Ozempic’s gone viral for being helpful with weight loss but is it healthy?
A drug has gone viral for helping people lose weight but there’s a surprising reason it might not be the solution people think it is.
The drug Ozempic has been going viral for ages because it helps people lose weight. It has become so in demand that there’s been a nationwide shortage.
Culturally the impact has also been mammoth.
Any celebrity that has recently lost weight is accused of using Ozempic, and plenty of people on TikTok are documenting their weight loss experiences with the drug.
So apparently all the celebrities who are dropping weight quick are using ozempic, a med for type to diabetes. My dad happens to have that medication in our refrigerator right now. Hmmm
— Mars (@Marswhxre) February 21, 2023
So how did Ozempic become such a thing?
Dr Ross Walker, cardiologist and chief medical officer at Diabetes Wellness Australia, explains that the drug went viral after an article was published in 2021 in a prestigious New England Journal of Medicine documenting a study that used the drug on obese people and found great success with weight loss.
However, Dr Walker warns they didn’t show what happens after: “The results are impressive, but what they don’t show is the reality of these individuals and their lives once the medication is stopped.”
It’s also important to highlight that Ozempic isn’t just a weight loss drug; it is actually designed to help people with diabetes.
It releases insulin from the pancreas and suppresses the opposing hormone, glucagon, which elevates blood sugar. This regulates blood glucose levels and improves diabetic management.
So when demand went up and there was a nationwide shortage, people with diabetes couldn’t access an important drug.
So, the fact people are using it purely for weight loss has become controversial.
Still, there’s no denying that Ozempic does work well as a weight loss drug. But how?
“Ozempic comes from a group of drugs known as GLP_1 agonists, otherwise known as glutides,” Dr Walker said.
“These drugs not only suppress appetite but also regulate metabolism in response to food, stimulating the release of insulin from the pancreas following a meal and thus reducing the spike in blood glucose with certain types of food.”
So is it a healthy way to lose weight? Well, yes and no.
Dr Walker recommends that the healthiest way to lose weight is the old fashion way with a balanced diet and regular exercise.
However, he recognises that Ozempic can help push the process along.
“Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonists have been shown to assist this process in diabetics and people struggling to lose weight through these vital lifestyle changes,” Dr Walker explained.
“They can be seen as a reasonable way to kick-start a weight loss program but should not be used as a long-term solution.”
Although you will likely see weight loss results with Ozempic, Dr Walker stresses there isn’t enough research yet to know if the drug is safe to use long-term.
“There have been no long-term studies to suggest safety of these drugs beyond a few years of therapy, and all medications have the potential for long-term side-effects,” he explained.
And perhaps the most dreaded question is – will you gain all the weight back once you stop taking it?
“All weight loss programs are effective so long as you’re adhering to the program, but for drugs like Ozempic, as soon as therapy is stopped or lifestyle changes are relaxed, the weight gain typically returns.” Dr Walker explained.
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