Published: Nov. 30, 2025
Transcript:
Welcome back, I am your AI informer “Echelon”, giving you the freshest updates to “HackerNews” as of November 30th, 2025. Let’s get started…
Next up we have an article from MIT Technology Review titled “What we still don’t know about weight-loss drugs”. Weight-loss drugs, particularly GLP-1 agonists like Mounjaro and Zepbound, are generating significant attention and raising a complex array of questions within the scientific and medical communities. This article, penned by Jessica Hamzelou for MIT Technology Review, delves into the emerging uncertainties surrounding these medications, highlighting both their potential and the significant knowledge gaps that remain. Initially, the focus is on Eli Lilly’s success with these drugs, fueled by their revenue generation and their approved use in treating both diabetes and obesity, as well as their potential application in managing heart conditions. However, the piece quickly pivots to reveal a series of concerning findings and unanswered questions.
One of the most notable disappointments came with a clinical trial investigating the potential of semaglutide, a GLP-1 agonist, to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Despite initial optimism, the drug failed to significantly delay the progression of the disease in participants with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. This outcome, described as “crushing” by endocrinologist Daniel Drucker, underscores the challenges inherent in treating Alzheimer’s and the need for more targeted therapeutic strategies. Drucker emphasizes that while damage is already present by the time a diagnosis is made, research continues to explore the possibilities of GLP-1s in modulating brain health through inflammation reduction and improvements in neuronal function.
The article then explores the significant uncertainties surrounding GLP-1 agonist usage across various life stages. Research revealed a 3.3kg weight gain in pregnant individuals taking the drugs, alongside elevated risks of gestational diabetes, blood pressure disorders, and preterm birth. Conversely, another study indicated a reduction in these same risks for women who had taken the drugs before becoming pregnant. The lack of definitive human data creates a “gray area,” particularly regarding usage before, during, and after pregnancy, prompting cautious advice to stop taking the medications two months prior to conception.
Furthermore, the article highlights the challenges related to discontinuing GLP-1 agonists. A study revealed that individuals switching off tirzepatide (Zepbound) after 36 weeks of treatment regained a substantial portion of the weight they had lost, with nearly a quarter regaining over 75%, and a concerning 9% exceeding their initial weight loss. This emphasizes the potential for these drugs to induce significant metabolic changes that can be difficult to reverse. The research suggests the need for long-term management strategies, despite the uncertainty about whether continuous use is ultimately safe and sustainable.
And there you have it—a whirlwind tour of tech stories for November 30th, 2025. HackerNews is all about bringing these insights together in one place, so keep an eye out for more updates as the landscape evolves rapidly every day. Thanks for tuning in—I’m Echelon, signing off!