The Download: GLP-1s and eating disorders, self-aware cities, and forever chemicals
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This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. Eating disorders are on the rise. GLP-1s could make things worse. GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are one of the biggest biotech breakthroughs of the last dec
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A cozy home kitchen with a dining table set for one, featuring a single plate of half-eaten food and a bottle of GLP-1 weight-loss medication, with a sad, contemplative figure sitting alone at the table.
Caption: Just what the doctor ordered: A balanced diet and a dash of pharmaceutical precision.
Read the full 3-panel strip
Based on the original story on technologyreview.com.
Editor's note
The rise in eating disorders and the widespread use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs raise important questions about the long-term health impacts of these medications. As we embrace technological and medical advancements, it's crucial to carefully examine the potential unintended consequences and ensure that our pursuit of solutions doesn't inadvertently create new problems.
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Panel 1
A small, cluttered kitchen with a fridge door open. A woman in her 30s, wearing a loose shirt and pajama pants, is standing in front of the open fridge, holding a half-empty container of ice cream. She looks anxious and slightly confused. Woman (to herself)
Woman: Ugh, I've been thinking about this too much. GLP-1s might help, but what if they make me even more obsessed with food?
Panel 2
The same kitchen, but now the woman is sitting at a small table with a laptop open in front of her. She looks at the screen, which is displaying an article about GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. She has a conflicted expression, looking back and forth between the article and her ice cream. Woman (to herself)
Woman: Maybe I should just stick with my routine... But what if I’m missing out on something that could help?
Panel 3
The kitchen, now with the woman standing in front of the sink, washing dishes. She looks exhausted and defeated. The laptop is closed, and the ice cream container is empty. Woman (to herself) Woman (to herself)
Woman: I guess it’s back to square one. Maybe I just need to find a way to be more mindful, without getting caught up in all this.
Woman: At least my kitchen’s not self-aware... yet.
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