Game-changer' GLP-1s could fix America's obesity crisis -- but 2 inequalities stand in the way

GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound are being credited with moving obesity treatment “upstream,” shifting care from late-stage interventions like gastric bypass and orthopedic surgery toward earlier, proactive weight management. Wells Fargo’s Robin Wenzel told Fortune the breakthrough also surfaces a new constraint: affordability and who can wait for the drugs to work. Evidence cited includes a 2026 JAMA Surgery analysis showing GLP-1 use rising more than 140% from 2022 to 2024 while bariatric surgery volumes fell 34.1%, suggesting substitution. The SELECT trial found semaglutide reduced major adverse cardiovascular events by 20% in overweight or obese adults without diabetes. Despite clinical advances, Wenzel highlighted two inequalities: access and the economic burden of waiting. The article also cites research in The BMJ linking GLP-1 use to an 18% lower risk of alcohol use disorder.