r/science • u/Wagamaga • Feb 12 '25

Neuroscience The first clinical trial of its kind has found that semaglutide, distributed under the brand name Wegovy, cut the amount of alcohol people drank by about 40% and dramatically reduced people’s desire to drink

https://today.usc.edu/popular-weight-loss-diabetes-drug-shows-promise-in-reducing-cravings-for-alcohol/
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158

u/Les_Turbangs Feb 12 '25

Perhaps this will further inform those who still see obesity, alcoholism, and other addictions as nothing but the lack of willpower.

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u/JerseyGuy9 Feb 12 '25

What an idiotic comment. It’s absolutely still a lack of willpower. Unless you’re saying there’s a physiological need for the body to overconsume food or alcohol (which there’s not), no one is forcing you stuff your face with donuts or chug a beer.

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u/TheLegendOfMart Feb 12 '25

Unless these drugs work on a purely mental level they are obviously doing something chemically to the body so maybe it's not as easy as "willpower".

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u/FingerTheCat Feb 12 '25

emotions are chemicals, change chemicals change emotions. People like to think that their thoughts and emotions aren't controlled by them, and that's ok to a point.

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u/ManiacalLaughtr Feb 12 '25

I would say physiological drive or compulsion rather than need. OCD isn't a matter of pure willpower. Tourettes isn't a matter of pure willpower. For some people with addiction issues it may be a matter of willpower, but for others it is compulsive.

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u/TheSessionMan Feb 12 '25

People with clinical depression should just be happier. Simple as that!

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u/ParkinsonHandjob Feb 12 '25

He’s really on that level.

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u/PennilessPirate Feb 12 '25

There most definitely is a physiological problem, otherwise addiction wouldn’t be genetic. What an ignorant statement.

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u/JerseyGuy9 Feb 12 '25

How come obesity rates have skyrocketed the past few decades? Are we just magically getting worse at processing food and better at storing fat?

Or is it more likely that unhealthy food is more accessible than ever and people don’t have enough willpower to put the fork down.

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u/PhoenixTineldyer Feb 12 '25

Speaking as an addict

Some people are actually just significantly more prone to addiction thanks to specifics of brain chemistry. Genetics, in my case (grandpa dead at 40 from alcoholism)

Some of it is willpower but some people require much, much, much more willpower to overcome.

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u/JerseyGuy9 Feb 12 '25

So did all these people genetically inclined to be addicts get born in the 80s when obesity rates started to climb? Where were all those people before?

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u/nachosmind Feb 12 '25

I love how you pin point to a specific time and ignore the massive shifts in everything else other than obesity itself. For example changes in Cigarette culture at the time. Tobacco is a known hunger suppressant. Maybe without constant cigarettes, this is what the average appetite is like. The different additives, content allowed in foods, animals at the same time that biologically processed differently by the body. Like calorie content from a farm chicken from the 1800s is not the same as a chicken nugget you eat now. 

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u/DoctorPab Feb 12 '25

Guy, it’s not just a “mental” thing. There are real physiologic changes in hormonal secretion and receptors being up/down-regulated associated with consumption of certain substances. You wouldn’t just imply that a heroin or cocaine addict are addicted because it’s “all mental” would you?

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u/JerseyGuy9 Feb 12 '25

Conveniently not addressing what I asked in my comment and are now bringing up the physical dependence on heroin. Got it

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u/DoctorPab Feb 12 '25

Your original comment was just you calling someone an idiot. Look in the mirror from time to time.

If you need a real answer why obesity is skyrocketing - yes it is absolutely because the food companies cut corners where they can with processed foods that throw off metabolism, you absolute donut.

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u/JerseyGuy9 Feb 12 '25

And these food companies force people to eat their food in excess and become obese?

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u/DoctorPab Feb 12 '25

Have you done any grocery shopping? Do you see the prices? Do you understand the idea that cheaper foods are usually unhealthy and not everyone can afford grass fed meats and locally grown vegetables? And there are people who work three jobs living paycheck to paycheck don’t have time to cook themselves a decent meal so they eat out often? There are so many barriers for the average American to just “eat healthy.”

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u/JerseyGuy9 Feb 12 '25

Weird, in other countries the poorest people are the skinniest. Kind of strange it’s the opposite here, huh?

Edit: and I won’t even address the absolutely idiotic comment and cliche argument of “the unhealthiest food is the cheapest” because that’s absolute BS. You must have never been to the produce aisle in your life.

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u/JerseyGuy9 Feb 12 '25

The comment you replied to? Are you confused or just an idiot?

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u/DoctorPab Feb 12 '25

I literally said your original comment, as I’ve read all your comments. If you don’t know how to read, just say that.

18

u/Prying_Pandora Feb 12 '25

Let’s follow your own reasoning.

Is it more likely that the entire population woke up one day and all suddenly had less self control and couldn’t stop eating out of the blue?

