The bestselling author of Lost Connections and Stolen Focus takes a revelatory look at the new drugs transforming weight loss as we know it

'I learned so much' DAVINA McCALL
'Will help you think more clearly about eating, dieting, health and mental health' JONATHAN HAIDT

Over the last decade, an extraordinary scientific breakthrough has taken place. A new kind of drug has arrived on the market, working in an unprecedented way to revolutionise weight loss and dieting.

In 2023, Johann Hari began injecting himself with one of the weight loss drugs transforming how we look, feel and live.

What began as a personal journey soon took him on an international investigation, tackling some of the most world-changing issues as he asked: Who should be taking these medications? How are they set to change not only the way we think about weight loss, but our economies? What are the benefits – and what are the risks?

This is the book to read on the weight loss drugs taking over the world.

'Really important, and very necessary' STEPHEN FRY
'Compassionate, wise and mind-expanding . . . A must read' PHILIPPA PERRY

"Hari is excellent on the booming ultra-processed food industry and the science of addiction that drives it . . . Magic Pill is a wonderfully accessible exploration of one of the most complex problems of our age" - Telegraph

"[Hari’s] own story helps him explore the complexities and wider politics of Ozempic in a nuanced, non-judgemental way. He understands, instinctively, that food culture and body weight are inherently emotional issues, and that we cannot understand rising rates of obesity, or the rise of Ozempic, with reference to health and science alone" - New Statesman

"I couldn’t put Magic Pill down. Hari bares his soul about his personal battles with weight ... Unlike much of the commentary on this topic, which focuses on short-term problems, such as the drugs’ high cost, Hari gets that, in time, they could have as big an impact as the arrival of antidepressants, speculating how they may reshape global health. I found it a fascinating read" - New Scientist

"[Hari’s] descriptions of his own battles with his weight and yo-yo dieting are both funny and insightful" - Daily Mail

"Hari unleashes his characteristic blend of personal stories, expert interviews, and masterful storytelling to outline the rise of the latest weight loss pharmaceutical ... An easy-to-read and engaging overview of the current weight-loss drug landscape" - British Journal of General Practice