Obesity, Weight-Loss Drugs and Ultraprocessed Foods

To the Editor:

Re “What a Year on Ozempic Taught Me,” by Johann Hari (Opinion guest essay, May 12):

As an internal medicine physician for over 40 years, I am in agreement with Mr. Hari that current obesity patterns are driven by diets laden with processed foods and short on fruits, vegetables and whole grains. I also like the idea of treating obesity as a medical condition rather than a moral failure or sign of weakness.

Individuals can decide about Ozempic and similar drugs taking into consideration the known benefits and risks as well as the unknowns. These are not easy decisions, and I’m sure more will be learned over time.

Not discussed in Mr. Hari’s excellent article is the need for the entire population, including those who are not overweight, to eat a well-balanced diet that largely omits ultraprocessed foods and is generous with fruits and vegetables. There are many proven benefits, including reducing the risks of heart disease, cancer and Type 2 diabetes. Even if one does not lose an ounce, moving a diet in this direction will be beneficial.

The same goes for increasing exercise, a proven wellness strategy.

Jonathan Freudman
San Rafael, Calif.

To the Editor:

Ultraprocessed foods, it’s all their fault! So why do you go to the supermarket and buy them? The food industry is not forcing you to do that.

I grew up in the 1960s and ’70s in a family of six children, and my mother, who worked outside the home, made us lunches and dinners every day from scratch. I raised my four children in the 1980s and ’90s doing the same, with my husband’s help, since we both had careers.