Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog
The United States has become increasingly heavier over the past half century — overall obesity rates have increased three-fold since the 1960s. Currently, more than two-thirds of U.S. residents are now, by definition, overweight with those individuals qualifying as obese making up more than 40 percent of the population. Even more disturbing is the fact that one in ten individuals meet the medical criteria for a person who is morbidly obese, which can be a life-threatening condition if not counteracted by a change of diet and exercise.
Sadly, this increase in national obesity hasn’t happened overnight; in fact, it’s been a gradual and relentless process that has seen the number of overweight individuals in this country tripling over the past 60 years. Furthermore, the incidence of severe (morbid) obesity has increased ten-fold since the 1960s, and shockingly the figures may actually be an underestimation of this nationwide problem. Here in Maryland, the obesity rate is slightly below the national average at 34.3 percent as of 2021, but that is hardly any consolation.
With such a large number of overweight individuals in the U.S., dieting and nutritional advice has become big business over the past several decades. So many people, hoping to shed excessive weight quickly and with less effort, have fueled an entire industry of weight loss programs, supplements and prescription drugs. Enter Semaglutide, an FDA-approved pharmaceutical marketed by Novo Nordisk under several different brand names, which is being used to help patients with Type 2 diabetes and chronic obesity. This latest answer to the country’s obesity epidemic has shown great promise since its introduction several years ago, but as with many medications there are potential pitfalls and dangers facing those who take advantage of this breakthrough drug.