Ozempic and the “Miracle Drug” Craze

On March 12th, 2023, Jimmy Kimmel opened the Oscars by jokingly announcing, “Everybody looks great. When I look around this room, I can’t help but wonder: Is Ozempic right for me?” (“Jimmy Kimmel”, 2023). His words came after numerous celebrities, including Elon Musk and Amy Schumer, announced that they were using the prescription drug to lose weight. But it’s not just celebrities jumping on the Ozempic train; millions of individuals have been sharing their experiences with the drug, especially on TikTok, where the hashtag has since garnered over 350 million views (Awan, 2023). Such popularity has inspired the nickname of “the miracle drug,” but many overlook how misleading this title can be.

Ozempic is one example of a medication that falls under the larger umbrella of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, delivered in weekly shots. These agonists (known as semaglutide) are synthetic hormones that mimic the function of GLP-1, a naturally occurring hormone that is released after we eat (“What is Semaglutide”, n.d.). When GLP-1 is released, it stimulates the secretion of insulin and inhibits glucagon secretion to regulate blood sugar (Holst, 2007). Because of this, GLP-1 receptor agonists have been a staple for treatments for diabetes, a disease characterized by low blood sugar levels and little insulin production (“What Is Diabetes?”, n.d.). GLP-1 has another function, though. It has been credited with delaying gut motility and gastric emptying, which slow down digestion and allow you to feel fuller for longer (Shah, 2014).

Ozempic’s primary use has always been for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and it was cleared by the FDA for this purpose in 2017 (“Novo Nordisk”, 2017). While the medication has never been cleared for weight loss, this hasn’t stopped individuals from using it “off-label,” a practice by which patients are prescribed drugs for purposes other than those FDA-approved. Off-label use is especially prominent with Ozempic, as most doctors are comfortable giving a prescription for individuals who are overweight or obese and have seen little progress with other medications, even if they don’t have type 2 diabetes. Because this process is so simple—often only requiring a conversation with a doctor—it has prompted huge demand for the drug. In 2021 a similar semaglutide drug, Wegovy, was approved for weight loss purposes, helping to relieve pressure on Ozempic and the diabetics who rely on it. However, the craze for the drugs never showed signs of slowing down, with prescriptions rising 300% from 2020 to 2023, and both Ozempic and Wegovy being put on the FDA’s Drug Shortages list in 2023 (Raman, 2024).

Shortages aren’t the only issue with Ozempic: misinformation surrounding its use and effects are also rampant. For one, a popular notion surrounding Ozempic is the idea that individuals who take it can eat as much as they want without gaining weight, which is far from the case. Instead, Ozempic works as an appetite suppressor, decreasing the amount of food individuals are likely to eat on the drug without actually changing the caloric value of the food itself. Another common misconception comes from its side effects, specifically “Ozempic face.” “Ozempic face” is the phenomenon observed when rapid weight loss on Ozempic leads to the look of a hollowed-out face. While this trend has been credited as normal, the rapid weight loss it requires likely goes well beyond the maximum weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week that the CDC recommends, promoting a dangerous standard (Kassel, 2023). The consequences this can have on one’s body are significant—including irritability, fatigue, and even malnutrition (WebMD, 2023). Weight loss medications that seem to offer rapid results, like Wegovy, may also lead individuals to become obsessed with the numbers behind their progress each week, even if such progress is not sustainable in the long-term.

Perhaps the biggest issue with the drug has been people’s dependency on it. Ozempic and Wegovy used for weight loss only serve as temporary solutions to issues that often stem from complex underlying lifestyle problems. Additionally, once individuals stop taking the drug, their appetites quickly return to normal, making it hard to sustain such weight loss. Because of this, many have experienced “Ozempic rebound,” during which individuals gain back most, if not more, of the weight they had before taking the medication (Schimelpfening, 2023). One study funded by Novo Nordisk, the company that makes Ozempic and Wegovy, found that, a year after taking the drug, participants gained back, on average, two-thirds of the weight they lost (Wilding et al., 2023). If Ozempic was cheap and widely available, long-term use of the drug could be a viable method of sustainable weight loss; however, Ozempic is anything but. The drug’s consistent shortages and high cost—sometimes exceeding $1,000 per month in the US without insurance—make it difficult to rely on for long-term use, forcing most people to also deal with the difficulties of withdrawal (Davis, n.d.).

