Ozempic has recently taken Hollywood by storm. Stars like Oprah Winfrey and Amy Schumer have been public about using this type-2 diabetes drug to lose weight.
Ozempic was not intended to be a weight loss drug, but does that mean it is really dangerous? In this article, I explore Ozempic’s mechanism, side effects, and benefits.
What is Ozempic? How does it work?
According to the drug’s website, Ozempic’s active ingredient is semaglutide. Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, which means it has a similar shape to GLP-1 and activates GLP-1 receptors.
GLP-1 is a hormone, a chemical messenger that conveys information across different bodily organs. It is specifically responsible for initiating insulin secretion.1 By mimicking GLP-1, semaglutide increases the amount of insulin in the body. Insulin is an important regulator of blood glucose, which in high amounts can damage nerves and blood vessels, as well as lead to kidney and heart disease.
Semaglutide also decreases appetite, which also decreases food intake. Researchers think this is achieved through interaction with the hypothalamus, a region in the brain that controls secretion of different hormones, including one that signals for hunger.2
Who should not take Ozempic?
In short, if you are looking for a quick weight loss remedy, you should not use Ozempic. Because the drug company does not target Ozempic for weight loss, it should not be used for such purposes.
The most common side effects mainly concern the gastrointestinal system, including nausea, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea, and vomiting. Additionally, it can increase the risk of thyroid cancer.3
Outside of those side effects, there is a concern about unknown effects of using semaglutide for weight loss. Ozempic was first developed in 2012, and was released for the American public in 2017. Considering the relatively short time it has been on the market, there is not enough long-term data to say definitively that it is safe for those wanting to lose weight.
Who should take Ozempic?
Ozempic should be used by type-2 diabetics and pre-diabetics for prevention.
Regarding weight loss, semaglutide drugs might be useful as a starting point for morbidly obese people for whom other regimens have failed. Like Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Zepbound activate the GLP-1 pathway; the last two are specifically for weight loss. These could be options to consider for people who meet the drug’s criteria.
Weight loss, for aesthetic or health reasons, is the most sustainable when achieved through a natural route, such as diet and exercise. Before jumping on the new Ozempic trend, remember to do sufficient research and have a doctor’s prescription.
Citations
1. Latif W, Lambrinos KJ, Rodriguez R. Compare and Contrast the Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP1RAs). StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK572151/#. Updated March 27, 2023. Accessed December 15, 2023.
2. Fabiane Ferreira Martins, Thiago Santos-Reis, Thatiany Souza Marinho, Marcia Barbosa Aguila, Carlos Alberto Mandarim-de-Lacerda. Hypothalamic anorexigenic signaling pathways (leptin, amylin, and proopiomelanocortin) are semaglutide (GLP-1 analog) targets in obesity control in mice. Life Sciences, Volume 313, 2023,121268, ISSN 0024-3205. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0024320522009687. Accessed December 15, 2023.
3. Important Safety Information | Ozempic (semaglutide) injection 0.5 mg or 1 mg. Novo Nordisk. https://www.ozempic.com/important-safety-information.html. Updated August 2023. Accessed December 15, 2023.