Mac walks to the fridge, opens the door, pushes aside the case of coke zero and pulls out the plastic container sitting behind it. He is mindful to hide the container from his children. Its Saturday morning. Injection day. Mac has been taking Mounjaro, the competitor to Ozempic, for six weeks. His General Practitioner doctor prescribed this for him to treat his insulin resistance which had recently become elevated beyond the level she was comfortable with. Mac has also been carrying 15-20 Kgs (35-45 lbs.) for over a decade. The promise in all the media is to take one injection and your life will change amazingly! Weight melts off like butter! Food noise will disappear! Every celebrity under the sun is taking these GLP1 injections and loving them. But the costs of the injections- man, that can sting!
A brand-new way to solve an old problem?
If for some reason you have missed one of the main stories to hit the global media and consciousness in recent years, then GLP-1 drugs may have passed you by. Ozempic and Wegovy are drugs manufactured by the Danish company, Novo Nordisc. Mounjaro, a competitor is developed by Eli Lilly in the USA. GLP-1 drugs, a classification of endocrine related drugs, were originally designed as a treatment for diabetes. Researchers noticed a profound side effect, which was rapid and sustained weight loss. These GLP-1 receptors work by slowing down how quickly the stomach emptied and therefore slows down hunger sensations in the brain, leading to the patient eating less over time. One clinical study showed Ozempic had a body reduction of almost 16% reduction of weight compared to 5.7% reduction in the placebo group who were not taking the medication. The panacea for obesity now seemed to have finally arrived. A pill (in the form of an injection) to treat excess body weight.
But these drugs are currently very expensive. In Australia they are not subsidised by the Federal government for non-diabetic patients and are available by private prescription only. Depending on the amount of the injection you take, the prescription can cost between $400 and $1000 per month. Currently the drugs are not recommended for long term use.
But is it all good news?
Despite the frenzy of optimism surrounding these drugs. The side effects are often ignored in the media. Recently American actor, Amy Schumer, shared in an interview that she vomited continually while taking Ozempic and had to cease the medication. Gastric related side effects including severe nausea and vomiting can impact up to 15% of users.
Dr. Brenda Ikeji, from online education site, ZAVA UKpoints out that some mild reactions to GLP-1 medications can includehair loss, changed sense of taste, gallstones, feelings of weakness and tiredness, allergic reactions such as rash, itching and eczema and low blood pressure. On the severe side she outlines pancreatitis or severe allergic reactions can be serious and require immediate medical attention. Users also disclose incidents of muscle loss which for men in mid-life can be bad news as muscle strength is important for long term metabolism and physical strength.
The Case for the Old Ways?
Humans are inherently tribal. For centuries we lived our lives in communities. With that advent of our modern digital influenced lives, we have become more individual and isolated from fellow humans who are experiencing similar life journeys. According to the American Journal of Public Health, a recent peer-reviewed study evaluated the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of community-based weight loss interventions that combine behavioral strategies, diet, and exercise. It compared these approaches to more intensive, expensive programs. What did it find? Intensive lifestyle interventions, including the use of GLP-1 injections, can lead to 9–15% weight loss over 6–12 months but are costly and can be very time-consuming. Contrasting to that, community based campaigns, especially those using team-based competitions, can reach more people at a lower cost. However, the study did find they tend to yield more modest weight loss (e.g., about a 5% body weight reduction average). But these options are much cheaper, sustainable and arguably more fun than injecting every Saturday morning in secret.
What is a hybrid approach?
Dr. Angela Kwong of UpliftMed in Sydney, Australia suggests a hybrid approach with medically supervised GLP-1 prescription combined with community supported exercise and education programs to evolve lifestyle habits as an effective approach for men battling obesity. For many of her patients the benefits of her approach far outweigh the cost.
There are many reasons men struggle with weight loss and for some the taking of prescribed GLP-1 medications may well be a great solution. The caution remains that the media hype does not live up to the reported lived experiences of many takers. Taking care of our health in mid-life is essential for a healthy aging experience as we get older. The question remains what costs you are willing to tolerate to embrace a healthy second half of life.
There’s a reason the podcast Don’t Let the Old Man In resonates with thousands of men in their 50s. It speaks to the quiet war many fight against obsolescence, irrelevance, and a determination to navigate life’s crossroads with clarity and confidence. And likewise, if you’re reading this, you haven’t given up. You’re still curious. Maya Angelou once said, “If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.” Midlife career change isn’t about being extraordinary. It’s about being aligned—with yourself.
Pod O’Sullivan is the host of the Don’t Let the Old Man In podcast. Listen on YouTube, Apple, Spotify or wherever you tune in. Find more thoughts on living gracefully (and disgracefully) in the second half of life at The Wisdom Vault, on LinkedIn, Substack and even (!) Instagram.