Still, the drug has shown incredible promise. While most medications can offer weight loss at 5-10% of one’s body weight, Ozempic has skyrocketed above these averages, leading to weight loss closer to 15-20% (“The Ozempic Effect”, n.d.). However, there is an undeniable danger that comes with labeling Ozempic—or any drug for that matter—as a “miracle drug” and ignoring its downsides. As the craze for the drug builds, its drawbacks become less obvious, and incentives for proper individualized research also start to drain. This is especially dangerous, as the drug is not without long-term consequences.

While little is known about the long-term impact on metabolic and cardiovascular health, Ozempic is associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer, hypoglycemia, and gallbladder disease, among a variety of other consequences (Korte, 2023).

In the end, Ozempic is not a “miracle,” but, rather, a drug like any other—offering a long list of benefits and risks that must be weighed before choosing to take it. Taking the drug without being aware of the potential consequences can have serious ramifications, both short- and long-term. Until we stop treating medication as a trend, perhaps it is on us to remember that true “miracle drugs” are few and far between. After all, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

References

1. Awan, O. (2023, June 19). Why Ozempic May Not Be Right For You. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/omerawan/2023/06/19/why-ozempic-may-not-be-right-for-you/?sh=67ff1a4d49e1

2. Davis, K. W. (n.d.). Ozempic: Cost, Coupons, and Ways to Save Cash. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/obesity/news/20230503/ozempic-cost-coupons-and-ways-to-save-cash

3. Holst J. J. (2007). The physiology of glucagon-like peptide 1. Physiological reviews, 87(4), 1409–1439. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00034.2006

4. Jimmy Kimmel’s Oscars Monologue 2023 [Video]. (2023). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoM-64EkchU

5. Kassel, G. (2023, April 13). How Does Ozempic Affect the Skin on Your Face? https://www.healthline.com/health/ozempic-face#treatment

6. Korte, C. (2023, July 12). Ozempic side effects could lead to hospitalization - and doctors warn that long-term impacts remain unknown. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ozempic-side-effects-weight-loss-drugs-wegovy-mounjaro-doctors-warn/

7. Novo Nordisk Receives FDA Approval of OZEMPIC® (semaglutide) Injection For the Treatment of Adults with Type 2 Diabetes. (2017, December 5). PR Newswire. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/novo-nordisk-receives-fda-approval-of-ozempic-semaglutide-injection-for-the-treatment-of-adults-with-type-2-diabetes-300567052.html#:~:text=OZEMPIC%C2%AE%20(semaglutide)%20injection%200.5%20mg%20or%201%20mg%20was

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9. Ozempic helps weight loss by making you feel full. But certain foods can do the same thing – without the side-effects. (2023, March 21). Hunter Medical Research Institute. https://hmri.org.au/news-article/ozempic-helps-weight-loss-making-you-feel-full-certain-foods-can-do-same-thing-%E2%80%93

10. Raman, A. (2024, January 24). Unraveling the Ozempic craze. Tufts Daily. https://www.tuftsdaily.com/article/2024/01/unraveling-the-ozempic-craze#:~:text=From%202020%E2%80%9322%2C%20prescriptions%20for,drug%20shortages%20list%20in%202023

11. Schimelpfening, N. (2023, June 9). Ozempic rebound: Why most people regain weight after stopping semaglutide. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/weight-regain-after-stopping-ozempic

12. Shah, M., & Vella, A. (2014). Effects of GLP-1 on appetite and weight. Reviews in endocrine & metabolic disorders, 15(3), 181–187. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11154-014-9289-5

13. WebMD. (2023, September 13). Rapid weight loss: Is it safe? Does it work?. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/diet/rapid-weight-loss

14. What Is Diabetes? (n.d.). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes

15. What is Semaglutide? (n.d.). Endocrine Center. https://www.endocrinecenter.com/contents/research/what-is-semaglutide

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