South Park: The End of Obesity 2024

A doctor warns fourth grader Eric Cartman and his mother, Liane, that his obesity poses serious health risks. When she explains that traditional methods like diet and exercise haven’t worked, the doctor suggests trying a diabetes medication called semaglutide, which has been shown to assist in weight loss. This recommendation sparks Cartman’s imagination, leading him to daydream about being able to mock others freely without being teased about his weight, even fantasizing about traveling to Pakistan to continue this behavior. However, the reality hits hard when they find out that insurance companies only cover the drug for medical conditions like diabetes, and the cost is prohibitively expensive for Liane.

In response, the doctor advises Cartman to listen to Lizzo, a pop artist known for promoting body positivity, in hopes of boosting his self-esteem. This leaves Cartman feeling down in the dumps, prompting his friends—Butters Stotch and Kyle Broflovski—to accompany him to an insurance company office. There, they encounter a gloomy claims officer, highlighting the often frustrating and convoluted bureaucracy of the American healthcare system.

Determined to find a way, they learn that the raw semaglutide powder is available cheaply from a factory in India. Their plan is bold: they decide to purchase the powder directly, mix it with biostatic water bought locally, and use it themselves. Over time, more friends join in on this scheme, including Stan Marsh and Kenny McCormick.

Meanwhile, Randy Marsh observes local moms flaunting their recently toned midriffs, many of whom are wearing crop-tops as a result of losing weight with semaglutide. Inspired and slightly jealous, Randy himself begins taking the drug, thinking it’s some kind of party drug that eliminates both hunger and hangovers. However, this new behavior causes his wife, Sharon, to feel self-conscious about her weight. She begins using Lizzo’s music to boost her confidence, but her side effects are bizarre—she ends up defecating from her ears. The doctor then diagnoses her with “diabeardes,” a fictional form of diabetes affecting the ears, which makes her eligible for semaglutide prescriptions as well.

As Cartman’s homemade semaglutide seems effective in suppressing his appetite, Kyle becomes concerned about the potential dangers of unregulated drug production. He takes steps to produce more of the medication to help those who can’t afford it, but their activities attract the ire of a sugar industry cartel—represented by animated mascots of breakfast cereals and candy brands. Their illicit operations quickly spiral out of control, especially when a government crackdown on semaglutide abuse leaves many mothers, who rely on the drug, desperate and turning to theft—robbing pharmacies and even Kyle and his friends. Their illicit supply gets destroyed when the sugary mascots, posing as “body positivity activists,” attack the Indian factory, murdering workers and burning down the building in a fiery riot.

In a desperate bid, Kyle tracks down another supplier in North Carolina and purchases a large shipment of semaglutide powder. However, this shipment is hijacked by Randy and the mothers, who want to hoard the drug for themselves. A high-octane chase ensues, involving Kyle and the boys, as well as the mascots. During the chaos, Kenny is tragically killed by Tony the Tiger after a confrontation on the moving truck. Despite the chaos, Randy and the kids manage to escape, only to discover that their only cargo inside the truck is actually an insurance claims agent, revealing that the ongoing corruption involves the insurance company collaborating with the drug supplier—a tangled web of systemic exploitation.

As Sharon prepares to get her first injection, Randy admits that he’s been using semaglutide himself. Touched by her understanding and support, he realizes how much he loves her and that she is “the coolest woman he knows.” Instead of continuing with the drug, Randy decides to ditch semaglutide’s supposed benefits and suggests they indulge in MDMA together, recalling their college days at a Holiday Inn.

Back in school, Kyle makes a heartfelt speech advocating for the end of fat-shaming, which receives widespread approval. Inspired by this, Cartman finds liberation in his newfound freedom from mockery—his weight no longer a reason for ridicule—prompting him to insult everyone else unabashedly and even book a flight to Pakistan to continue his antics.

“It’s about time we stop judging each other by our size.”

This episode blends satirical humor, social commentary, and fantastical elements to explore issues surrounding body image, healthcare censorship, and the absurdity of diet culture—all through the chaotic misadventures of the boys and the town of South Park.