The Ozempic Fad & All it's glory
By now you've probably heard the word Ozempic thrown around. If you haven't, maybe you've seen Kim K's arms shrink while her ass grows and wonder how thats even humanly possible (it's not). Below is what I've gathered from research on the drugs site as well as doctors' expert opinions.
What is it?
Ozempic is a prescription injectable that is used to treat type 2 diabetes. It stimulates insulin release from the pancreas and slows down digestion (specifically food leaving your stomach) to avoid blood sugar spikes. In 2021, the FDA approved a higher dose drug, Wegovy, with Ozempic as the active ingredient to treat obesity.
Is it effective?
In short, yes. Ozempic and Wegovy are extremely effective in managing the symptoms and weight of diabetic patients. It is also effective in assisting obese adults lose weight. To be clear, the weight loss success does not come by managing blood sugar or insulin spikes but by curbing appetite and giving patients the feeling of "full" for longer periods of time. Any non-diabetic adult naturally manages their own insulin and their blood sugar should rise after eating (your body breaks down food in your stomach for immediate fuel. That means glucose in your blood goes up). Diabetic patients have an issue with the range of the spike in glucose and insulin production/regulation.
Is it effective in weight loss for non-diabetic patients?
In the long run, No. You will likely lose weight taking Ozempic, but keeping it off is extremely unlikely. "Studies show that stopping Ozempic completely will likely lead to regaining most of the weight lost within several months,” (Rekha Kumar, MD, Forbes). Almost all patients that have stopped the drug have gained their weight back. The major reason for this? Ozempic works like any other GLP -1 medication; it is designed to be taken long term. When it stops, your appetite comes back immediately, and you aren't full for long periods of time anymore.
If you changed nothing about your lifestyle on the drug, you're back to square one in months. "The medications alone are not the cure" Says Dr. O'Leary, NYU health "But when taken alongside proper diet, exercise as well as focusing on mental health - this can help in the long term weight loss journey ... It also must be monitored under a doctors care for any possible side effects or reactions." So what we know to be true, is still true. To lose weight and keep it off you must focus on diet, exercise and mental health. Ozempic is a quick fix but it isn't intended as a long term solution for weight loss. Historically, if you have been unable to change your lifestyle, Ozempic isn't going to do the work for you.
What if I stay on it for life?
Outside of the obvious answer that injecting a medicine into yourself weekly for a disease you don't have is sketchy, the risks are also unknown. Since Wegovy was just recently re-dosed and packaged as a weight loss drug (2021) the long term side effects have yet to be determined. It is also extremely expensive. The price tag on Ozempic ranges from $1200-1400 a month, or $16,000 annually without insurance. (Remember for insurance to cover a drug you must have a valid medical diagnosis it's treating. You can't fake diabetes or obesity). "Unfortunately, for patients who don't meet the diagnosis requirements, it becomes extremely expensive" says O'Leary, "This fad has put this medication on back order for the patients who need it for diabetes." So outside of cost, not knowing the risks, and relying on a medication to do something you could take upon yourself to do, You're also putting any friends or family with Type 2 diabetes at risk. Real risk.
The Takeaways
Ozempic is on the market to treat a very real and large issue of Type 2 diabetes. Many people get type 2 diabetes genetically and those who develop it, often do so because of family upbringing and lifestyle. This subset of the population has finally been given a chance to fight back against this disease that has had their family tree bound for decades. Alongside the lifestyle changes they have been implementing for their entire lives, Ozempic finally gave them a real shot (pun intended) at change. It ran in their family, until it ran into them.
Celebrities like Elon Musk have touted the weight loss benefits and can afford to keep paying for them. Celebrities like Kim K & Mindy Kaling are taking it, but lying about it. And to make matters worse, they are pushing their diet and exercise routines on the world that they, themselves, don't even follow. We finally had a shot with the next generation of kids knowing quick fixes are bullshit and that real work yields real results. And then the Kardashians entered that chat with ozempic.
If you are struggling with obesity and have been making proper lifestyle changes, have a candid conversation with your doctor about Ozempic. "This shouldn't stop [diabetic/obese] patients from advocating for their health and wellness and starting the journey" says O'Leary. In an image obsessed culture, the people with real body issues are being robbed of the chance to fix them by the very leaders of this synthetic culture.
For the rest of the population, as always, a quick fix is exactly that; quick & fleeting. If the journey wasn't hard, the reward wouldn't be worth it.
Commentaires