Wegovy, the blockbuster weight-loss drug, is now available in Singapore

more than two years after it was approved

by the Health Sciences Authority. But its arrival here sparks a deeper conversation about who should take it, how it makes us rethink obesity and weight loss , and whether weight-loss drugs are a magic bullet.

Earlier in July, pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk, which makes Wegovy,

announced in a statement that the injectable drug is now available

with prescription from any licensed physician at hospitals and clinics across Singapore.

The global hype around Wegovy, which is made for weight loss, stemmed from Ozempic, which was created as an anti-diabetic drug.

The latter garnered a lot of attention on social media a few years ago after its users, who weren’t all diabetics, showed off their considerable weight loss.

What connects Wegovy and Ozempic – besides both being made by Novo Nordisk – is that they contain the active ingredient semaglutide.

Mimicking the natural hormone glucagon-like peptide-1, semaglutide regulates blood sugar levels, curbs the appetite and induces the sensation of fullness.

One of the differences? Wegovy has a higher maximum dosage of 2.4mg than Ozempic’s 2mg.

While the benefits have been laid out, what should those considering Wegovy look out for?

To answer these questions on this episode of The Usual Place, I have:

Senior consultant endocrinologist Dr Sue-Anne Toh from Novi Health, a specialist medical clinic and health-tech company. She has more than 20 years of experience in internal medicine, diabetes, and metabolic health.

Her patient Farhan Hanis, a 26-year-old university student and a former plus-sized model. He started on Wegovy about two months ago.

General practitioner Dr Bosty Chan, who co-founded health telemedicine providers Sire and Dame, which offers weight management as part of a suite of services.

Tune in at 12pm SGT/HKT to watch the stream, and share your thoughts on our revamped YouTube channel.

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