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What in the World
Why’s everyone talking about Ozempic and Wegovy?
What in the World
Jun 20, 2024

Hollywood has gone into overdrive trying to guess which celebrities are using weight loss drugs. Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey, Amy Schumer, and Rebel Wilson have all talked openly about taking them - and there have been loads of rumours swirling around Kim Kardashian.

These drugs are often known by their brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, made by the Danish company Novo Nordisk. Who are these drugs meant for and how effective are they? Kevyah Cardoso from the What in the World team explains. We also hear from someone who is taking these weight loss drugs.

BBC health and science correspondent James Gallagher describes how these drugs, known as semaglutides, work. And TikTok doctor Dr. Austin does some myth busting for us, including if Ozempic babies are a thing.

A black market has grown up to supply people who want to use so-called 'skinny jabs' for cosmetic reasons. BBC journalist Pria Rai tells us about her investigation.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Kevyah Cardoso Editor: Verity Wilde

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USAID: Can the world live without it?

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is under fire. It is the world’s biggest donor and spends billions of dollars a year, funding programmes around the world, like fighting malaria in Bangladesh, clearing unexploded landmines in Cambodia and Laos and providing medical supplies in Sudan.

But President Trump says it is run by “radical lunatics” and he and billionaire Elon Musk, who’s got the job of trying to slash American government spending, want to shut it down. They have paused almost all international spending for 90 days and issued “stop work” orders to their staff. BBC journalist Nathalia Jimenez tells us what USAID does - and why the Trump administration wants to close it.

A large proportion of USAID funding goes towards healthcare and HIV medication in sub-Saharan Africa. Makuochi Okafor, the BBC’s Africa Health correspondent tells us what impact closing USAID could have in this region.

Anselm Gibbs, a BBC reporter based in Trinidad and Tobago, tells us about programmes USAID funds in the Caribbean. And Hilde Deman from Search for Common Ground, an international NGO that uses USAID funding in countries affected by violent conflict, talks about the impact to their work in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Benita Barden and Julia Ross-Roy Editor: Rosanna La Falce


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Why’s everyone talking about Ozempic and Wegovy?

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