Or could it be that the very processed foods you’re talking about that coincide with this trend might be doing something physiological that breaks our normal feeding responses?

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u/JerseyGuy9 Feb 12 '25

  1. The entire population isn’t obese.

  2. Again, unhealthy food has become more accessible than ever. Are you suggesting that everyone who eats McDonald’s will get addicted and continue eating McDonald’s and has no control over whether they continue to do so? Go to Japan and you’ll see McDonald’s everywhere. And look at their obesity rates. These two don’t correlate

10

u/Prying_Pandora Feb 12 '25

  1. Not every individual has to be obese for the entire population to be affected. We are all eating worse and showing worse health outcomes, not just the people who are obese. Obesity is one of many problems that have arisen from our poor food quality.

  2. Japan is a terrible example to use because it disproves your point. They, too, are starting to see climbing obesity and chronic illness once they started adopting these same foods.

The problem isn’t accessibility, otherwise we wouldn’t see higher obesity rates in places with less food options. The problem is the quality of our food is messing with our natural feed drive.

Otherwise why do these medications work?

1

u/JerseyGuy9 Feb 12 '25

“Once they started adopting these foods” you’re acting like Japan is an uncontacted tribe. They’ve had McDonald’s since the 70s. Their culture just puts a bigger emphasis on self control and discipline than americas that’s why they don’t have the same obesity issues we do.

It’s a lack of education as well as willpower and the mind virus that people love to regurgitate “the unhealthiest food are the cheapest” is absolutely ridiculous

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u/Prying_Pandora Feb 12 '25 edited Feb 12 '25

Nowhere did I say they were an “uncontacted tribe”. What a bizarre thing to say when these foods are relatively new to the USA too. Why would you automatically make that association for Japan?

“Since the 70s” is relatively recent for human history, but further, McDonald’s itself was not the same in the 70s.

You’re trying so hard to blame a systemic problem on individuals. It makes no sense at all.

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u/mybrainisabitch Feb 12 '25

Such an ignorant comment.

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u/polyrhythmatic Feb 12 '25

Thanks for the laugh. On this theory I'd suggest you have a lack of comment willpower.

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u/JerseyGuy9 Feb 12 '25

How come obesity rates have skyrocketed the past few decades? Are we just magically getting worse at processing food and better at storing fat? Or is it more likely that unhealthy food is more accessible than ever and people don’t have enough willpower to put the fork down.

23

u/THedman07 Feb 12 '25

So, in your opinion, this drug chemically induces people to have more willpower?

What is your personal experience with addiction?

10

u/polyrhythmatic Feb 12 '25

I don't know why you're bringing up obesity. This article and discussion are about alcohol use disorder, which is classified as a substance use disorder - meaning it's not simply a matter of willpower but a combination of brain chemistry, genetics, and environment. Research shows that addiction changes the brain’s reward system, making it significantly harder for people to regulate their consumption through willpower alone.

It's up to you if you're determined to ignore decades of neuroscience. But reducing addiction to "just willpower" is both inaccurate and dismissive of the real struggles people face and simply helps perpetuate addiction. I'd suggest r/science isn't the best place for you...

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u/JerseyGuy9 Feb 12 '25

I guess you didn’t see my reply to the initial commenter that brought up food.

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u/polyrhythmatic Feb 12 '25

Interesting that you have no response to my points on alcohol use disorder. You seem unable to address how addiction alters brain chemistry or why it’s not just about willpower. Instead of deflecting, maybe try showing some comment willpower. Instead of putting down a fork, try putting down the keyboard.

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u/JerseyGuy9 Feb 12 '25

Your points aren’t valid that’s why. Who forces these people to pick up alcohol in the first place? Or heroin? Or cocaine? You’re saying there’s a need for humans to use these substances before ever trying them? Nope, it’s because of willpower

8

u/polyrhythmatic Feb 12 '25

You're acting like trying alcohol is some rare, deliberate choice when in reality, it's one of the most ubiquitous and socially accepted substances in the world. Most people don’t "choose" to drink in the way you're implying. It’s part of every day life. In many cultures, drinking is the norm, and abstaining is the exception.

But sure, let’s pretend that every person who’s ever had a drink sat down and had a deep philosophical debate about it first, the way you apparently think decisions work. Must be nice to live in a world where complex issues are reduced to "just don’t do it," but unfortunately, understanding reality requires a little more brainpower than that. You might want to give it a try.

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u/JerseyGuy9 Feb 12 '25

Ah there we go, only addressing one of my points conveniently leaving out the heroin and cocaine part. Gold medal for you

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u/dead-witch-standing Feb 12 '25

I guess you didn’t see everyone dunking on you in this comment thread

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u/Maya_Hett Feb 13 '25

Willpower is an amazing resource that is, unfortunately, quite limited.

no one is forcing you stuff your face

There are entire industries that are doing exactly that. They are not hiding it either, its a discipline that is taught openly. Is profitable? Immensely.