Celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Amy Schumer, Kelly Clarkson, and Tracy Morgan have all tried the Ozempic drug for weight loss. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Ozempic in 2017 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, as an effective weight loss tool.

The hype surrounding the injectable drug has led to an increase in sales and shortages. But is Ozempic safe for those struggling with weight loss? Dr. Taraneh Soleymani, the Director of Obesity Medicine at Penn State Health Medical Group, and Dr. Franceschelli Hosterman, the Physician of Clinical Nutrition and Bariatric Medicine at Geisinger Health both joined the Spark to weigh in on the Ozempic craze.

Celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Amy Schumer, Kelly Clarkson, and Tracy Morgan have all tried the Ozempic drug for weight loss. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Ozempic in 2017 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, as an effective weight loss tool.
The hype surrounding the injectable drug has led to an increase in sales and shortages. But is Ozempic safe for those struggling with weight loss? <a href="https://pennstatehealthnews.org/2024/07/the-medical-minute-what-to-know-about-ozempic-and-weight-loss-drugs/">Dr. Taraneh Soleymani</a>, the Director of Obesity Medicine at Penn State Health Medical Group, and <a href="https://providers.geisinger.org/provider/Jennifer+Franceschelli+Hosterman/758776">Dr. Franceschelli Hosterman</a>, the Physician of Clinical Nutrition and Bariatric Medicine at Geisinger Health both joined the Spark to weigh in on the Ozempic craze.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from <a href="https://www.witf.org">WITF</a>, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at <a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

The Spark

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at <a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

What to know about Ozempic and weight loss drugs

Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges served in the military for 38 years. He has been making appearances in Pennsylvania including the Midtown Scholar Bookstore and the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle.  Hodges most recently published a book called Future War and the Defense of Europe.

“I wanted to write a book that would help wake people up about what needed to be done. And to be honest, as a, somewhat of an amateur historian myself, I mean, that's part of your professional education is looking at, past wars. And how did we get where we got. I never wanted to be accused at some point of somebody saying, hey, you were the commander, and you never told us that we were unprepared, or you never told us that we were not ready.”

He started and ended his career in Germany. In 1981, he was a lieutenant during the height of the Cold war in West Germany.

“My last three years in the Army, I was the commanding general of U.S. Army Europe. So bookended in Europe. I served one year in Korea as a young officer. I did, two tours in Iraq, first as a brigade commander and 101st Airborne Division, and then second time as a staff officer, the chief of operations, for Multinational Corps Iraq in Baghdad. And then I did, a 15-month tour in Afghanistan in 2009 and ten, where I was director of operations. But I also served in the Pentagon three different times, as working in what we call Army congressional liaison, helping explain, the Army's requirements to the Congress, to our oversight committees, as well as answering questions from, members of Congress on constituent issues or from oversight committees.”

His last assignment was as Commander of the U.S. Army in Europe. A big threat he believes Europe is facing is complacency.

You know, since the end of World War Two and with the creation of NATO, there had not been any land war in Europe except for in the 90s with the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. And then you had conflict between Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia. And NATO was able to step in and help implement the Dayton peace accord. So, except for that, there hadn't been a conflict in Europe. So, people became complacent.”

Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges served in the military for 38 years. He has been making appearances in Pennsylvania including the Midtown Scholar Bookstore and the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle.  Hodges most recently published a book called Future War and the Defense of Europe.
“I wanted to write a book that would help wake people up about what needed to be done. And to be honest, as a, somewhat of an amateur historian myself, I mean, that's part of your professional education is looking at, past wars. And how did we get where we got. I never wanted to be accused at some point of somebody saying, hey, you were the commander, and you never told us that we were unprepared, or you never told us that we were not ready.”
He started and ended his career in Germany. In 1981, he was a lieutenant during the height of the Cold war in West Germany.
“My last three years in the Army, I was the commanding general of U.S. Army Europe. So bookended in Europe. I served one year in Korea as a young officer. I did, two tours in Iraq, first as a brigade commander and 101st Airborne Division, and then second time as a staff officer, the chief of operations, for Multinational Corps Iraq in Baghdad. And then I did, a 15-month tour in Afghanistan in 2009 and ten, where I was director of operations. But I also served in the Pentagon three different times, as working in what we call Army congressional liaison, helping explain, the Army's requirements to the Congress, to our oversight committees, as well as answering questions from, members of Congress on constituent issues or from oversight committees.”
His last assignment was as Commander of the U.S. Army in Europe. A big threat he believes Europe is facing is complacency.
You know, since the end of World War Two and with the creation of NATO, there had not been any land war in Europe except for in the 90s with the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. And then you had conflict between Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia. And NATO was able to step in and help implement the Dayton peace accord. So, except for that, there hadn't been a conflict in Europe. So, people became complacent.”

Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges dishes on his latest book, and the relationship between the U.S. and Europe

Vice President Kamala Harris selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Among those who had been in consideration was Pennsylvania Governor, Josh Shapiro. Berwood Yost, Director for the Center of Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College, and Stephen Caruso, journalist with Spotlight PA shared their general reactions to Harris’ choice, and more on the journalist roundtable.

Vice President Kamala Harris selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Among those who had been in consideration was Pennsylvania Governor, Josh Shapiro. Berwood Yost, Director for the Center of Opinion Research at Franklin &amp; Marshall College, and Stephen Caruso, journalist with Spotlight PA shared their general reactions to Harris’ choice, and more on the journalist roundtable.

Journalist Roundtable:  VP Kamala Harris selects running mate

In just two weeks, students attending Franklin & Marshall College will be back on campus for the fall semester. F&M President Dr. Barbara Altman says the start of a new academic year is the highlight of her year.

“We're expecting a first-year class of about 500, which is pretty much what we planned. I know we might want to talk about the various things going on in higher ed these days, but we're delighted with a very, very talented class of 500”.

In addition to serving as President, Dr. Altman is the Board Chair of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (AICUP) of Pennsylvania. AICUP is the only statewide organization that serves exclusively the interests of independent, nonprofit higher education within the Commonwealth and exists to complement and support the work of campus leaders. She also recently led the largest fundraising program in the college’s history.

“We closed that campaign about two years ago and we came in over about 10% over goal. It takes a long time to do a capital campaign like that. Among our most important priorities was raising money to support financial aid for students. We give very generous aid, and we commit to fully meeting a student's aid for all four years there with us. So that's a big part of our budget”.

Dr. Altman has been at F&M since August 2018. She says the location in Lancaster, and the reputation of the college is what led her to Franklin & Marshall.

“Being in Lancaster is an unbelievable privilege and advantage for Franklin and Marshall. Many schools like us are located in quite isolated places, but we have this wonderful, vibrant, busy, exciting city to work in and we're an open campus, so our our boundaries just meld right into the neighborhoods around us. Our students volunteer, work for paid, do internships, right in Lancaster City and Lancaster County. We love to bring the community to our facilities, as they just came for the Lancaster International Piano Festival, which was held in our beautiful little jewel of a concert hall. The bars are a concert hall, and we're just so lucky to be in the fabric, right in the fabric of a really happening little city. That is a great place for our students to live and work. I'm happy to say that we have about 1400 Franklin and Marshall grads working in the immediate area. It's our third largest alumni group, actually.”

In just two weeks, students attending Franklin &amp; Marshall College will be back on campus for the fall semester. F&amp;M President Dr. Barbara Altman says the start of a new academic year is the highlight of her year.
 “We're expecting a first-year class of about 500, which is pretty much what we planned. I know we might want to talk about the various things going on in higher ed these days, but we're delighted with a very, very talented class of 500”.
In addition to serving as President, Dr. Altman is the Board Chair of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (AICUP) of Pennsylvania. AICUP is the only statewide organization that serves exclusively the interests of independent, nonprofit higher education within the Commonwealth and exists to complement and support the work of campus leaders. She also recently led the largest fundraising program in the college’s history.
“We closed that campaign about two years ago and we came in over about 10% over goal. It takes a long time to do a capital campaign like that. Among our most important priorities was raising money to support financial aid for students. We give very generous aid, and we commit to fully meeting a student's aid for all four years there with us. So that's a big part of our budget”.
Dr. Altman has been at F&amp;M since August 2018. She says the location in Lancaster, and the reputation of the college is what led her to Franklin &amp; Marshall.
“Being in Lancaster is an unbelievable privilege and advantage for Franklin and Marshall. Many schools like us are located in quite isolated places, but we have this wonderful, vibrant, busy, exciting city to work in and we're an open campus, so our our boundaries just meld right into the neighborhoods around us. Our students volunteer, work for paid, do internships, right in Lancaster City and Lancaster County. We love to bring the community to our facilities, as they just came for the Lancaster International Piano Festival, which was held in our beautiful little jewel of a concert hall. The bars are a concert hall, and we're just so lucky to be in the fabric, right in the fabric of a really happening little city. That is a great place for our students to live and work. I'm happy to say that we have about 1400 Franklin and Marshall grads working in the immediate area. It's our third largest alumni group, actually.”

What to know about Ozempic and weight loss drugs

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