The latest weight-loss technique, called Ozempic, is American and replaces crazy restricted diets and detox centrifuges. Insiders claim that Mindy Kaling has shed more than 20 kg in this way, Kim Kardashian is now able to fit into the Marilyn Monroe dress she wore to the Met Gala in 2022, and Khloé has a far thinner physique than before. The Kardashian-Jenner family is not the first famous family to praise it: Elon Musk acknowledged using it to lose weight, Dr. Oz praised its miraculous effects and noted that it is used by celebrities so frequently that Forbes dubbed it “Hollywood’s worst-kept secret,” and on TikTok, the hashtag #ozempic has amassed over 470 million views, not to mention other related search terms like #ozempicweghtloss, #ozempichallenge, and #ozempichallengetransformation. Few well-known figures have thus far expressed alarm about potential contraindications, although Andy Cohen, the Bravo presenter and executive producer of Real Housewives, claimed that everyone had suddenly lost 25 pounds. What happens if they don’t take Ozempic anymore? and actor Jameela Jamil, who expressed her fear on Instagram that the widespread Hollywood tendency of wealthy individuals “purchasing this drug without a prescription for over $1,000” will result in a shortage of the medication for those who truly need it. Ozempic was initially created as a diabetes medication, but because of its slimming effects, it has become dangerously popular in off-label weight-loss programs.
What exactly is Ozempic and how does it work?
The FDA in the US approved Ozempic in 2017 as an anti-diabetic medication, and the EU approved it in 2019. Ozempic is a medication made by the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, and it has been prescribed in Italy since 2022. Ozempic is “recommended in combination with diet and exercise for the treatment of individuals with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes,” according to Ema (European Medicines Agency). Semaglutide, the active component, is a member of the family of compounds known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which, when administered intravenously, imitate the effects of a crucial gut hormone (GLP-1) that controls insulin and blood glucose levels. The medication reacts to the body in three different ways: it slows down gastric emptying, stops the liver from creating and releasing too much sugar, and helps the pancreas generate more insulin when blood sugar levels are high. In addition, a study found that people who took Ozempic for 68 weeks along with a low-calorie diet and an increased level of physical activity experienced an average change in body weight of 14.9%, as opposed to a change of 2.4 percent in the placebo group. This result was also found in the New England Journal of Medicine. Celebrities and the creators of TikTok used the drug because of its slimming effects, and Novo Nordisk was persuaded to create a high-dose version of the drug (Wegovy) exclusively for individuals who are obese or overweight who want to lose weight.
From an anti-diabetic to TikTok’s new slimming potion
On TikTok, Ozempic is being promoted for its quick and “miraculous” slimming outcomes after being purportedly inspired by the apparently extraordinary results of celebrities. The platform is jam-packed with videos that mostly feature very young girls demonstrating how simple and helpful the application is. You clean the area of your choice (typically the arms, legs, or abdomen), then take the pre-filled injection pen, direct it toward your body, and put the needle into the skin. The last stage? Sharing not only the application but also the before-and-after footage of the “treatment” with everyone else who wants to lose weight as if by magic, without following a diet plan, engaging in exercise, or having a professional by their side. And this is precisely the risk that Ozempic and other methods that promise abrupt and severe effects pose.
Hazards and restrictions
The manufacturers of Ozempic themselves forewarn of potential side effects, which can range from minor issues like nausea and stomach pain to more significant issues including pancreatic inflammation, diabetic retinopathy complications, thyroid tumors, and cancer. The risks rise if the medication is abused or used improperly, which is what occurs when you use it as a weight-loss technique without a prescription and without a doctor’s supervision. Due to the fact that Ozempic was created to treat a chronic illness, patients who stop taking it and resume their prior eating patterns will restore their weight loss and previous blood sugar levels. There is one more reason not to use Novo Nordisk’s product, if the previous ones aren’t enough to put you off: the popularity of Ozempic and the push for quick weight reduction is lowering the supply of a medication that people with type 2 diabetes mellitus who actually need it may access.
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