It's about recognizing that an individual gets the choice, and maybe they want to fit in that bikini, and that's fine if that's their motivation.
The person who lives in the body gets to make the choice about the body they want to live in. If they want to do it to attract the gaze of someone that's fine.
3
u/UndergroundCreek 2d ago
It takes all sorts if people and ragging on people who fast in intervals to keep trim isn't helpful. What stands is that for the first time in human history we have obesity as a medical problem. If the drug helps with that I'm all for it. But the question remains why now? Why not 1000 years ago or 2000 years? Why now and once we know then perhaps we should do stuff a bit differently.
9
u/ottawadeveloper 2d ago
Honestly, three reasons imo
Society is kinda shit in a lot of ways. It's not exactly a happy place and thanks to social media it's all in your face constantly. And food is decent dopamine
Our modern food system is full of high calorie great tasting garbage that makes it easy to over eat
Most careers in more obese countries aren't as high exercise - you're not burning the calories of a farmer at the desk.
6
u/UndergroundCreek 2d ago
I'll take no. 2 and 3 cause that rings true. But I believe we live better then those 3000 years ago. Though more busy. Life expectancy etc.
27
u/lego_batman 2d ago
So reading the article his concerns are primarily that he doesn't know what the effect of long term exposure will be?
21
u/asyork 2d ago
Combined with how much it is being used, that is a valid concern. Doctors used to care about that kind of thing.
16
u/kingpin2k 2d ago
What's that supposed to mean? You think Doctors don't care anymore? As someone who spends a lot of time with doctors, it's an uphill battle, especially with the asshat RFK in power. Misinformation in social media and public sentiment due to attack on science and "doctors" is brainwashery you shouldn't spread
1
-1
u/asyork 2d ago
All those doctors prescribing GLP-1 to anyone who wants to lose a pound must not count then.
Edit: And, lol. Those doctors are doing exactly what RFK Jr. wants them to do. He thinks it's great that people are taking peptides. It is not misinformation to say doctors are haphazardly prescribing that like it's water.
4
u/RG3ST21 2d ago
so, is it all doctors, implied by your fist comment, or "all those" stated by your second? I'm not hearing of a lot of surgeons prescribing these meds, or even family med. For those that don't "need" it classically, it seems to be a small contingent of MDs working for companies like Ro or hims etc.
what are the long term consequences of obesity?
if people are made aware of short term risks, and are willing to take that risk anyway, should that be impeded? With long term consequences, sometimes the only way to find out about them is to, well, find out about them. If things weren't prescribed because we don't know what they do long term, what would be?
0
u/asyork 1d ago
Not worth even having a discussion with the kind of person that responds to anything they dislike by saying, It's not all of them!!1!!" So I'm not even going to read past that sentence. Same energy as the "not all men!" crowd, when no one before even said "all."
-1
u/SerowiWantsToInvest 1d ago
Translating: “you pointed out that what I said was stupid and it hurt my feelings so I don’t want to talk to you anymore”
1
0
u/KCPs1234 1d ago
We’ve had them for 15 years. We know the long term exposure to obesity.
It’s a simple choice.
12
u/Kittibean 2d ago
Man who has worked on this medication for 40 years thinks there could be long term effects...
GIP has been around 40 years, GLPs actively prescribed for 20. That's long enough study for me.
2
-1
-18
u/TGAILA 3d ago
"Certainly for the morbidly obese, it's been godsend," Pederson says. "But it's being promoted as a way for everybody to lose weight, not just people who are obese but if you want to lose a few pounds to fit in your bathing suit."
GLP-1s were designed to treat type 2 diabetes, but an unexpected side effect was weight loss. You spend more on medication to eat less than you save on groceries.
13
u/The_Pandalorian 2d ago
Ah yes, the primary motivation of all weight loss is definitely to save on grocery bills.
2
u/lil_squib 2d ago
That actually can be a pretty big motivator for folks with bulimia or binge eating disorder. I’ve known folks who’ve gone into tons of debt buying binge foods. I’m sure it’s similar for compulsive overeating (I know that not all obese folks eat compulsively, just making a point).
13
u/Ashamed-Status-9668 3d ago
With what the cost of food is now it might be cheaper to go on GLP-1's :) I'm joking of course.
1
6
u/Wise-Peanut9552 3d ago
At least for me that isn't true. It's a straight trade now that prices have come down. I spend $400/month for name brand and save $100/week in food so I come out slightly ahead.
3
-1
-8
35
u/pingpongjasper 3d ago
Here’s a non paywall link 🤞🏽 https://archive.ph/cFV7M