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The Ethics of Ozempic and Wegovy.

J Med Ethics · 2026

Last updated 2026-09-05

Semaglutide, sold as Ozempic, Rybelsus, or Wegovy, is a drug primarily used to treat type II diabetes but has gained attention for its effects on appetite suppression and weight loss. While its benefits for diabetes management are well-documented, its popularity for weight loss has sparked mixed reactions from both the public and government. The paper discusses ethical concerns about the drug but concludes they do not provide a strong enough reason to avoid prescribing it for weight loss.

AI summary of the abstract below.

JournalJ Med Ethics, 2026
Citations16
Relative citation ratio12.09
Molecules semaglutide

Abstract

Semaglutide, sold under the brand names of Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy, is one of the most popular drugs on the market. Manufactured by Novo Nordisk, semaglutide is the newest in a family of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists used most commonly to treat type II diabetes. To date, the results of semaglutide for the treatment of type II diabetes have been overwhelmingly positive. It is for the drug's effects on appetite suppression and weight loss, however, that have led its surge in popularity, with many hailing semaglutide as the new 'miracle drug for weight loss'. Despite its popularity, both the governmental and popular reception to the drug has largely been mixed. In this paper, we address a range of ethical concerns and argue that while many are legitimate, they do not provide conclusive reason not to prescribe semaglutide for weight loss.

Verbatim abstract via PubMed 39848681 ↗

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