The end of the diet era? The medical revolution that's changing everything
- Asdrúbal Huerta
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
The world of weight loss is experiencing an earthquake. Recently, Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, a renowned obesity specialist in Canada, published an article in the prestigious medical journal Medscape with a powerful statement: "The bells are tolling for the diet gurus."
What does this refer to? The arrival of a new generation of obesity medications that is changing the game. Current drugs (and others on the way, such as retatrutide ) are helping people lose, on average, more than 20% of their body weight . This isn't a fad; it's pure science.
However, when such a major medical advance threatens a multi-million dollar business, resistance begins.
The fear campaign: The business behind the "gurus"
Today we see dozens of diet gurus on social media sharing alarmist messages about these new treatments (medically known as GLP-1 agonists).
Interestingly, this happens in many areas. In cosmetic medicine, for example, we sometimes see plastic surgeons demonize hyaluronic acid fillers or biostimulators solely to defend the operating room. The trick is always the same: exaggerate the risks and hide the benefits for fear of losing clients.
If you browse the internet, you're very likely to come across these myths designed to scare you:
Exaggerated horror stories: They will tell you about the "Gila monster venom" (just because the molecule was studied there years ago) or they will tell you that they are passing fads.
The "natural" promise: They'll sell you magic diets claiming you can achieve the same results naturally. Spoiler alert: science proves it's not that simple.
Magnified side effects: They warn about extremely rare, unproven risks or risks that do not have a real impact on most people, such as exaggerated muscle loss or pancreatic problems.
"Detox" programs: They are already creating patented plans to "quit the medication," creating a problem where there is none.
A new perspective: From blame to solution
The reality is that we are heading towards a bright future. Very soon, obesity will be treated in the doctor's office with the same naturalness, respect, and effectiveness with which a doctor manages high blood pressure today.
This completely changes two very common narratives in our society:
Goodbye to guilt: These advances help to dispel the idea that excess weight is a "willpower problem" or a lack of discipline. It's a biological issue.
The end of the "it can't be done" narrative: Many fat-acceptance content creators based their appeal on the idea that permanent weight loss was impossible. These drugs have just proven otherwise.
Towards a healthier future
When these treatments become fully accessible, affordable, and covered by healthcare systems, the media will have to find another controversial topic to discuss. At this rate, it's quite possible that obesity, viewed as a primary disease, will begin to disappear from our society.
The future of health is not in restrictive internet diets, but in medical science.
Dr. René Evidence-based aesthetic medicine.
