Ozempic and Wegovy have received a lot of publicity as revolutionizing treatment options for obesity. Both medications form a class of GLP-1 receptor agonists, which mimic a hormone in the body called glucagon-like peptide-1 and are involved in the regulation of appetite and blood sugar. Indeed, in initial clinical studies, the majority of those on the drugs lost 15% to 22% of body weight, hence much optimism. For most patients, these medications are underwhelming for about 20% of patients due to minimal weight loss or other challenges.

Take a closer look at why the weight loss drugs may not work for everyone, together with what options exist when they don't deliver the expected outcomes.

Why Weight Loss Drugs May Not Work

While GLP-1 receptor agonists have produced phenomenal responses in a majority of patients, it remains a reality that these drugs work differently for different people. Here's why:

1. Genetic and Hormonal Variability

Weight loss medications interact with complex systems in the body that differ from person to person. Genetics, hormones, and individual brain responses to energy regulation play significant roles in determining how a person responds to drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.

2. Underlying Medical Conditions

Other conditions, such as sleep apnea, may be prevalent and prevent or delay the achievement of weight loss goals. Prescription drugs like antidepressants, steroids, or contraceptives are other medications that can nullify weight loss medication benefits.

3. Unrealistic Expectations

Often, they come to these medications with enormous hopes; expecting the promised rapid and dramatic weight loss. Progress creates disappointment if it has not stalled. In patients who rigidly follow recommended lifestyle modifications, frustration and disappointment are most common.

Why it is Important to Identify Non-responders

For most patients, the effectiveness of GLP-1 receptor agonists is evident within a few weeks of treatment. Weight loss typically begins within a few weeks of initiating therapy and tends to increase with dosage. However, some patients respond very little, if at all, despite strict adherence to their regimen.

For nonresponders, this can feel like a dead end. However, understanding the unique complexities of obesity is essential. This condition stems from brain dysfunction, and the pathways that contribute to weight regulation differ among individuals.

Alternative Treatment Options

When Ozempic or Wegovy doesn’t yield desired results, there are still many paths to explore:

1. Switching to Another GLP-1 Drug

For example, some patients who don't respond well to one GLP-1 receptor agonist might find success with another drug in the same class. Newer medications, such as Zepbound, target other hormone pathways and seem promising even for those not responsive to earlier drugs.

2. Use of Older Medications

While there is much to say about newer drugs, older treatments can still be useful and work for some patients. One can also seek the help of a medical provider specializing in obesity treatments in order to identify the best alternatives.

3. Lifestyle Changes

Diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management continue to be integral components of any weight loss program. New changes may be small but can make an enormous difference in one's health and success.

4. Medical Management of Obesity

It is a complex disorder, and most patients should receive a multidisciplinary treatment. Collaboration with an obesity-aware doctor may mean access to tailored treatment plans, ranging from psychological support all the way to metabolic testing, and many others.

Why Side Effects of Weight Loss Drug Ozempic May Be a Barrier

For others, side effects like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea hinder them from continuing with these drugs. These symptoms often reduce as the body becomes accustomed, but for some, they might be severe enough to stop treatment altogether. In those instances, alternative drugs or procedures become vital to find.

Long-term effects of Ozempic or Wegovy on the Brain

Another largely unexplored area relates to GLP-1 drugs' long-term effects on the brain's regulation of hunger and satiety. Although GLP-1 drugs suppress appetite and can lead to effective weight loss, emerging research suggests that they may also affect brain reward mechanisms, changing the way patients experience foods.

This aspect could prove of paramount significance in the future treatment of obesity. Perhaps GLP-1 receptor agonists do indeed affect and rewire the brain's reward pathways and will thus provide sustained benefits beyond discontinuation. However, more research is required to understand this phenomenon fully.

While for many, Ozempic and Wegovy have revolutionized obesity treatment, these are certainly not a one size fits all. Nonresponders need not lose hope- alternative strategies and medications abound. A consultation with an obesity expert healthcare provider is essential to put together a comprehensive, tailored treatment plan.

The route toward effective weight loss may be challenging, but with the evolution of obesity medicine and a better understanding of individual needs, there is a path forward for everyone.

