Miracle Drugs & Quick Fixes with Dr. Nick Tiller

About This Episode

Is there such a thing as a quick fix? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly learn about the science behind a wave of new weight loss drugs, the ethics of Ozempic use, and off-label prescriptions with exercise scientist, Dr. Nick Tiller.

Learn how Ozempic and other semaglutide injectors work in patients with diabetes. We break down what it does inside the body and how it interacts with GLP-1 receptors in the pancreas, stomach, and the brain. Can semaglutide make your brain want to eat less?

We discuss the impact of inflammation on the body and how semaglutide might help in preventing dementia. Find out how studying lizard venom led to the creation of semaglutide. We explore our skepticisms with the drug and the drawbacks it might have. What happens when someone who is not obese takes the drug? Can you ever stop taking it once you start?

Is there enough semaglutide to go around? We discuss shortages and their impact on diabetes patients. Is semaglutide better at managing blood sugar than insulin? We also discuss off label prescriptions and whether they should be further regulated. Should the FDA further regulate off label usages of drugs?

Thanks to our Patrons Christian Attwood, Tyler Loveland, Ruhan Periyacheri, Jeff Parker, Ed Thorton, and Dakota Ponder for supporting us this week.

NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free.