Contrary to popular myth, frogs leap out of heating pots. Stampeding cattle stop at a cliff’s edge and lemmings don’t really commit mass suicide. We’ll find out about Americans in 2025. Will we as a people meet the challenges of this year or simply slink off into some dark corner? This is the year to find out.

I have made a New Year’s resolution to lose weight this year. I have tried doing this before, on my own and more formally by using Weight Watchers. With the later approach, I had some success, but not as much as Anne or her sister had and for me my success proved only temporary and within a year, I had regained all the weight that I had lost. This time, I am turning to drugs. Ozempic is the best-known version of these drugs. Ozempic is a brand name for the generic medicine semaglutide, which is what I am taking.

A couple of months ago, I had my regular visit to the doctor. I asked him about Ozempic then. I had asked him about it a year earlier, but he had nothing to say then. This time he was better informed. He thought that it would be a good idea for me. Further, he recommended using Hims as a provider. On his say so, I promptly signed up and began a three-month introductory course.

I am now at the two-month mark. I have lost weight, more than ten pounds. I started out on a 20% dose and then after a month went to 40%. This week, I began 60%. It will not be until March, when I start taking a full dose. Once a week I self-inject myself, usually in my belly. The needle is hardly felt, and my sole side-effect of an occasional upset stomach has been manageable.

I can already feel you judging me, resorting to drugs and such. Let me say this, I am not playing Major League Baseball. What I am doing is not wrong. I just want to live and if losing weight can help me do that, that is what I am going to do. Besides Weight Watchers has jumped on the Ozempic bandwagon too and is now also a provider. I could have gone with them, but my doctor recommended Hims, because they are a larger company and likely have more safeguards. 

Semaglutide, Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro are all brand names for the same medication, semaglutide. Semaglutide is a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which were originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, until it was discovered in trials to also treat obesity. The Danish company Nordisk makes, markets and hold the patent for Ozempic and Wegovy. Of all of these drugs only Wegovy is FDA approved for weight loss treatment. Nordisk also charges $2,000 per month for its products. With 70% of adult Americans now considered obese the demand for this medicine has been overwhelming. Nordisk could not keep up with demand, so the FDA stepped in, declared an emergency and suspended the Nordisk patent.

This opened the door for Hims, their compounding pharmacy and a host of others. I get Semaglutide for $200 per month, but I just noticed that they have marked it down to $169 and others now offer it for only $25. This FDA declared emergency is now the subject of some controversy within the incoming Administration. Elon Musk is all in and has touted himself as the “Ozempic Santa.” While RFK Jr., the FDA nominee seems to oppose it. I will be watching intently as this turf battle develops.

It remains to be seen how this whole Ozempic approach will work out for me. It seems to be working, and I can handle its side effects. This whole new political wrinkle is interesting and bears watching. I am hopeful and I look forward to seeing a new skinnier me in 2025.