As artificial intelligence becomes a go-to source for quick answers, a new University of Oxford-led study on AI chatbots and medical advice is raising serious concerns about how safe it is to rely on these tools for health guidance.

The research suggests that while AI chatbots can provide medical information, their advice is often inaccurate, inconsistent, and difficult for users to interpret, potentially putting people at risk—especially when dealing with symptoms that need urgent care.

What the Oxford Study Found

The study involved 1,300 participants who were given realistic health scenarios, such as experiencing a severe headache or being a new mother feeling constantly exhausted. Participants were divided into two groups: one group used AI chatbots to understand their symptoms and decide next steps, while the other did not.

Researchers then assessed whether participants correctly identified what might be wrong and whether they made appropriate decisions, such as seeing a GP or visiting A&E.

The results were troubling. People who relied on AI frequently failed to identify the severity of their condition and were often unsure about when to seek professional medical help.

Why Chatbot Advice Can Go Wrong

According to the researchers, one major issue is that people don’t always know what to ask. The study found that chatbot responses varied widely depending on how questions were phrased. Even small changes in wording could lead to completely different answers.

The AI often produced a mix of helpful and misleading information, leaving users to decide which advice mattered. Many participants struggled to distinguish between reliable guidance and unnecessary or confusing details.

As one of the study’s authors explained, when an AI lists multiple possible conditions, users are left guessing which one applies to them—precisely the moment where mistakes can happen.

A Dangerous Gap in Symptom Interpretation

Dr Rebecca Payne, lead medical practitioner on the study, warned that asking chatbots about symptoms could be “dangerous”, particularly when users delay seeking professional care based on AI responses.

Dr Adam Mahdi, the study’s senior author, noted that while AI can share medical facts, people often share information gradually and leave out key details—something chatbots struggle to manage effectively.

Bias, Data, and the Limits of AI

Experts also point out that chatbots are trained on existing medical data, which means they may repeat long-standing biases baked into healthcare systems. As one psychiatry expert put it, a chatbot is only as accurate as human clinicians—and humans are far from perfect.

That said, not everyone is pessimistic.

What Comes Next for AI in Healthcare

Digital health experts argue the technology is evolving. Health-specific versions of general AI chatbots have recently been released by major developers, and these could perform differently in future studies.

The consensus among experts is clear: AI in healthcare should focus on improvement, regulation, and guardrails, not replacement of doctors. Used responsibly, it may support healthcare—but without safeguards, it risks doing more harm than good.

This common pregnancy drug could be linked to cancer. Wes Streeting has been urged to launch a public inquiry into a miscarriage drug called Diethylstilbestrol, which, reports say has "ruined and devastated" the lives of countless women. On Monday, the Health Secretary Streeting met victims of the pregnancy drugs, which has been linked to cancer, early menopause and infertility.

What Is Diethylstilbestrol?

Diethylstilbestrol, commonly known as DES, is a synthetic form of female hormone estrogen, which was prescribed to thousands of pregnant women from 1940 to 1970s.

The drug was used to prevent miscarriage, premature labor and complications of pregnancy. This was also used to suppress breast milk production, as an emergency contraception and to treat symptoms of menopause.

What Is The DES Controversy?

In 1971, Diethylstilbestrol (DES) was linked to a rare cancer of the cervix and vagina known as clear cell adenocarcinoma, prompting US regulators to advise that it should no longer be prescribed to pregnant women. Despite this, the drug continued to be given to expectant mothers across parts of Europe until 1978. DES has also since been associated with other cancers, including breast, pancreatic and cervical cancers, The Telegraph reported.

Campaign group DES Justice UK (DJUK) is now urging Health Secretary Wes Streeting to order a public inquiry and introduce an NHS screening programme to identify people who may have been exposed to the drug before birth.

Victims described DES as “one of the biggest pharmaceutical scandals this country has ever seen,” warning that “the impact of this terrible drug cannot be underestimated as it has ruined and devastated so many lives,” according to The Telegraph.

In November, Streeting acknowledged that the “state got it wrong” and issued an apology to those affected. He also advised anyone who believes they may have been exposed to DES to speak to their GP.

