In this era of quick fixes, Ozempic became a great solution for losing weight. However, Ozempic was primarily created for people with type 2 diabetes to control blood sugar. Now, it is primarily being used by those desiring to lose excess pounds in haste. 1 in 4 patients prescribed Ozempic use it for weight loss, and now due to a mass demand for this drug, people with type 2 diabetes are unable to get ahold of it.
Ozempic, a form of semaglutide, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017 for adults with type 2 diabetes only. Ozempic allows patients’ bodies to produce more insulin and reduce glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar levels. Weight loss may be an unintentional side effect.
Increased usage of the drug by non-patients has sparked attention on social media. Starting in 2021, Ozempic was approved by the FDA as a form of weight loss. Soon after, Ozempic found its way into mainstream media through celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and James Corden openly using the drug. The use of Ozempic skyrocketed soon after. Since the drug is becoming out-of-stock across the country, professionals are concerned for the wellbeing of diabetic patients who can not get access to this drug, according to Shana Nicholson, manager at Baptist Health Diabetes Management Programs. For people with type 2 diabetes, Ozempic is not optional, it is lifesaving. Without it, their blood sugar could spiral out of control, leading to dangerous complications, even life-threatening situations.
Beyond the shortages, taking Ozempic for the sole purpose of weight loss is not always a safe practice. This medication can result in serious side effects, such as hypoglycemia, cholelithiasis, pancreatitis and even thyroid cancer, according to Baptist Health. Rapid weight loss from Ozempic can result in “Ozempic face,” (Harvard Health Publishing) in which your skin sags and wrinkles from rapid weight loss, according to Lisa Catanese, a health writer for Harvard Health Publishing.
One of the worst consequences of Ozempic is the fact that any weight loss from Ozempic does not last. According to UCDavis Health, if you “stop taking the drug, you are likely to gain the weight back, “especially if you did not make changes to your diet and exercise habits.”(UCDavis Health). Their bodies begin to rely on the lowering ability of digestion that Ozempic causes, so without it they gain weight. Thus, people are not only at the risk of health problems, but also are caught in a vicious circle in which they come back to where they initially were, according to UCDavis Health.
There is also the ethical issue involved in this controversy, since Ozempic was designed to benefit patients with diabetes, not weight loss. When it comes to weight loss, there are better and safer ways to accomplish it. For the most part, healthy eating, regular exercise, and long-term lifestyle changes remain the best way to lose weight and not gain it back, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH). For people who need medical assistance due to obesity, drugs like Wegovy exist and are designed for just that.
Not everyone abuses Ozempic though. Some overweight people genuinely need it to help kick start their weight loss. The problem mainly arises when individuals use Ozempic to lose a smaller amount of weight, there are more beneficial and healthier options to lose that weight.
Using Ozempic for weight loss is harming those who actually need it for their health. It is also setting a very dangerous trend of misusing medications without understanding the risks. We must refocus our attention on healthier, more long-term solutions to weight management. Sustainable behaviors, such as eating well and exercising, may take longer but do work, and they do not carry the risks of taking a drug off-label. Ozempic may sound like an easy fix, but the true cost is just too high. It’s time to end this trend and refocus on what matters, long-term health.
