The Truth About The Diabetes Drug Ozempic For Weight Loss
With more than 274 million views on TikTok and rising google searches, the diabetes drug “Ozempic” for weight loss is quickly becoming part of the modern social media vernacular. We get you, a drug with sudden slimming effects may be appealing to many, especially when used by our beloved celebrities. Kim Kardashian, for instance, took this drug for dramatic weight loss to fit into Marlin Monroe’s famous wiggle gown at the 2022 Met Gala.
The type 2 diabetes drug can cause rapid weight loss as a side effect of blood-sugar management. This explains the obsession with the term “post-Ozempic body” on social media. But how safe is it? Isn’t using these kinds of drugs set a really bad example for young women who are already so vulnerable to the unrealistic filtered versions? And does this wonder drug come at no cost?
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic is an injectable diabetes drug made of semaglutide, which can lower blood sugar and spur insulin production. Semaglutide increases insulin release in response to glucose intake and causes a minor delay in gastric emptying. It also affects the parts of the brain responsible for regulating appetite and food intake. And It can make your body more sensitive to the insulin you produce, making the body’s fat cells shrink over time.
The side effects include slowing digestion and making patients feel fuller for longer, which may lead to weight loss. And while it is not approved for chronic weight management, doctors are increasingly prescribing it off-label for this exact reason.
How Does Ozempic work for weight loss?
Ozempic mimics a naturally-produced hormone in your body. When this hormone is produced, it can make you feel full for two to three hours. So when taken in its medication form, it can curb your appetite and make you feel full for 24 hours. Each time you take the injection, expect to get that full feeling for six to seven days… According to patients, you can reach a point where you eat a third of what you normally ate and be satiated, and you won’t feel like snacking.
Is it safe for weight loss?
Yes, while proper use can actually control appetite, using it inappropriately can lead to a completely suppressed appetite. While you may fall in love with the results at first when all your clothes fit you better, the side effects on your health won’t be as appealing. Some of the side effects include higher heart rates, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea. Other rare but serious side effects are inflammation of the pancreas, diabetic retinopathy, kidney problems, gallbladder problems, and allergic reactions.
Add to it that once you go off the drug, you’ll most likely gain the weight back.
Is it FDA Approved?
No, it is not! But the fact that it’s self-administered at home via injection once a week into the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm has made it easier to use off-label.
The Bottom Line
If you are not a diabetes patient and thinking of taking this drug only to lose weight, then you better not do it. Yea, dieting and working out may sound like a slower journey, but it is much safer and better for your health in the long run. So just stick to it.