SCItalks: Hacking the brain's hunger code

GLP-1 based therapies such as semaglutide and tirzepatide are transforming the management of obesity and metabolic disease. These drugs influence appetite, metabolism, and behaviour in ways that extend beyond weight loss, raising profound questions for medicine, society, and the economy. This talk will explore the biological science behind GLP-1 therapies and their physical and psychological effects, alongside ethical issues such as equity of access, stigma, and the medicalisation of weight. It will examine how these drugs may reshape attitudes to obesity, longevity, and personal responsibility, and consider the wider societal and economic implications for healthcare systems, food industries, fitness sectors, and consumer behaviour. The speaker Dr Emran Ghaffar Khan is an accomplished endocrinologist who is highly trained and qualified. He is the Medical Director of the Institute of Diabetes Endocrine and Obesity in King's College Hospital London, Dubai, UAE and has over 30 years of experience in this field.