Weight-loss Injections: Medicine or Moral Minefield?

In a world where slim bodies are considered the ultimate status symbol, a drug that suppresses appetite seems like a betrayal of the social ideal. Suddenly, many people are achieving something that previously only a few had supposedly fought hard to attain. And immediately, a social debate flares up: is drug treatment for obesity a medical necessity or a convenient shortcut for the undisciplined? Endocrinologist Katja Leitner from Aarau Cantonal Hospital can only shake her head at this. Obesity is a chronic disease that affects one in eight people worldwide and can lead to numerous secondary diseases. "The statement “eat less, exercise more” falls short. Lifestyle is only one factor." Leitner emphasises that aspects such as genetics, age, hormones and the environment are also decisive. Sociologist Katja Rost from the University of Zurich, on the other hand, sees a social pattern in the uproar surrounding GLP-1 drugs: "Being slim is a rare commodity today and highly regarded by society. Precisely because it is considered to be hard-earned." This exclusivity is now being challenged. For Corina Preisig, who lost almost 30 kilograms with Wegovy, this dynamic is part of everyday life: ‘As an overweight person, you can't please people. If you're fat, they don't like it, and if you lose weight, you're criticised too.’ Chiara Kroop is also familiar with the moral undertones when it comes to weight loss.