Advertise | Give Feedback

Together with

"Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle."- Christian D. Larson

The Daily Tonic is a two to five minute read sharing science backed health news and tips, all while getting you to crack a smile or even lol on occasion.

Friday. The legendary Jerry Springer died yesterday at 79, leaving us all reminiscing about the days when his show was the highlight of our sick days. Springer was a titan of television in the '90s (and also the Mayor of Cincinnati from 1977-1978), paving the way for outrageous reality TV that we all secretly love to hate. Speaking of things we hate to love, let's talk about something we love to hate: weight loss drugs. Let’s dive in.

More Drugs Is Always The Answer

According to new clinical trials, the latest diabetes drug made by Big Pharma giant Eli Lilly has the potential to dethrone Wegovy (the weight-loss version of Ozempic) as everyone’s new favorite weight-loss drug.

Wegovy gained FDA approval for weight loss last year, and it quickly became a popular choice among those looking to shed some pounds. It's essentially a higher dose of Ozempic, another diabetes drug shown to aid in weight loss. Since its approval, Wegovy has been raking in billions of dollars for manufacturer Novo Nordisk. Other weight loss drugs, such as Contrave and Saxenda, have also gained popularity in recent years.

Now, Eli Lilly is throwing their hat in the ring with their antidiabetic drug, Mounjaro, because, well, there are profits to be made! The drug has already shown promise in helping both diabetic and nondiabetic patients lose weight. If approved for weight loss, it's projected to become one of the highest-grossing drugs of all time, with $50 billion in annual sales. This would drive the weight-loss/diabetes medication industry to what some estimate could be $150 billion per year.

Think about it — repurposing these diabetes drugs for weight loss is the perfect business model for Big Pharma to rake in big profits. They already have the drugs, so there aren’t really any additional research and development costs for them to think about. And studies have already shown that people gain the weight they lost right back when they stop taking these drugs. Combine that with the rising rate of obesity in the U.S., and you have the perfect system to churn out more and more lifetime customers for these drugs.

These weight loss drugs may be effective for some individuals in the short term, but they are not a silver bullet for the obesity epidemic. Far from it, actually.

Lifestyle changes, such as healthier eating habits and regular exercise, are still the most effective ways to achieve long-term weight loss and improve overall health. And it's important to remember that the same company behind Mounjaro, Eli Lilly, has a history of raising insulin prices, making it difficult for many people with diabetes to afford the life-saving medication they need. The Big Pharma giant is basically double dipping and taking full advantage of how unhealthy we have become as a society.

More people are obese — they make more money. More people have diabetes — they make more money. There is absolutely no incentive for us to get healthier.

The key takeaway? While the clinical trials for Mounjaro look promising on the surface, we don't need more weight-loss drugs. I will say that again — we don’t need more weight-loss drugs. These drugs are meant to treat diabetes, which is also a preventable and reversible condition. We need to help people work on lifestyle and habits, not throw more drugs at the problem. It's time for individuals, healthcare providers, and policymakers to prioritize holistic approaches to health and wellness rather than relying solely on pharmaceutical interventions.

I know — it sounds like a pipe dream, and maybe it is. The one thing I do know is that by being a Daily Tonic reader, you are probably doing the right things. You care about your health and are working towards making the changes you know you need to make to feel your best today and in the future.

Just remember that your actions don’t just impact your health — they also inspire others around you to do the same.

Together with Noom

Lose weight — the right way.

How many of us have tried to embark on shedding pounds to no avail?

We know losing weight can be a challenge for us all. Through a combination of psychology, technology, and human coaching, Noom unlocks your secret to sustainable weight loss and helps you form and maintain healthy eating habits that work for you. By equipping people with the wisdom and power of behavioral psychology, Noom believes in helping everyone build long-lasting, positive habits! Lose weight through behavior change, not fad dieting!

Smoking Hits Record Low

Let’s wrap the week up with some good news.

According to the CDC, cigarette smoking in the U.S. has hit a record low. Just 1 in 9 Americans smoked cigarettes last year, which is a long way from the 1960s when almost half of US adults were smoking like chimneys.

It seems that people have finally woken up to the health risks of smoking and the economic hurdles like cigarette taxes. It is progress worth celebrating, but we aren’t entirely out of the woods just yet.

Vaping is on the rise, with almost 6% of people using e-cigarettes last year. And even more concerning, 14% of teens reported using e-cigarettes in another CDC study.

Yikes.

Nevertheless, it’s good news. And that is how we’ll head into the weekend.

Tonic Shots

• Redefine fast food with this list of healthy recipes you can cook in 30 minutes or less. Check out the list!

• Just in case you needed another reminder — here is a study linking six healthy habits to slowing down memory decline. There are no surprises here, but it comes down to exercise, diet, cognitive activities like writing, reading, or playing mahjong, social contact, and minimizing smoking and alcohol consumption. Read more.