Ethical Issues Related to the Use of GLP‐1 Receptor Agonists Such as Ozempic and Mounjaro
Impact on Individuals and Society at Large
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21504180 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Francesca Minerva (0000-0001-9384-586X, University of Milan—Department of Philosophy Milan Italy, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 505-518 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Bioethics (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0269-9702 • E-ISSN: 1467-8519 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/bioe.70068 |
| PMID | 41353657 |
| OpenAlex | W4417094171 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 95 |
This paper explores the ethical implications of emerging weight‐loss medications such as Semaglutide (Ozempic) and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro), analysing their therapeutic applications for obesity and potential use as enhancement drugs. These medications promise significant benefits, including improved individual health outcomes, reduced healthcare costs and, potentially, reduced environmental harms. However, their widespread adoption raises various concerns, such as unknown long‐term side effects, the exacerbation of weight‐based discrimination, and the reinforcement of socioeconomic disparities. The paper argues that, with robust regulatory frameworks in place, the potential benefits of these medications are likely to outweigh the risks. Nonetheless, ongoing monitoring of their effect on individuals and society at large remains essential
Bioethics · Ethical issues · Exacerbation · Health care · MEDLINE · Socioeconomic status · Bariatric Surgery and Outcomes · Diabetes Treatment and Management · Pharmacology and Obesity Treatment
Getting Worse
Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes
Body Mass Index
Socioeconomic Status and Obesity
The Obese Without Cardiometabolic Risk Factor Clustering and the Normal Weight With Cardiometabolic Risk Factor Clustering
The metabolic consequences of sleep deprivation
Association of All-Cause Mortality With Overweight and Obesity Using Standard Body Mass Index Categories
Ultra-processed food and the risk of overweight and obesity
S Uccessful W Eight L Oss M Aintenance
The Spread of Obesity in a Large Social Network over 32 Years
The Ethics of Ozempic and Wegovy
Generic Drug Industry Dynamics
Lifetime Health Effects and Cost-Effectiveness of Tirzepatide and Semaglutide in US Adults
Obesity in Eastern Europe
Perceived discrimination and health
Individual differences in the interoceptive states of hunger, fullness and thirst
Long-term weight-loss maintenance
Achievement
Self-regulation and depletion of limited resources
Anti-fatness in the Ozempic era
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |