Here’s the gist of what’s happening with a prayer…

Ozempic, an appetite-suppressing drug initially for diabetes, is the new trendsetter making both waistlines and the food industry sweat. With Morgan Stanley predicting that by 2035, nearly 7% of Americans will be on weight-loss meds, Big Snacks are in big talks. From Campbell's to Hershey, executives are in a scramble, strategizing ways to keep their products in your (smaller) belly while the S&P 500 Packaged Food & Meat index shrinks faster than a pair of jeans in a hot wash.

Lord, as society turns to pharmaceuticals to quell appetites, may we be reminded of the virtue of moderation. Help us to see our bodies as temples deserving of care, and guide industries toward producing what nourishes us, body and soul. Amen.

Ozempic:
A Full Plate of Problems or A Snack of Solutions

The phrase "you are what you eat" has a whole new spin in an era where a growing chunk of the population is opting to simply... eat less. Enter Ozempic and its cohort of appetite-suppressing medicines, which have become the latest weight-loss weapons of choice. With Morgan Stanley projecting that nearly 7% of the U.S. population will be on weight-loss medications by 2035, this phenomenon has food industry titans breaking out their calculators and rethinking strategies.

Caloric Reduction: A Gut Reaction
Not to be brushed off like crumbs on a tablecloth, these drugs have significant implications for consumer habits. Carolyn MacBain-Waldo, a Ozdmpic consumer, confirmed that her family is ordering less takeout and trimming their grocery bills by a delicious 20%. A single jelly bean now satiates 47-year-old Karyn Carlton. That’s right, you heard it—a solitary, lone jelly bean.

How Does Ozempic Work?
According to UC Davis, Ozempic is “known generically as semaglutide, was approved in 2017 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in adults with type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is a weekly injection that helps lower blood sugar by helping the pancreas make more insulin. It is not approved for weight loss, but some physicians prescribe it to be used for weight loss. Ozempic works by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone. As those hormone levels rise, the molecules go to your brain, telling it you're full. It also slows digestion by increasing the time it takes for food to leave the body. This is similar to the effect of bariatric surgery. When using Ozempic to treat diabetes, weight loss is a common side effect. It is designed to be taken long-term.”

Corporate Indigestion: C-Suites Feel the Heat
Campbell's CEO Mark Clouse admitted he's pondering the rapid rise of pharmaceutical companies behind these weight-loss drugs. He isn’t alone; executives at Conagra Brands and others are also doing some navel-gazing (while they still can see their navels, of course). According to Morgan Stanley, snack companies like Hershey and Campbell may feel the brunt as consumers drop sugar and fat. Hershey's kisses might become more of an air peck, if you will.

Wall Street’s Weigh-in
Amid this dietary drama, the S&P 500 Packaged Food & Meat subindex has taken a 14% tumble this year. Analysts say that the drugs remain largely inaccessible to the average Jane and Joe due to their costs and potential side effects like nausea. Ozempic is being largely consumed by celebrities, high-ranking influencers, and all the other people who set impossible beauty standards for the American psyche. Nevertheless, food companies are leaving no stone unturned, brainstorming alternative revenue streams and new product lines as the popularity of these drugs increases.

A Fresh Menu: Innovation in Aisle 7!
Conagra's CEO Sean Connolly seems cautiously optimistic, stating that the potential fall in calorie consumption is a long way off. Mondelez is already jumping on the "portion control" bandwagon, and Campbell's Clouse believes there are still more challenges and opportunities ahead. In a world where the average person could be dropping as much as 30% of their daily calorie intake, change is not just in the air—it's on the shelves.

Reflection
This rising trend of appetite-suppressing drugs prompts us to revisit the often-overlooked sin of gluttony. Yes, in a world that glorifies excess, it's easy to forget that moderation is one of the virtues extolled in the Bible. While these medications could be seen as a quick fix for our overindulgence, they should also serve as a spiritual mirror, reflecting the deeper issue of excess that can permeate our lives.

Often when we feel out of control, tired, or without purpose, we can turn to food to medicate our negative emotions. However, research and the Biblical narrative reveal that exercise, healthy eating, and moderation considerably affect our lives - increasing mood, passion, and vitality. Think about Daniel and his friends, who opted for a healthier diet than their Babylonian counterparts. They were set apart and given more opportunities. Think about Paul, who urged us to see our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit, meant to be taken care of.

In Proverbs 23:20-21, it is warned, "Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags." The era of Ozempic could serve as a societal nudge to reevaluate our relationship with food, consumption, and by extension, our spiritual selves. This extends to the church as well. How many youth events have piles of candy and droves of pizza flowing into young children? How many church events feature pancake breakfasts with syrup flowing and potlucks of cheesy, fatty, and salty plates? This is certainly not a judgment on church potlucks. Rather, it is a nudge to consider if the church is setting a good example for moderation, health, and self-control.

As for the upending of the junk food industry, we won’t be taking out our violins for them. Less Mountain Dew and Cheetos are objectively positive for our culture and mental health.

Thank you for joining us today on PRAY NEWS. It is our aim to be informed and transformed. We pray today you will proceed with hope, love, and determination to be a force for good.