This book traces the discovery and development of GLP-1, from the perspective of the scientists involved, the companies that produce the drugs, and some of the users of these drugs who have had varying results. It’s a more comprehensive look at how these drugs came about than I’ve been exposed to before, though it is heavy on the science aspects and lighter on the real-person stories. The book’s discussion of the challenging realities of science and who gets credit for what is eye-opening, and its coverage of the manifold possible consequences of these drugs’ widespread success is especially interesting, as the effects touch so many aspects of life. Though it was slow in some spots, I appreciated this book as a contribution to the larger understanding of these popular and relatively new drugs.

This investigative journalistic book goes to different aspects of weight gain and weight loss in human bodies and the social aspects of how one is perceived because of their body weight. The book also delves into the research behind Ozempic and other weight loss medications and the pros and cons of such interventions. Overall, a lot of research work has gone into writing this book, but the author failed to keep my interest going till the end as the book seemed like a journalistic affair and not a gripping novel.

Very interesting look at the "behind the scenes" of Ozempic and GLP-1 drugs in general and how they came to be. Helpful especially to the narrative out there that these drugs came out of nowhere and haven't been in use all that long - when in fact they took over 40 years to develop and have been used in patients for 20+ years.
While I found the subject matter interesting, I don't feel like the book was written all that well and it didn't flow all that well either.
The author would use overly dramatic storytelling in odd places that didn't seem to fit. It was like she was trying to make it a story instead of a work of non-fiction and/or getting confused in going back and forth.
There would also be drastic changes in subject from paragraph to paragraph almost like she was writing and had a thought about something and just started talking about that next without really connecting the two points together in some way.
I feel like this needs more editing and re-work before it's published!
The subject matter is super interesting though and important so hopefully it gets some re-work and does well once it gets published in November!

What a thorough, informative book about the culture of weight loss and science.. I enjoyed the intertwining of real life and medical history of weight loss.
In particular, the emphasis on body types was of interest. Our society’s emphasis on what social media thinks is “beauty” was so interesting to be included in this book.
A most comprehensive and easy to read book of such an important part of our country’s health care situation.
Have already recommended this book to students, faculty and contemporaries who are on weight loss drugs.
Thank you for this book

I found this book fascinating. While nonfiction, it's well written and does a great job of highlighting the groundbreaking characters involved in "inventing" such a revolutionary drug. Reads like a novel, but very informative. I would definitely recommend the book and also to anyone thinking of using these drugs which not only have an interesting history, but also side effects that should be considered first.

As a nurse, this book was an interesting look at the discovery of the revolutionary GLP-1 drugs. I have seen many patients come through the ER who have seen amazing weight loss and control of their diabetes that they had previously felt helpless to manage. I have also seen some with serious gastrointestinal side effects from these drugs, although the vast majority were short lived and went away after stopping the medications. As an obese person throughout most of my adult life and a newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic, I was of course eager to learn more about these drugs and how they came about. I definitely recommend this book to others who like reading about scientific issues and research and to anyone curious about this class of drugs in general.

I received a free copy of, Off the Scales, by Aimee Donnellan, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book talks about the new super drug for weight loss Ozempic. Obesity has always been an issue with people, people have tried many ways to lose wight. This book talks about how Ozempic came to be. This was an interesting read, I do not know if I like it though, I know somebody who passed away from using these new weight loss medications, they have side side affects, that are not really talked about.

Off the Scales by Aimee Donnellan is a fascinating overview of the rise of Ozempic, and is a super engaging and surprisingly accessible look into the wild story of how Ozempic went from a diabetes treatment to a full on cultural phenomenon. If you’re even a little curious about how this drug came to dominate headlines, diet culture, and the pharmaceutical industry, this is a great place to start. As someone who has explored the thought of trying this medication but was hesitant to make a commitment because of all the things I do not know about it, this really opened my eyes and eased my fears about it.

To be clear: this isn’t a deep dive medical textbook or walk through of every clinical trial. Instead, it’s more of a smart overview. Aimee Donnellan gives you a solid understanding of the key players, the science behind GLP-1 drugs, and how marketing, money, and media helped fuel its explosive popularity.

