From Ozempic to Wegovy, see the $58B weight loss drug market visualized in one chart.

How self-care led to Ozempic's success

Self-care has become a $1.5T economy that idealizes restraint and willpower, leaving behind those who can't shake off human nature. This article explores how Ozempic and similar weight loss medications pick up where self-care left off.

Research suggests Ozempic has benefits beyond weight loss

Semaglutide, the key ingredient in Ozempic, is proving to be more than just a diabetes and weight loss drug. Research suggests it may also help prevent strokes, improve heart health, and slow Alzheimer’s.

The popularity of new weight loss drugs has led to a diabetes treatment shortage

The FDA approved Ozempic to help patients with diabetes, but the popularity of semaglutide as a weight loss drug led doctors to prescribe Ozempic to nondiabetic patients who needed to lose weight. Ozempic became so popular that manufacturers could not keep pace with demand, posing risks for Ozempic-users with diabetes.

In 2025, Weight Watchers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after reporting revenue and profit losses for multiple consecutive years, with its stock price losing about 99% of its value between 2018 and 2025.

In 2023, Americans spent more than $50B on weight loss drugs, a number expected to triple or more by the end of the decade.

Some Ozempic users lose their desire to eat

This essay follows a writer whose Ozempic journey involves a dramatic loss of appetite, leading them to stop compulsive snacking and even lose some of the joy of eating. As a result, he becomes fixated on watching food videos and eventually tries to "beat" an all-you-can-eat steak buffet. The experience leaves him feeling disappointed and lacking in desire.

What do people do once GLP-1 medications succeed at weight loss?

The drugs have been adopted by 1 in 8 Americans, with many achieving their prescribed weight loss. They now face the question of how to keep the weight off, the key issue with any weight loss program that researchers have known about for decades. Each case is unique. Some folks continue to use GLP-1s like Ozempic in minuscule doses, while others taper them off over time.

Weight Watchers began offering access to GLP-1 weight loss medications in 2023 after losing more than 1.5 million members over the previous two years.

Can you microdose GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic?

GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic can help with weight loss, diabetes, and anti-inflammation. For some users, normal doses are too much. So, they've started "microdosing"—taking a smaller amount than the lowest increment of the drug available. While not yet backed by clinical trials, some doctors observed positive effects for certain people.

How weight loss drugs could reduce obesity costs

A detailed analysis from finance giant ING finds semaglutide and other weight loss drugs could significantly drive down global costs stemming from heart disease and other health problems associated with obesity. The benefits will vary, depending on each country’s demographics and drug and healthcare costs.

See which GLP-1 drugs are currently approved (along with their cost)

Around 75% of prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs are used to treat diabetes, while the remainder is used for weight loss. This overview from GoodRX includes a list and overview of currently available options along with prices for each.

See the differences between the Wegovy pill and injection

Examine this chart that compares and contrasts the oral and injectable Wegovy formulations. The differences include how they are absorbed by the body (through the digestive tract versus subcutaneously), their dosages, and the required timing (the pill is taken daily and has specialized timing requirements, while the injected form is administered once a week). Importantly, the pill form is also approved to treat fewer conditions.

Companies developing new weight loss drugs

In recent years, weight loss drugs made a tremendous amount of money for Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Other companies are developing new drugs to break into the market. This piece is a concise overview of companies creating and testing new drugs, how far along they are, and what Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are doing to compete with these emerging rivals.

Visualizing obesity rates across the US

Nearly 70% of adults in the US are either overweight or obese, rates that have tripled over the last 60 years. Severe cases have risen tenfold during this period. Factors like location, income level, and demographics contribute to various obesity levels across the US. Visualize the statistics with this article and chart series.

See a visual of the largest airlines in the US by market share.

One person dies from opioids every 7 to 8 minutes

This collection of infographics by the National Institute for Health Care Management helps put the crisis into perspective. The opioid epidemic has had three waves. Opioid-related deaths increasingly involve synthetic versions of the drug class, contributing to 83 percent of all opioid-related deaths in 2020. Use these infographics to learn more about the crisis.

History's weirdest weight loss fads, fact-checked

Nothing catches popular attention more than a claim to have found a quick weight-loss technique. History shows us such claims are often unfounded. Dr. Michael Mosley explores extreme weight-loss tips from history, from tapeworms to vinegar diets.

Explore this week-by-week visualization of pregnancy

This graphic illustrates how development proceeds during each week of pregnancy, tracking what shifts and milestones typically occur during each stage of the process. It also includes typical weights of the fetus throughout.

