A highly effective class of weight loss drug has taken the world by storm, as medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound become household names. These drugs, originally meant to treat diabetes, have become widely known for their slimming side effects.

Bates, 76, said she has lost 100 pounds over the past seven years. She shed most of the weight, 80 pounds, after making changes to her diet and lifestyle following a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis in 2017. Ozempic, said Bates, helped her to drop the last 20 pounds.