At the age of 17, Israel McKenzie struggled with obesity, leading him to quit attending high school in person and feel embarrassed at his job. Despite trying to diet and exercise, McKenzie’s weight reached 335 pounds on his 6-foot-1 frame, leaving him feeling hopeless. However, a breakthrough came when he lost 110 pounds in nine months with the help of the weight-loss drug Wegovy, joining a growing number of young people benefiting from GLP-1 receptor agonists, as reported in new research. The analysis showed a significant increase in the monthly use of these medications among adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 25, highlighting a positive shift in healthcare for those struggling with obesity. With ongoing support and medical advancements, more young individuals like McKenzie are finding hope and reclaiming their health.
Vocabulary List:
- Obesity (noun): The condition of being grossly fat or overweight.
- Embarrassed (adjective): Feeling self-conscious or ashamed.
- Hopeless (adjective): Feeling or causing despair.
- Breakthrough (noun): A significant development or discovery.
- Receptor (noun): A cell or nerve ending that is sensitive to a particular stimulus.
- Agonist (noun): A chemical substance that affects a physiological function by binding to a receptor.
