If you think that celebrities are losing weight through self-control alone, you’re probably wrong. According to celebrity Chelsea Handler, “celebrities say they lost weight by drinking water, but really it’s because everyone’s on Ozempic.” Indeed, this drug, once used to treat diabetes, has become extremely popular among celebrities and the rich, even causing shortages as of late. Celebrities publicly announcing their use of this drug include Chelsea Handler, Kyle Richards, Remi Badner, Jeremy Clarkson, and Elon Musk.
The drug made international headlines after going viral on TikTok as the trend #MyOzempicJourney showcased eye-popping transformations. The transformations are incredible! Dr. Li, chief clinical nutritionist at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, said most patients exhibited a maximum weight loss of 15% body mass. It works as a semaglutide, which helps lower blood sugar and makes people feel full for longer. However, to maintain these results, patients need to be on the drug indefinitely. An April 2022 study showed that after stopping Ozempic most people regained two-thirds of the weight back, and blood pressure, cholesterol, and other measure returned to pre-Ozempic levels.
You might be surprised by the demand for this drug. In 2019, more than 11 percent of the US population was diagnosed with diabetes and more than four in ten adults classified as obese in 2020. Ozempic was approved by the FDA to help those with diabetes in 2017. Then, Wegovy was approved in 2021 by the FDA, which is a stronger version of Ozempic meant for weight loss in those with BMIs of 30 or greater, or BMIs of 27 – 29 who also have one weight-related ailment. Both are manufactured by Novo Nordisk.
In 2023, many with diabetes were forced to switch to insulin or other medications because pharmacies had a shortage. This was partly due to demand and partly due to global supply chain issues. Others sought medications by going from pharmacy to pharmacy, and some have even been forced to take lower doses because it was not available. It created a dangerous situation for many with diabetes.
If you are interested in adding this drug to your health routine to reduce your weight and increase your health span, you can talk to your doctor. Currently, Wegovy, without insurance, is a whopping $1,700 per month, so it may not be the cheapest weight loss option out there. Additionally, you should consider the side effects. “The most common side effects may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach (abdominal) pain and constipation”.