The Dark, Untold Story of Ozempic
26 Jun 2024 (3 months ago)
Intro
- Ozempic (OIC) is a drug that is being heavily marketed and promoted, despite its potential risks and side effects.
- The healthcare industry is largely focused on drugging and managing diseases rather than promoting overall health and well-being.
- Chronic diseases are on the rise, and obesity has become a significant problem in the United States, with 50% of teens and 80% of adults being overweight or obese.
The problem with Ozempic
- There is a shortage of Ozempic, and the manufacturers are not producing enough to meet the demand.
- The main concern with Ozempic is that it is being marketed and used as a quick fix for obesity, without addressing the underlying causes of weight gain and metabolic dysfunction.
- The definition of obesity is based on personalized biomarkers and metabolic dysfunction, rather than solely on physical appearance.
America is a dirty fish tank
- The obesity crisis in the US is primarily caused by the poor quality of the American diet, with 70% of it being ultra-processed food.
- The increasing prevalence of chronic lifestyle conditions, such as diabetes and obesity, is particularly concerning among young adults.
- Medical specialization has led to a fragmented and inefficient healthcare experience, as patients with multiple chronic conditions are often referred to multiple specialists, resulting in a lack of comprehensive care.
- The segmentation of chronic lifestyle conditions is a mistake, as these conditions are often interrelated and should be treated holistically rather than in isolation.
The Flexner Report
- The Flexner Report, written in 1909, is the guiding law in Congress for modern medicine.
- It mandates a siloed approach to healthcare, requiring diseases to be named and treated with either surgery or pills.
- The report was written by Abraham Flexner, a paid lawyer of John D. Rockefeller, who invented the pharmaceutical industry as a byproduct of oil production.
- Rockefeller saw an economic opportunity in professionalizing medicine, siloing conditions, and profiting from interventions rather than making people healthy.
- The report aimed to professionalize medicine but also created an economic incentive to name and silo conditions for profit.
90% of doctors never study nutrition or fitness
- Medical education does not prioritize nutrition and fitness.
- 90% of doctors graduate without taking a single nutrition class.
- The author's experience in Premed confirms this lack of focus on nutrition and exercise.
- In 1909, medicine was unregulated, and drugs like heroin were commonly prescribed.
- John D. Rockefeller, known for his oil business, played a significant role in shaping the modern pharmaceutical industry.
- Rockefeller used oil byproducts to create pharmaceuticals and funded modern educational systems to promote their use.
- He revolutionized medicine by categorizing diseases and prescribing specific drugs for each.
- Rockefeller also lobbied the USDA to approve seed oils, a cheap byproduct of oil production, for human consumption.
- Seed oils have become the primary source of calories in the American diet, contributing to health issues.
Cigarette companies invented processed food
- The three key pillars of the American diet (processed sugar, seed oils, and processed grains) were introduced within the last 120 years.
- Cigarette companies invented the processed food industry.
- Philip Morris and RJ Reynolds, two major cigarette companies, became the two largest food companies in the United States in the 1980s.
- Many processed food companies are still owned by cigarette companies or were spun off from them.
- Doctors and scientists from cigarette companies went to work for food companies and used the same addictive ingredients and strategies to make processed foods more addictive.
A case for Ozempic
- Ozempic, a GLP-1 supplement used for treating type 2 diabetes, promotes weight loss by tricking the body into feeling full.
- Despite aggressive marketing and suggestions that most Americans should use it, concerns exist about Ozempic's long-term side effects and effectiveness as a sustainable solution for obesity.
- Some experts advocate addressing the underlying causes of obesity through diet and exercise rather than relying solely on medication.
- Ozempic can impact the desire for pleasurable activities by affecting dopamine and serotonin pathways in the brain, leading to decreased interest in sex, gambling, and drinking.
- There is increasing evidence linking Ozempic to an elevated risk of suicidal ideation and depression.
The macroeconomics of Ozempic
- Ozempic, a drug used for treating chronic conditions, costs $1800 per person per month in the US, which is 15 times more than its cost in Europe.
- The high cost of Ozempic is due to rigged policies that result in taxpayers paying more for the drug.
- Pharmaceutical companies are the largest funders of politicians, TV news spending, medical schools, and academic research, which allows them to influence public opinion and policy decisions.
- In Europe, pre-diabetics are prescribed a keto diet and paid to exercise instead of being prescribed Ozempic.
- The FDA is primarily funded by pharmaceutical companies, not taxpayers.
