Off the Scales – Donnellan Aimee (2026)

This book tells the inside story of the race to develop Ozempic, described as the world’s first truly effective and safe obesity drug, and examines its potentially revolutionary effects on public health, culture and values. A cure for obesity long eluded the pharmaceutical industry until the development of Ozempic, a diabetes medication that targets the GLP-1 hormone and makes people feel fuller for longer. After decades of research, its creator Novo Nordisk became one of Europe’s most valuable companies, but now struggles to keep up with rivals in the explosive and lucrative market for weight-loss injections. The treatment has already disrupted industries ranging from healthcare and fast food to fashion, while investment and public demand continue to soar. Although these drugs could save countless lives from preventable diseases, questions remain about whether they are too good to be true. Through original reporting and rigorous research, Aimee Donnellan explores the complicated history of this medical breakthrough, including the overlooked contribution of a female scientist to the discovery of GLP-1 and testimonies from some of the earliest Ozempic users. She also examines inequality, morality, beauty ideals and the pursuit of thinness, as well as the unexpected consequences of finally getting what society has wanted for so long.