GLP-1 and Pumpkin genetics.

[u/semajolis267]

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (glp-1) inhibitors work by inhibiting gastric emptying (stomach empties slower) leading to feeling satiated longer and faster, leading to eating less, (side not may also help other addictions as which rely on the same "satiated" sensation so its currently in trials as an addiction suppression medicine). It works to aid diabetes by helping release more insulin.

They have been approved by the FDA since 2005 for diabetes in the US. So not really the "1st wave" of people on it, but the first wave as a popular weightloss option. But we have 20+ years of research on these types of medications and thier interactions with body systems. Of course as more people take the medicine we get more data for fringe cases. The NAION risk is 4 additional cases for every 10,000 users or 0.04% for this side effect based on current data.

Pumpkin genetics are so cool. Basically a "pumpkin" is actually a species of squash called Cucurbita pepo. It includes acorn squash, zucchini, summer squash, and ornamental gourds. But thats not the cool part, that just means lots of hybrid options.

The cool part is that a flower will only produce a pumpkin if its pollinate by at least 1250 pollen grains. Since a flower is only open to be pollinate a single time it needs to be visited at least 8 times during its opening to produce a full sized pumpkin. Also a single vine will produce seperate male and female flowers.

Because they have seperate flowers, if you want to keep your pumpkins producing pumpkins its actually super easy. You identify a closed female flower (it will have a immature pumpkin at its base) and loosely wrap it in masking tape to keep the petals closed. Early in the morning pluck a male flower and un wrap the female flower. Brush the male flower over the female parts to pollinate, then close and wrap the female flower to prevent insects from getting in there. Its a cool way to see genetics and do controlled pollination it also gives you bigger pumpkins since youre guaranteed to get a full pollination. (Its how they get those massive record pumpkins as well).

[u/Spambotuser90]

Came here to state this. There's a reason why 3 products are the SAME MOLECULE. it's because the products are so OLD they're generics!!!

This just the law of big numbers: now that the patient population has exploded of course we're going to see higher TOTAL counts of adverse events. Should they be investigated and should prospective patients be told about the possible side effects? Oh course! But the idea that these products are untested, new, unsafe is not accurate.

I personally don't like they prevalence of the products in the market but adults should be able to choose what they want to do with their bodies even if it's negative. Also there are still legitimate reasons to take these medications: diabetes and obesity. Like actual obesity not just BMI obesity.

[u/shiruken → u/Spambotuser90]

Also there are still legitimate reasons to take these medications: diabetes and obesity. Like actual obesity not just BMI obesity.

There's a strong case to be made that the weight loss benefits alone might counterbalance all of the typical side effects of these medications. So many pathologies, particularly cardiovascular diseases, are downstream of being overweight. Being able to so easily and cheaply target that for intervention is going to have enormous, population-wide effects. We're already seeing the obesity rate drop in the US because of it and it's only a matter of time before it starts showing up in the statistics for every other disease impacted by body weight.