Why you shouldn't trust Stanford or Harvard
- Distrust in healthcare institutions is growing due to conflicts of interest and questionable practices, particularly the influence of the pharmaceutical industry on medical research and recommendations.
- Lobbyists and consultants exploit people's trust in institutions and experts to manipulate debates and influence public opinion, often funded by corporations that harm the public.
- The healthcare system is designed to profit from people being sick, leading to perverse incentives and burnout among healthcare professionals, with doctors having the highest suicide and burnout rates in America.
- The current healthcare system prioritizes financial gain over patient well-being, contributing to a population that is increasingly overweight, depressed, infertile, and unhealthy.
How one family got America hooked on drugs for life
- The pharmaceutical industry saw the success of birth control pills, which people continuously took, as a lucrative business model.
- The Sackler family, known for their involvement with Purdue Pharma and OxyContin, aimed to create more chronic health issues to increase pill consumption.
- They capitalized on the post-World War II trust in the medical system and the discovery of antibiotics.
- By owning medical journals, they created new diagnosis codes and mental health categories, leading to the widespread prescription of addictive drugs like Valium.
- The medical industry focused on segmenting the body and creating pills for specific biomarkers, ignoring the overall decline in health.
- Ozempic, a once-weekly injectable drug, is used to treat type 2 diabetes.
- It belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists, which work by increasing insulin production and slowing down digestion.
- Ozempic has been found to be effective in lowering blood sugar levels and promoting weight loss.
- However, it has also been linked to several side effects, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain.
- In rare cases, Ozempic can cause serious side effects such as pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, and kidney problems.
- The drug is also expensive, costing around $892 per month without insurance.
- Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, has aggressively marketed the drug, spending millions of dollars on advertising.
- The company has used celebrities and social media influencers to promote Ozempic, often focusing on the drug's weight loss benefits.
- Critics argue that Novo Nordisk is misleading the public by emphasizing the drug's benefits while downplaying the risks.
- They also point out that the company has a history of paying kickbacks to doctors who prescribe Ozempic.
Conclusion
- Ozempic is a powerful drug that can be effective in treating type 2 diabetes and promoting weight loss.
- However, it is important to be aware of the potential side effects and the high cost of the drug.
- Patients should talk to their doctor about the risks and benefits of Ozempic before starting treatment.
Nothing is more profitable than a child who gets sick early
- There's nothing more profitable than a child who gets sick early and gets on drugs.
- These children don't learn metabolically healthy habits and the root causes of their conditions.
- They are told that a pill is the savior, leading to more comorbidities.
- Chronic disease patients suffer and are more likely to experience mental health issues.
- They don't die right away, but they become frequent patients, often paid for by taxpayers.
The Genius of chronic disease
- The pharmaceutical industry understood the concept of chronic disease and its profitability.
- The birth control pill is an example of this understanding.
- Today, even the entrepreneurial community and venture capitalists still operate within this existing model.
- Innovation is seen as putting a millennial pink package on Viagra or improving the user experience of medical records.
- There is very little disruption in the healthcare system.
There's an Economic Opportunity
- The current healthcare system is unsustainable, with increasing mental health issues, physical health problems, and obesity rates.
- We cannot drug our way out of these problems by doing more of the same.
- There is an economic opportunity for those who realize this and shift the incentives of the system.
The 80/20 on nutrition and health
- The biggest lie in healthcare is that the reasons for getting sick are complicated and cannot be changed quickly.
- The core thesis of the book is that things are complicated by design.
- The first step to improve health is to reduce ultra-processed food consumption.
- Ultra-processed foods are those that contain added sugar, processed grains, and seed oils.
- The second step is to focus on the quality of food, such as choosing grass-fed over grain-fed meat and organic vegetables.
- Shopping for groceries can be done at places like Sprouts and Whole Foods, or by looking for deliveries of pasture-raised meat from trusted farmers.
- It is important to incentivize healthy food choices as a country to improve the overall health of the population.
How the death of a parent radicalized Calley
- Calley's sister, Casey Means, left the medical system and became an advocate for simpler solutions to health issues.
- Calley's mother was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer despite being on multiple medications for various conditions.
- Calley believes the medical system often ignores warning signs and focuses on treating symptoms rather than addressing root causes.
- Calley's own blood test results showed signs of metabolic dysfunction, but he was told he was not yet treatable.
