Suppressing appetites, doping virtue?

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists promote weight loss, suppressing appetite among other effects. Recent evidence suggests they may similarly placate desire when it comes to alcoholism and even problem gambling. This paper adds to the ethical consideration already given to the weight loss debates, by asking whether we are ready for such wider impacts, where such drugs and their descendants might be increasingly tuned to induce personal temperance and even societal docility. Aside from the money to be made by mass medicating, a more biddable populace could become a realisable dream, for authoritarians or degrowth environmental activists alike.

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Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Medical Ethics
Published
2026-03-04
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1136/jme-2026-111799
Primary Topic
Obesity and Health Practices
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Suppressing appetites, doping virtue?

Edwin Jesudason
Journal of Medical Ethics
Obesity and Health Practices
article

Suppressing appetites, doping virtue?

Edwin Jesudason
article en

Abstract

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists promote weight loss, suppressing appetite among other effects. Recent evidence suggests they may similarly placate desire when it comes to alcoholism and even problem gambling. This paper adds to the ethical consideration already given to the weight loss debates, by asking whether we are ready for such wider impacts, where such drugs and their descendants might be increasingly tuned to induce personal temperance and even societal docility. Aside from the money to be made by mass medicating, a more biddable populace could become a realisable dream, for authoritarians or degrowth environmental activists alike.

Journal of Medical Ethics
NHS Lothian (GB), Queen Margaret University (GB)
Openalex Percentile: Top 40%
Obesity and Health Practices
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