Demand for Ozempic and Wegovy has skyrocketed. How did these drugs get so popular for weight loss and why is there a shortage?

Drugs that cause weight loss like Ozempic and Wegovy are seemingly everywhere — discussed on podcasts, speculated on by celeb followers, whispered about at dinner parties. And a shortage of the drugs has fueled further speculation about who is getting them as they have exploded in popularity.

These types of drugs — semaglutide, which is sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, along with tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro, and liraglutide, known as Saxenda  — all function in a similar way. And they're highly effective: One doctor told CBS News these drugs can help people lose about 15% of their body weight – more than previous generations of weight loss drugs.

For people struggling with their weight — 73.6% of adults in the U.S. over the age of 20 are considered either overweight or obese — they can seem like a miracle drug. Here's what doctors have to say about them.