- Calley's experiences led him to believe that the average American is on a path to developing chronic diseases due to the system's focus on short-term solutions and lack of emphasis on nutrition and lifestyle.
- The healthcare system often focuses on treating symptoms rather than addressing root causes.
- The average American is on a path to developing chronic diseases due to the system's focus on short-term solutions and lack of emphasis on nutrition and lifestyle.
- The largest industry in the country is incentivized for people to be sick.
Why Japanese children only have 3% obesity rate
- The US has a 40% obesity rate, while Japan has a 3% obesity rate.
- Genetics cannot explain the sudden increase in obesity in the past 40 years.
- The most prominent industry in the US makes money when people are sick and loses money when they are healthy.
- Japan spends three times less per capita on healthcare and double the amount on food compared to the US.
- Japan's healthcare budget incentivizes the food system and food interventions.
- Nine out of ten killers of Americans are food-borne illnesses.
- Other countries understand the importance of food and dramatically re-incentivize their healthcare systems.
- The US has a kleptocracy where the system is rigged to make people sick, feed them into the system, and keep them sick.
The difference between European and American candy
- European candy has fewer ingredients compared to American candy.
- McDonald's french fries in Europe have fewer ingredients compared to those in the US.
- The US food system is rigged by food companies to allow thousands of ingredients that are not legal in Europe.
- The USD nutrition guidelines committee is funded by food companies and farmer companies, which leads to biased recommendations.
- Kellogg's ingredient list changes for American kids compared to Canadian kids, with the American version having addictive ingredients and colorings linked to ADHD and other developmental issues.
- Europe has stricter regulations on food ingredients compared to the US.
HBS is a conformity factory
- HBS graduates 10 years after graduation were the most depressed group of people studied by a professor at Harvard Business School.
- People write their application essays about transforming and disrupting industries, but end up conforming and settling into traditional industries like finance and energy.
- This happens due to various fears ingrained by society and the need for workers rather than thinkers in the capitalist system.
- Graduates feel professionally unfulfilled and trapped, leading to regrets 10 years later.
- The speaker believes that not chasing passions and not fully self-actualizing is a bigger problem than too many people following their passions.
- Society's expectations and trauma often lead people into suboptimal career paths.
Psilocybin is the single most thing we should be doing
- The speaker had a negative experience with a shaman who advocated for free MDMA therapy but charged a high fee.
- The speaker believes that therapeutic psychedelic use should be encouraged for those who feel called to it.
- The speaker had a positive experience with a high-dose psilocybin therapy session, which helped him during a difficult time in his life.
- The speaker experienced a profound shift in perspective after a car crash, leading to a deeper appreciation for his wife and a commitment to carrying forward his mother's legacy.
- Neuroplasticity, triggered by traumatic events, can help rewire the brain and establish new thought patterns.
- The speaker recommends exploring one's fears and issues through methods like meditation and psychedelic experiences, emphasizing the potential for profound personal transformation.
- The speaker highly recommends trying a therapeutic ayahuasca retreat, describing it as a life-changing experience.
- Ayahuasca retreats are legal in some countries and are being advocated for FDA approval in the United States as part of the root cause health movement.
- The speaker encourages people to find a responsible and legal way to experience ayahuasca therapeutically in a safe and trusted setting.
When the student is ready, the teacher appears
- The speaker believes in the concept of timing and intuition when it comes to making decisions.
- A YouTube video by Tim Ferris offers a balanced perspective on psychedelics.
- The FDA's hesitation to approve MDMA for therapeutic use is seen as a missed chance to address mental health issues.
- The "cleaning the fish tank" approach emphasizes addressing the root causes of physical and mental health problems.
- Psychedelics can be a powerful tool for therapeutic change by altering perspectives and narratives in the mind.
- Personal growth and improvement through exercise, healthy eating, and meditation are essential for overall well-being.
- Psychedelics, while natural, should be approached cautiously and responsibly due to their potential therapeutic benefits.
- Ozempic, a type 2 diabetes drug, has gained popularity as a recreational drug due to its euphoric effects.
- High-dose Ozempic has shown profound therapeutic impact, described as life-changing.
- Ozempic's relatively low side effects and potential benefits are comparable to commonly accepted recreational drugs like alcohol and Adderall.
- The speaker challenges societal perceptions of recreational drug use, suggesting a reevaluation of what substances are considered appropriate.
- Entrepreneurs should explore opportunities in healthcare innovation, especially in light of changing healthcare systems and the potential of drugs like Ozempic.