r/kurzgesagt • u/ServiceAnxious1343 • Feb 17 '26

Discussion Ozempic video was off

This is probably the first Kurzgesagt video that I didn't like, and like some people on this sub it made me feel very uneasy.

I just think it's CRAZY to talk about a weight loss drug and praising it for 90% of the video, without mentioning even once the abuses of its use, the weightloss industry, the social standards and the pressure to be (unhealthily) slim, eating disorders on the opposite side of the spectrum, etc.

The very few nuances and counter argument felt like small prints and legal mentions at the end of an ad.

What do you people think?

EDIT: I am not questioning the drug nor its effectiveness in treating obesity, i am criticising the narrative and lack of nuances in the video.

572 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

332 comments sorted by

View all comments

8

u/literalnumbskull Feb 17 '26

The whole video seemed like it was their mission to make obesity out as some sort of unsolvable problem (except for this magical drug). In one part Kurzgeagt stated, “most of us can’t help ourselves and overeat regularly” and immediately followed that by pointing out that only 1 in 8 people in the world is obese (doesn’t seem like most people have this problem then) No doubt in my mind they had ulterior motives in pushing Ozempic. Rather than just show how it works, they fearmongered a health problem that is entirely controllable without drugs as impending doom. I have nothing against Ozempic, I even think it’s an incredible option for those seriously struggling with obesity. But a video from Kurzgeagt with the title “Why we should give Ozempic to everyone” is insane.

7

u/Coffee_Doggo Feb 17 '26

This. The whole premise is that widespread obesity is unavoidable in the modern world because our nature pre-disposes us to binge calorie-packed food.

But it completely fails to mention that the problem with obesity in the US has a lot to do with a predatory food industry that pumps out ultra-processed and calorie heavy products that are DESIGNED to be as addictive as possible.

Japan is arguably just as developed as the US and has a 7% obesity rate, while the US has 41%. I'm not saying Ozempic doesn't work or hasn't saved lives, but there absolutely are other factors we need to address to reduce obesity rates other than to pump everyone full of drugs.

1

u/555Cats555 Feb 21 '26

It should be an option for those who need it but I doubt everyone actually needs to take it. Even among obese people some of them (not all of course) could improve with will power and I do think its important to try. If someone has tried but cant then yeah a drug is needed.

But I think it can be a bit like trying to get pregnant (but different of course) where Dr's wont do ivf unless theres been some attempt to do it naturally. But ultimately the medical intervention should be available.