IT’S been dubbed a “miracle: weight-loss aid and has taken Hollywood by storm.
But what’s the truth about Ozempic, the controversial type 2 diabetes drug, that’s wracked up over 700 million views on TikTok alone?
So popular is the weekly injection with those trying to shed pounds that stocks are running dangerously low, putting those with type 2 diabetes at risk.
Dr. Jason Emer, a leading dermatologist and weight loss specialist, has told The U.S. Sun that when a drug like Ozempic is used incorrectly, it can prove dangerous.
What’s more, he warns with people desperate to get their hands on the drug, fears are mounting that people are resorting to buying up doses on the black market, which can have fatal consequences.
But Emer said providing it is “used properly and in the right candidates”, the drug can help prevent death and prolong a patient’s life.
Ozempic, which contains the active ingredient semaglutide, is a once-weekly injection that is approved by the FDA for use by adults with type 2 diabetes.
Around 37 million Americans have diabetes – around one in ten – and an estimated 90-95 percent of them have type 2 diabetes.
It’s a serious condition where the body fails to respond normally to insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that acts like a key to let blood sugar into the cells to be used as energy.
In people with type 2 diabetes, the insulin produced can’t work properly or the pancreas fails to make enough. As a result, a person’s blood sugar levels keep rising.
Most read in Diet & Fitness
Over time, and without treatment, high blood sugar levels can cause serious complications, including damage to the eyes, heart, and feet.
It can also increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney problems, sexual problems, as well as some cancers.
That’s where Ozempic comes in.
The drug works to lower blood sugar levels, by helping the pancreas release the right amount of insulin when glucose levels spike.
But, the injection also works to slow the movement of food through the stomach, which can help decrease appetite and as a result, it’s been seen to help aid weight loss.
Those taking it have reported being repulsed by food, and succumb to hunger pangs less frequently, which has sparked interest in the drug as a weight-loss aid.
But with a month’s supply costing close to $1,000 and most health insurers unlikely to pick up the cost, it doesn’t come cheap.
Emer told The U.S. Sun he’s seen drastic results in many of his own patients, as use of the drug soars.
“I have seen a considerable increase in the usage of Ozempic, across all my patient demographics,” said Emer.
“I have one patient who lost over 100lbs in a six-month time frame,” he said.
“Results are dramatic and the medication is very successful. I have seen it improve body composition and have weight loss effects in every age group.
“I have so many patients now on this medication, over 500 in fact. The majority have lost 10-30lbs in a few months.
“I have numerous staff members who have lost more than 40+ lbs in six months.
“I even lost over 30lbs in six months myself.”
The drug is particularly effective in patients with life-threatening obesity, Emer, who has offices in Ozempic hotspots Beverly Hills, New York City, and Boca Raton, Florida, added.
“It helps prevent and control type 2 diabetes and decreases body weight which has been shown to increase longevity and prevent internal diseases like high blood pressure and heart diseases,” he said.
“I have all my clients undergoing surgical body procedures on the medication to enhance their results and promote them to a healthier lifestyle after to maintain their results.”
The results won’t come as a huge surprise to medics and scientists.
Semaglutide – the active ingredient in Ozempic – has been shown in clinical trials to accelerate weight loss.
While Ozempic itself is not approved by the FDA as a weight-loss aid, a similar medication Wegovy, which uses a higher dose of semaglutide, was given the green light to treat obesity last year.
That’s why Emer believes the FDA will soon approve Ozempic for weight loss too.
“It has shown remarkable effectiveness for weight reduction, and when supervised by a physician, it is a very safe and effective treatment,” stressed Emer.
“Plus there are many market competitors now, all showing similar outcomes.”
Clinical trials have shown that semaglutide is effective in helping people shed pounds.
One study published in the New England Journal of Medicine last year, showed volunteers who were overweight or obese and given 2.4mg of semaglutide once a week, as well as lifestyle advice, saw “sustained, clinically relevant reduction in body weight”.
Twitter boss Elon Musk is a fan, admitting to using Wegovy last year, while many celebrities have distanced themselves from it, including Khloé Kardashian and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards.
Social media has been ablaze with tales of weight loss success thanks to Ozempic, with users posting about shedding the pounds thanks to just one weekly injection in the stomach, thigh, or arm.
But, Emer warns, there are many risks associated with taking a drug that is not prescribed for you.
“Any time a patient tries to obtain medication or surgical procedures from an unqualified or illegal source, it always ends poorly,” Emer said.
Taking too much of the drug could cause a person to suffer severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which can lead to a coma, or even death.
In most cases, taking too much Ozempic would cause nasty gastrointestinal side effects, and likely prompt someone to stop taking it, before the effects became too severe.
Emer added: “Abusing this type of drug can have lifelong consequences and could even result in death if you overdose but that is very rare.”
It’s currently only suitable for adults with type 2 diabetes, and people with type 2 diabetes who have heart and blood vessel disease, to reduce their risk of heart attack, stroke, or death.
It’s prescribed when other medications have failed to control a patient’s blood sugar levels. And it is always prescribed alongside a diet and exercise program.
Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, heartburn, and burping.
Other more serious side effects, which should be flagged to a doctor, include pain in the stomach that spreads to the back, a rash, being unable to pee, vision changes, fainting, or dizziness.
Meanwhile, scientists fear Ozempic could increase the risk of a type of thyroid cancer, after lab animals given semaglutide developed tumors.
While it’s not yet known if the same risk exists for humans, doctors prescribing Ozempic should ask about a family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2.
Deadly risks aside, some patients have complained of suffering from “Ozempic face” – a loosening of the skin after weight loss, that gives a strange appearance.
In spite of all the risks and potential dangers, the rave reviews across social media hailing Ozempic’s ‘miracle’ weight-loss effects have stuck.
And they’ve come with a price – soaring demand has left people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes feeling the dangerous aftershocks, with supplies running low.
3
Wegovy and Ozempic are on the FDA’s official short-supply list, and Emer is worried.
With increased hype comes desperation from users who could be tempted to buy the drug online, without seeking professional care or guidance, he said.
So what is the truth about Ozempic as the next weight-loss wonder drug? That’s up to the FDA and whether or not it’s approved as an official aid.
Until then, Emer’s advice is simple.
“Lifestyle choices are by far the most important factor in any patient’s overall outcome [when it comes to weight loss],” he concluded.
“Ozempic may create weight loss initially, but permanent lifestyle changes must be implemented to maintain that weight loss.
“With that, I mean improving diet and exercise routines, and dieticians adding other therapies, if you are a suitable candidate.”
Ozempic is not the first viral weight-loss trend, and it won’t be the last.
Fads come and go, but the experts agree on one key fact – quick fixes don’t last.
3