Explore the complex relationship between calories and weight

What if you found out that weight loss is actually much more complex than "calories in, calories out" and that the 2,000 calorie-a-day recommendation may not actually be accurate?

Visualizing Hollywood's flops and winners in 2023

Is the movie worth watching? See how this year's cinematic releases compare with one another by revenue and popularity with this simple chart. Hollywood movies can be ranked on two axes: their popular rating and total revenues earned. In this data...

Hormone and peptide compounds imported from China soared in 2025

US customs data indicates that these imports doubled to $328M in the first three quarters of 2025, from $164M in the same period of 2024. The imports include GLPs, among other products. (Some users may experience a paywall.)

Visualizing the enormity of plastic waste compared to global landmarks

The team at Reuters Graphics visualizes the world’s addiction to plastic bottles. Around the world, almost 1 million plastic bottles are purchased every minute. The illustrations included in this visual explainer show what that pile of plastic would look like if it was collected over longer periods of time and how large the piles would be compared to famous landmarks.

Visualizing the world's food supply chains

The world's food supply chain is complex and lopsided, with much of the world's nutrient-rich food ending up in Europe and North America. This visualization illustrates the paths our food takes around the world, from starchy vegetables in...

America doesn't have enough estradiol patches for menopause and perimenopause demand

Fueled in part by the lifting of the FDA's black box warning about HRT risks, sales of estradiol patches in the US have shot upward. More than 142 million units of the patches were sold in 2025 versus 46.5 million in 2020. Suppliers are failing to keep up with demand—11 patch products were in short supply in early 2026. (Some users may experience a paywall.)

The story of the Sackler empire behind highly addictive OxyContin

This investigative report examines how the Sackler family built its fortune through Purdue Pharma’s aggressive marketing of OxyContin, a highly addictive painkiller. Through 2017, the drug had generated more than $30B in sales for Purdue Pharma, controlled by the Sacklers.

Drugs 101: An interactive guide

What's the difference between opioids and psychedelics? This guide details specific drugs and their various associated effects. Drugs in this wheel fall into seven categories: stimulants, depressants, empathogens, psychedelics, dissociatives, cannabinoids, and opioids.

An eye-opening interactive journey into the global drug trade

POPPY Interactive reveals how drug money destabilizes entire countries, fuels global conflicts, and allows a worldwide illegal economy to grow. Navigating the site involves diving into three major routes—the Northern Route, the Balkan Route, and...

Genetic drug matching, called pharmacogenomics, can help avoid dangerous drug reactions

Certain gene variants can affect how quickly or slowly medications are broken down in the body, affecting drug effectiveness and the risk of drugs failing. Such testing is often not covered by insurance companies though research indicates if these tests were performed for more than six drugs across the US population, avoided ailments would likely climb into the hundreds of thousands. (Some users may encounter a paywall.)

Visualizing $102T of global debt

Which countries have the most debt? And how does it stack up against their gross domestic product? This visualization, based on data from the International Monetary Fund’s October 2024 outlook, has answers.

See how sugar stacks up against the sweetness of sugar alternatives

This US Food and Drug Administration graphic compares different approved sugar alternatives to give the public a sense of just how intensely sweet these sweeteners are compared to table sugar. Aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal), for example, is 200 times sweeter, Sucralose (Splenda) is 600 times sweeter, and Saccharin (Sweet'N Low) is between 200 and 700 times sweeter.

Visualizing US state taxes in seven charts

Ever wondered how your state’s tax system compares to others? Here’s an overview of the US state tax system based on seven visualizations.

The dietary market is worth more than $60B

Listen to this question and answer session with the US Food and Drug Administration about dietary supplements—vitamins, minerals, probiotics and similar products people may buy in liquid, pill, or powder form. They are categorized legally as a category of food and can be legally brought to market without the FDA even knowing about it, though consumers can tell FDA about issues with the products and FDA can take action to remove dangerous or unlawful items after they're available.

Look up where your generic prescription drugs are made

This project from investigative journalism outlet ProPublica compiled source data for most generic prescription drugs in the US. Roughly 90% of drugs on the market are generic, and in rare cases investigators have noted issues with compliance or safety at some plants. Using your drug's name and the company on the label, find out any issues with your drugs here.

