Wegovy, an anti-obesity treatment, has been available in France since October 8. Its reputation was influenced by its similarities with Ozempic, an antidiabetic drug misused for weight loss.
At least eight million people are affected by obesity in France, a figure that has been steadily increasing for twenty years. Faced with this situation, many anti-obesity drugs have emerged such as Mounjaro or Saxenda. And since October 8, 2024, a new treatment has been present on the French market after having been approved by the health authorities: Wegovy from the Danish pharmaceutical laboratory Novo Nordisk. Its active ingredient, semaglutide, is used against type 2 diabetes by imitating an intestinal hormone, insulin. This hormone acts on several mechanisms by reducing and regulating blood sugar, appetite and satiety. To put it simply, it reduces food intake and the appetite for fatty foods.
Wegovy, a medication that is not without danger
Wegovy works in the same way as Ozempic, an antidiabetic drug whose popularity is growing day by day. Many celebrities, such as billionaire Elon Musk, have promoted this drug for its weight-loss properties, without ever mentioning its multiple adverse effects: gastrointestinal disorders, pancreatitis, hypoglycemia… And France has not been spared by this wave of interest in Ozempic since, according to health authorities, almost 2000 patients use it without being diabetic, or around 1% of prescriptions issued. Faced with such global demand, the Ozempic is planned for limited availability until 2025.
The only difference between these two drugs is the semaglutide dosage of Wegovy. The latter has been increased to match the weight loss goals of the product. In view of these claims, the nutritionist, Pascal Nourtierevokes a high risk of excesses relating to the prescription of the drug: “Some people will go to their doctor to have it prescribed, without realizing the potential dangers to their health. They will lose weight in a very short time, then lose weight. release and regain all the weight lost.” According to a national survey by ANSES in 2011, 45% of women who were not overweight, 15% of whom were thin (with a body mass index of less than 22) had followed a diet during the year. Enough to question the motivations and the use made of the drug by a part of the population favoring the cult of the body at the cost of physical health.
Conditional treatment
According to regulations in force in France, this weekly injection treatment is reserved for people under sixty-five years of age whose body mass index is greater than 35 kg/m2, which is equivalent to a state of severe obesity. It is only indicated in the event of failure of nutritional support. At the same time, the patient must practice regular physical activity and follow a “low-calorie, high-protein and fiber-rich diet,” emphasizes Pascal Nourtier.
Not reimbursed by social security, Wegovy is billed between “between 9 and 12 euros per day”, or between 274 and 365 euros per month according to the French subsidiary of the laboratory. The company Novo Nordisk still hopes to resume price negotiations with the health authorities for treatment from 2025. For Pascal Nourtier, however, this drug is not a sufficient response to the increase in cases of obesity in France: “This may be an individual solution to help certain patients who are still motivated despite failures. Moreover, everything must go through education: the rules of food hygiene must be resumed from childhood. To eradicate obesity, we have to get back to the root of the problem.”