How is a diabetes drug fast becoming a weight loss method? The risk according to scientists and the effects that can affect the body.
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Each decade has its own "body type" to characterize it, depending on the fashion trend. In today's 20's everyone seems to be trying to get super thin, but not by natural means. We are seeing new trends taking over which ensure immediate weight loss results with drugs. Advertisements may have appeared in the past for nutritional supplements, juices and slimming "powders", but what we are seeing now is changing the game. All this excitement is about the drug Ozempic. But what exactly is Ozempic and why are doctors sounding the alarm?
The Ozempic also known as semaglutide, is a prescription injectable drug used to treat diabetes as well as obesity. In short, this drug increases insulin levels and gives the body a feeling of satiety, that is, the person reduces food intake to make the metabolism work faster. Of course, by taking it, people face side effects which can be serious. It is characterized by severe nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, fatigue and in some cases causes kidney problems and pancreatitis. In fact, it is not recommended for people with a family history of cancer.
Extensive research has been done on diabetics and obese people and Ozempic has had incredible action and effectiveness like no other. It was approved for sale in America in 2017 and in the EU in 2018. And lately it has been available not only in injectable form but also in pill form.
Why has there been concern?
Show stars have always been looking for the antidote to youth and beauty. Many of them, due to the trends they themselves created, were led to abuse cosmetic procedures, exhausting diets and exercise programs. The whole audience was naturally affected and as expected followed the same paths. But the difference between celebrities and the average person lies in the fact that there are resources available to monitor them constantly. So they have personal nutritionists, doctors, trainers, etc. Although a simple "fan" will imitate what they see, they probably won't have the same health care as celebrities. This is also true in this case. While many famous people use Ozempic for weight loss to fit the standards of the time, its dosages and effects are closely monitored by personal physicians. The man next door, in order to have it in his possession, will buy it from the internet because he cannot ask for it in a pharmacy if there is no relevant prescription.
There has been a lot of concern recently as the drug is in short supply on a global scale and the company has even announced that in a few months it will be in stock. The shortages were caused by the sudden and massive consumption of Ozempic by healthy people who simply bought it for their own benefit and not out of necessity, seriously endangering the lives of diabetics and obese people. Also, no reliable research has been done on people without weight and health problems, so there are no answers to what will come next! According to Dr. Craftson "It's so dangerous it's driving people to the emergency room" and adds that "It's not funny".
The New York Times newspaper has posted a related article and included opinions from doctors and academics, who pointed out that because the original over-the-counter Ozempic is very expensive (892$ for a monthly use), many people buy counterfeits from the Internet and without official labels. These products can turn out to be harmful in conjunction with not being monitored by a scientist. It is not unlikely that errors will be made by users regarding dosage. Dr. Gambei adds that "The path to the unknown hides potential dangers, but we don't know either."
One of the first to openly tell the world that he uses the drug is businessman Elon Musk. On Twitter a user asked them what his secret was for losing weight fast and he replied "+Ozempic/Wegovy+ Fasting away from tempting foods".
It is rumored that several famous personalities like Kim Kardashian and her sisters tried it in order to lose weight "easily", but almost no one admits it. Nevertheless, there are those who admit it, like Chelsea Handler, in an interview.
Social media has been a mess with heaps of backlash since Ozempic started trending. There are many people who have used their personal platforms to share their experience and also to express their complaints about the deficiencies that threaten their health. But we understand the dimensions of the phenomenon from the number of views of the hasthag #ozempic which reaches 674 million views on TikTok alone.
Ozempic face
Can something be affected in the external appearance after the systematic use of the drug? Yes! The face from rapid weight loss acquires wrinkles and dimples making the person look older and tired. After stopping however, the whole body and face will return to their original state or it may lead to further weight gain.
On the occasion of the Oscars ceremony, many of the artists are rumored to be taking the treatment, as they lost weight in a short period of time and their faces changed dramatically (Ozempic face). The American presenter Jimmy Kimmel did not hesitate to criticize this fashion saying that "Everyone looks so great. When I look around this room, I can't help but wonder “Is Ozempic right for me?”
Therefore, although we all often fall victim to trends and fashion, we must realize that such practices can be fatal for our body. Ozempic has been manufactured to serve specific groups of people who need it, and it is unprecedented for those who do not need it to use it for unrelated reasons, putting their own health at risk. No official research has been conducted to know the exact side effects in healthy users.
*Cover photo: The Star