Explore an animated list of nine scientific breakthroughs funded by NASA, the NSF, and the NIH

Among the technologies made possible by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health were the CAPTCHA digital puzzles to block bots from accessing sites, the set of diabetes and obesity drugs that fall under the umbrella of GLP-1 receptor agonists, and various cordless appliances, including the handheld vacuum cleaner. (Some readers may experience a paywall.)

A heatmap showing the drop in infectious diseases post-vaccine deployment

The number of infected people, measured over 70-some years and across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, declined significantly after vaccines were introduced.

Doctors weigh in: Are wearable fitness devices useful or just entertainment?

In an age where technology is intertwined with our daily routines, there is an evolving relationship between healthcare professionals and the data gained from our wearable devices. This piece, published on The Verge, explores how doctors view and...

How to visualize the enormous wealth of Elon Musk

The disruptive innovator and founder of SpaceX and Tesla is worth hundreds of billions of dollars, an unimaginable sum. This simple interactive visual uses pixels (representing $1K each) on a scrolling screen to demonstrate the billionaire's wealth compared to other known financial values, like the cost of building a Boeing 777 or the net worth of Tiger Woods.

A snapshot of progress in cancer treatments

The American Association for Cancer Research's "Snapshot of a Year of Progress" offers an overview of significant advancements in cancer research and treatment over the past year. Take a quick look at the rapid pace of scientific discovery and the translation of research findings into clinical practice. In 2024 alone, health regulators approved 15 new anticancer therapies alone.

A new daily MS pill is seeking regulatory approval in 2026

In clinical trials, Roche's fenebrutinib showed promise treating primary progressive MS and doubling relapse-free time in patients with relapsing MS as compared to existing treatment. But some liver damage and two possible drug-related deaths in the trials may make it difficult for the drug to net approval. (Some users may encounter a paywall.)

New drugs called Gepants have been shown to improve the quality of life of many sufferers.

Journalist Eva Wiseman has had migraines since childhood. Beginning with a yawn they segue into visual auras before turning into severe pain. As it so happened, she experienced a migraine during the course of her interview with Dr. Peter Goadsby, a pioneer in understanding and treating migraines as well as getting the world to treat them seriously.

Compare grocery prices with this cost radar

Track the price of key grocery items with this price radar tool, which shows real-time prices across major retailers in the US and Canada. Select bread, milk, eggs, and more to see differences in cost by location and store, including Wal-Mart, Kroger, Amazon, and Target.

Visualizing Ben & Jerry's legendary flavors

This delightful data visualization breaks down all the flavors of Ben & Jerry’s across the globe, exploring every possible combination of base flavors and mix-ins.

The global consulting industry was worth roughly $710B in 2023

From 2017 to 2021, the consulting firm McKinsey took in $77M in consulting contracts with just the US Food and Drug Administration alone.

Ultra-processed foods are made to maximize cravings and encourage overeating

Often disguised as healthy options like granola bars and low-fat yogurt, these foods silently fuel chronic diseases, despite dominating diets. Reviewing labels for ingredients like stabilizers and emulsifiers can serve as indicators to help identify these products.

The stock market's volatility between 2017 and 2025, visualized

The CBOE Volatility Index measures expected stock market volatility using the prices of options on the S&P 500. When traders expect large moves in the market, options prices tend to rise as more options are purchased to bet on the direction of the move.

Visualizing New York City's public transportation commutes

New York City is one of the largest cities in the world, and transports one of the largest numbers of commuters on a daily basis. This data visualization tells the stories of those commuters, showing the varying volume of travelers throughout the week and day, where they are going, and maps of high-traffic areas like stadiums and midtown. Dive into the data here.

One $100 investment in the Medallion Fund skyrockets over time

The Medallion Fund, the famously secretive quant fund that invests billions of dollars for the partners and employees of a single firm with a legendary track record, has trounced the market for more than three decades. While its results are an extreme outlier, this visualization showcases the power of compound interest.

A data visualization exploring six decades of spacewalks

Astronauts' initial small step for mankind may standout, but how many steps have we taken so far? Space and moonwalks further our understanding of spaceflight, celestial bodies, and space itself. Created to resemble a constellation map, this chart...

Visualizing the consequence of data breaches

To get a sense of the grim state of data security today, take a look at this infographic from TruthFinder that explains why 2018 was the year of the data breach tsunami.

In 2015, the FDA approved the first 3D-printed prescription tablet

Spritam, an epilepsy medication, had been too large and difficult to swallow, particularly due to its inability to dissolve easily. The new pill was designed with porous layers to enhance its dissolvability, paving the way for future 3D printing of drugs.