This is the Gila monster, a highly venomous animal native to the American Southwest. And while studying the digestive system of this creepy creature, biologists discovered one of today's most famous drugs: Ozempic... Originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, this drug has skyrocketed to global fame as we realized it could also be used for weight loss, Alzheimer's, and heart disease. However, the weight loss aspect has brought along some ethical issues: If you've paid attention to events like this year's Oscars, you'll see that many already-thin celebrities have gotten ABNORMALLY skinny, allegedly thanks to these drugs. This inevitably raises a concern: How ethical is it to use these drugs in a way that reinforces stereotypical beauty standards, and because of this, prevents those who genuinely need them from getting access? On the flip side, how ethical is it to claim that people curing their chronic illnesses with these drugs are taking "the easy way out" and to stigmatize their use? But perhaps most importantly: How does a single drug achieve such incredible success? Really, how does Ozempic work? Let's take a look.

00:00 Intro: The Gila Monster and Ozempic!
01:32 Exendin-4 and GLP-1: A "Digestive Molecule" From Gila Monsters to Humans!
03:16 What Is Incretin?
04:40 What Is Diabetes?
06:08 How Does Insulin Resistance Develop?
06:58 How Does High Blood Sugar Harm the Body?
08:09 How Was a Diabetes Drug Made From Venom?
09:10 Can Type 1 Diabetes Be Cured?
10:10 Can Type 2 Diabetes Be Cured?
13:15 Can Diabetes Drugs Slow Down Obesity?
15:50 Tirzepatide: What Happens When GLP-1 and GIP Combine?
17:26 What Else Can These Drugs Fix in Our Health?
18:43 Is Obesity Permanently Solved With Ozempic?
19:57 What Are the Side Effects of the Drugs?
21:22 What Effects Might We See With Long-Term Use?
22:06 Can You Lose Weight Through Microdosing?
23:19 How Are These Drugs Changing the World?
25:13 Outro

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📽️ Videography & Post-Production: Çınar Ege Bakırcı

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