I also really appreciated the parts that touched on bigger conversations, like body positivity, beauty standards, and how entire industries (hello, fast food and fashion) might be rethinking how they operate. There’s also some powerful discussion around the overlooked contributions of women scientists, which was both frustrating and important to read. Additonally, I really liked that the severe side effects that can occur were discussed because these are important to not overlook, especially for those who might be considering it but are wary.

Overall, this book helped me understand the why behind the Ozempic craze, where the science might be headed next, and how our society is grappling with it all. It’s definitely a thought provoking, informative read with plenty to chew on.

I really liked this overview of how Ozempic came to be.
I thought that the author did a great job of how it came to be, who was involved and how it lead to explosive growth.

To be clear this is NOT an indepth reporting of how Ozempic came to be, you will not find play by plays. You will get a general overview of the development and marketing of Ozempic.

It also talked about body positivity, how the food, alcohol, and gambling industries are going to reimagine their products.

Overall I thought it was a great book that let me get a grasp on how Ozempic came to be and where scientists are going for the next round of GLP1.

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

This book is very informative and covers multiple aspects of the various GLP-1 based drugs. It tells the fascinating story of the drug's discovery, the long road to bring a consumer-ready drug to market, and the female scientist's struggle for recognition of her contribution to the invention.

The book also includes stories of the drug's miraculous effects as well as the unfortunate and severe side effects experienced by some of the patients. In addition, it dives into the wider topic of beauty standards and the societal changes that may be impacted by this drug. For example, how do we, who have made progress with body positivity, manage the prospect that the drug might bring us back to favoring ultra-thin models as the ideal?

Overall, this book is a very interesting read that leaves us plenty to think about.

Off the Scales by Aimee Donnellan takes a timely look at one of the most talked-about developments in modern medicine: the rise of Ozempic and GLP-1 drugs. The book offers well-researched insight into how this class of medications has disrupted everything from healthcare to fast food, fashion, and even celebrity culture.

Donnellan does a solid job tracing the scientific development of these drugs and their potential to shift how we view obesity. Her reporting brings in important players, including scientists who were overlooked and users whose lives have changed dramatically. The connections to public health and body image culture are thought-provoking, if occasionally underexplored.

While informative, the writing sometimes struggles with pacing and repetition. It reads more like extended investigative journalism than a fully cohesive narrative. Readers looking for deep medical insight or a cultural critique with teeth might come away wanting more. That said, this book is a good entry point for anyone curious about the global phenomenon surrounding weight-loss drugs and their ripple effect across society.

Let me begin by saying I am the wife of a diabetic. He needed Ozempic, and our pharmacy was unable to obtain it for him.
I'm at a loss for words to describe how incredibly enlightening this book is. I read it from cover to cover twice! This is a definite must-read for everyone in the world. It is an all-encompassing story that covers everything from how women are overlooked when it comes to receiving credit for hard work and accomplishments (even in the scientific field), the process from beginning to end in how a drug comes to fruition, how pharmaceutical companies plan their marketing of new drugs, to obesity and how important it is to get control of what is happening to peoples bodies and ways of life, and of course the complete story of Ozempic. It does not matter what the scale says when you step on it; we are all in this together. It is affecting everyone. I LOVED THIS BOOK!
I look forward to this book being published and available to everyone to read. I will be shouting the many highlighted quotes I made to anyone who will listen.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Aimee Donnellan for the gifted copy of this advanced reader copy. I also thank NetGalley for the delivery of it. All opinions are my own and completely honest.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This is the inside story of the race to develop Ozempic as a once-a-week injection for diabetics. The author includes interviews with the first scientist to discover GLP-1, glucagon-like peptide-1 which decreases blood sugar levels. Once the side effect of weight loss was known, the drug was marketed as a cure for obesity. But is it too good to be true? The dream of being thin comes with alarming side effects for some: pancreatic issues, muscle wastage, uncontrollable vomiting (up to 200 times a week, or until your teeth fall out), need for a feeding tube or gastric paralysis which results in colostomy. No, it’s not all patients who experience this, but there is an ethical question of prescribing this as a vanity drug. Or making it seem like it’s safe by just handing out free samples at the Indy 500 without any doctor recommendation. Then there is the question of prescribing this to children.

Very informative and thought-provoking look at where do we draw the line in our quest for being thin?

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