Susie Martin, 55, from Manchester, whose mother was prescribed DES during pregnancy, told The Telegraph she has undergone between 20 and 30 operations as a result of the drug’s effects.

“The impact of this terrible drug cannot be underestimated as it has ruined and devastated so many lives, including my own,” she said. “The physical and emotional pain has been unbearable. I live with a constant fear that I will need more surgery or develop cancer—and I am far from the only one.”

Calling DES a “silent scandal,” Martin said she hopes the government’s engagement will lead to concrete action. “While I welcome Mr Streeting meeting us, it will only matter if he commits to meaningful steps for victims of this shameful chapter in British medical history, including a screening programme and a full statutory public inquiry,” she added.

What Is Happening With The DES Victims?

The Telegraph reported that compensation schemes have been set up for DES victims in the US and Netherlands, however, UK does not have one yet.

"There are harrowing accounts of harm caused by the historic use of Diethylstilbestrol (DES). Some women and their relatives are still suffering from the associated risks of this medicine which have been passed down a generation, and haven’t been supported. The Secretary of State has been looking seriously at this legacy issue and carefully considering what more the government can do to better support women and their families who have been impacted. NHS England has alerted all cancer alliances to this issue so that healthcare professionals are aware of the impacts of DES and the existing NHS screening guidance which sets out the arrangements for those who show signs and symptoms of exposure,” said a Department of Health and Social Care spokesman to The Telegraph.

The World Health Organization (WHO)'s Montreal meeting focused on wearable technology like smartwatches and activity trackers as a reliable source of health tracking. The meeting discussed that wearables could in fact generate objective real-time data, which helps governments design targeted and evidence-based health interventions.

Physicians in the Montreal meetings discussed that wrist-worn devices are more reliable than traditional self-reported surveys. This is because the self-reported surveys could underestimate the levels of physical inactivity.

“Metrics such as step count, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary time directly correlate with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and mental health outcomes. Having population-level data allows for early and preventive strategies,” said Dr Venkat Nani Kumar, consultant in internal medicine.

WHO Montreal Meeting: How Have Doctors Reacted The Shift To Wearables?

Doctors in India have welcomed this shift to wearable devices as a better way to generate data and make policies. Dr Kiran Madhala, professor at Gandhi Medical College, Secunderabad, said WHO’s shift reflects rapid advances in artificial intelligence and digital health tools, calling it a progressive step towards improved monitoring of physical activity worldwide.

City-based doctors also underlined the need for inclusive validation of devices. “Wearables must recognise varied movement patterns and step equivalents, especially in ageing populations,” a physician said, while stressing the importance of data privacy and ethical use of health information.

WHO Montreal Meeting: What Are Wearable Health Devices?

As per a 2022 study published in JMIR MHealth and UHealth, wearables refer to devices that are worn by individuals. In health care field, they assist with individual monitoring and diagnosis. Wearables are “seamlessly embedded portable computers...worn on the body," notes another 2018 study published in Telematics Informatics.

A 2018 study published in the journal Sensors noted that wearable health devices are increasingly helping people to better monitor their health status both at an activity/fitness level for self health tracking and at a medical level providing more data to clinicians with a potential for earlier diagnostic and guidance of treatment.

WHO Montreal Meeting: What Are Some Examples Of Wearables?

Blood Pressure Monitor

This is a blood pressure monitor that consists of a cuff that is placed in upper arm with a digital display that provides real time reading of systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Glucose Monitoring Device

This device estimates your glucose levels in every few minutes. It can be worn in upper arm, with a phone sensor connected to measure readings. It also includes real time glucose alarms to make informed decisions.

Wearable ECG Monitor

ECG patches are interconnected with smartphones, where one can see their readings. They not only measure electrocardiograms, but also detect any abnormalities.

Fitness Tracker

Smartwatches or fitbits that could be worn on your wrist. They help track real time data of your health, steps, heart rate, calorie consumptions, and even sleep patterns. It can also help keep track of oxygen levels.

Integrated Activewear

These activewears come with microscopic sensors to safeguard wearer's body or assist them in reaching their fitness objective.