Off the Scales
- Author Aimee Donnellan
- Narrator Yael Rizowy
- Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
- Publish Date 18 November 2025
- Run Time 7 hours and 26 minutes
- Format x-book®
- Genre Business ethics and social responsibility, Capitalism, Chemical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, Dietetics and nutrition, Diets and dieting, nutrition, Health, illness and addiction: social aspects, Medicine: Diabetes, Popular culture, Popular medicine and health: the human body, Poverty and precarity.
Click to open directly in the xigxag app.
Standard price shown. Sign in for personalised pricing.
Send as a gift Get in the xigxag appFlexible Pricing & Rewards For Listening
At xigxag, the more you read, the less you pay* on select audiobook and x-book® titles, as in the table below. Pricing updates automatically in the app and resets one year after your first purchase. And you can always find a selection of brilliant titles available for only £3.99.
Titles Purchased
- 1-5
- 6-10
- 11-15
- 16-20
- Over 20
Price per title
- £7.99
- £6.99
- £5.99
- £4.99
- £3.99
*Only the full price titles you buy count toward your personal pricing tier. Full price titles don’t include Listen for Less or other books bought with a voucher or discount code.
Listen to a sample
What to expect
The inside story of the race to develop Ozempic – the world’s first truly effective and safe obesity drug – and its potentially revolutionary effects on public health, and our deeper culture and values.
'A FASCINATING DEEP DIVE' Guardian
'VERY ENGAGING' New Scientist
'ENLIGHTENING' Publishers Weekly
A ‘cure’ for obesity has long evaded the pharmaceutical industry, until the development of Ozempic: a diabetes medication that targets the GLP-1 hormone and makes people feel fuller for longer.
After decades of research, Ozempic’s creator Novo Nordisk quickly became one of the most valuable companies in Europe. Now it struggles to keep up with its rivals in an explosive and lucrative market for weight-loss injections. The treatment is so effective that it’s already disrupted industries from healthcare to fast food to fashion. Financial investment has skyrocketed and public demand continues to soar alongside celebrity endorsements. Beyond million-dollar profits, countless lives could now be saved from preventable diseases, but one question remains: are these drugs too good to be true?
Through original reporting and rigorous research, Aimee Donnellan uncovers the complicated history of a medical breakthrough that is changing the world, while raising difficult questions about inequality, morality, our beauty ideals and the pursuit of thinness. Along the way, Donnellan profiles the female scientist whose contributions to the discovery of GLP-1 were overlooked and some of the earliest Ozempic users share powerful testimonies.
Off the Scales is a revelatory, gripping and urgent study of the unexpected consequences of finally getting what we’ve wanted for so long.
'A lively tale of the stunning rise of Ozempic. This detailed, eye-opening account is bolstered by an insider look at commercial drug development' Irish Times
'The definitive account of a singular global force – essential reading to help us understand what has been unleashed and what may be coming next' Andy Slavitt, author of Preventable
'[A] Meticulously reported account … and it is done very well — briskly and brightly … Donnellan has performed a public service by taking down the first draft of history: by speaking to the main players and untangling the rivalries and disputes' The Times
'A riveting read … Donnellan captures the drama behind the science … and explores the wider implications for society, health and business in this deeply researched book' John Collingridge, Guardian business editor
Critics Review
'One of the great strengths of Reuters journalist Aimee Donnellan’s first book is its insistence on framing the discovery of the new weight-loss drugs within the fraught social and cultural context of beauty norms, body image and health … Commendably, Donnellan is careful not to treat the GLP-1 drugs an unalloyed good' Rachel Clarke, Guardian
n'It is a business commentary on one of the biggest blockbuster drug battlegrounds of all time, with facts and figures on the obesity crisis; it roams across the body positivity movement … and the tactics of food companies; it features anonymised magazine-style case studies of people who recount the shame and misery of being fat and how weight-loss jabs have changed their lives … it tries to disentangle exactly who deserves scientific credit for research underpinning the jabs' Anjana Ahuja, Financial Times
n'A riveting and impeccably researched deep-dive into the murky world of drug development' Josie Cox, author of Women Money Power
n'Off the Scales captures the many facets of this fast-moving story … Donnellan is a gifted storyteller who brings complicated subjects to life and offers a hopeful vision for how these therapies are transforming lives and reshaping our approach to health care' Leana Wen, M.D., author of Lifelines
n'A tangled plot stuffed with big money, towering egos, and innovative science, capably told and without an ounce of flab … “The potential ripple effects of this healthcare revolution are difficult to overstate,” Donnellan comments, and she makes this abundantly clear in her rich, even action-packed narrative of medical discovery'Kirkus Review
n'[An] enlightening debut history of Ozempic and its societal impact … Donnellan cogently sizes up its future potential: GLP-1 could lead to a healthier population empowered to demand healthier foods and living conditions, or it could further expand the gulf between rich and poor. It makes for an astute, fair-minded primer on the drug’ Publishers Weekly
nAbout xigxag and the x-book®
Discover the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed to simplify finding, purchasing, and enjoying your favourite books in audio format. Our flexible pricing model makes bestselling audiobooks affordable, offering the best audiobook deals without the need for a subscription. You can also give the perfect gift with our convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.
A core differentiator of xigxag is our groundbreaking listen-and-read x-book® technology, which delivers a truly immersive digital book experience. This unique innovation seamlessly combines the audiobook, text, and images into a brilliant, integrated format, complete with exclusive audiobook features and a next-generation digital reading experience. Our growing x-book selection is easily discoverable by looking for the distinctive purple x-book® ribbon, or by simply filtering your search by ‘x-book’.
Beyond our technology, xigxag is committed to sustainability and ethical practices, ensuring a guilt-free listening experience from an exceptional digital book platform. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we stand as a leader in audiobook innovation and a compelling alternative to big tech. Our commitment extends to delivering extraordinary customer service, provided by our friendly UK support team.
Effortlessly search audiobooks, gain insights from honest audiobook reviews evaluating both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. You can download or stream top audiobook titles anytime, anywhere, guaranteeing the best possible listening experience on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Experience the future of audiobooks today.