Ozempic and other weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Qsymia have soared in popularity for their seemingly miracle properties that can help people who struggle with weight loss shed unnecessary pounds without dieting or increasing exercise. The medications have been praised by influencers and even celebrities like Mindy Kaling and Oprah Winfrey for their fast results. Still, some medical experts warn that Ozempic isn’t as easy as it seems.
Ozempic was not originally intended to be taken as a weight-loss prescription. In fact, reduction in body fat is merely a side effect of the drug, which was manufactured to help people with type II diabetes control their glucose levels. Since the discovery that Ozempic can cause weight loss, many doctors have started prescribing the drug to patients without diabetes. However, patients who take the drug for reasons other than its intended use have started to notice some harsh side effects.
To combat the usage of Ozempic for weight loss, the drug’s parent company introduced Wegovy as a solution after over 10,000 people reported dangerous side effects, including blood clots, pulmonary embolisms, and thyroid tumors. A reasonably recent drug to hit the market, scientists don’t have extensive research on what the long-term effects of taking Ozempic are, particularly for those without diabetes who use the drug long-term.
Doctors have also found that those who use Ozempic or Wegovy to lose weight do see positive results, but upon weaning off the medications, they usually gain the weight back. This is because the drug does not treat the conditions that cause weight gain but suppresses appetite and increases metabolism. This means that those taking Ozempic to manage their weight must continue to use the medication indefinitely or risk reversing all its effects.
Many psychologists recommend those interested in taking Ozempic or Wegovy for weight loss first to examine their relationship to food, eating, and body dysmorphia. Often, those most likely to take and abuse Ozempic suffer from a form of disordered eating. Destigmatizing the idealization of body sizes is a much healthier way of addressing concerns about weight. Balancing a low medication dosage with healthy lifestyle changes, such as increased exercise and a nutritious diet, can help users lower the risk of a lifetime dependency on Ozempic.
