Ozempic Explained: What You Need to Know About Pop Culture’s New Favorite Weight Loss Drug

Disclaimer: I am not a medical practitioner. This article is for entertainment and educational purposes only. If you are interested in semaglutide as a medical option, please consult a qualified health practitioner to determine if this option is right for you. Always approach online medical information with skepticism.

“Have you heard of that new magical weight loss drug?” asked a friend one evening, his eyes beaming with fascination across the table, “It’s incredible! Apparently, people are just dropping pounds like crazy over in Europe by taking this shot.”

“No way — that sounds incredible! What?” I replied, my interest wholly piqued. I mean, honestly, what a neat concept to write an article about.

“It is crazy,” he exclaimed, “I heard about it on TikTok!”

The news of the new ‘miracle weight loss drug’ has been everywhere recently — talk shows, memes, forums, TikTok, and, yes, even real-life conversations (wild, right?). The Ozempic craze has exploded in the last couple of months and for good reason, many people are reporting positive improvements from various treatments using the active ingredient in the brand name. But, is it truly the magic treatment its reputation would have us believe?

I investigated the research behind Ozempic to find out. Here’s what I discovered:

How Does Ozempic Work?

Ozempic and other similar drugs owe their ability to help people to a newly approved active ingredient: semaglutide. Semaglutide tricks the brain into believing that it is full by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1. When this specific hormone activates hormone receptors in the pancreas, brain, and elsewhere, it causes a release of insulin (lowering blood sugar levels), suppresses the production of Glucagon (further regulating blood sugar levels), and slows down the rate of digestion (preventing spikes in blood sugar after eating). It’s a notably effective solution for those who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

As a result of these bodily processes triggered by the peptide, many who have taken semaglutide notice a decrease in overall appetite and find themselves becoming full faster. Of course, both of these symptoms may result in weight loss.

The drug is administered weekly via a single injection. As an alternative to taking insulin, it requires notably fewer injections. Whereas insulin is required at least daily, a semaglutide prescription requires less maintenance than more traditional treatments.

Semaglutide: A Medical Marvel 50 Years in the Making

The new drug is the result of decades of research, an initiative that began back in the 1970s by researchers Jens Juul Holst and Joel Habener, during their examination of hormones that pig pancreas secreted as they ate. After continued testing, they discovered the GLP-1 hormone’s specific “potency”. Further research with people who have diabetes through the 1990s showed some promise, but significant side effects led researchers to continue development for the next 15 years, followed by nearly 10 years of clinical trials.

Near 2012, the drug in the trial was successfully developed into what we know today by Jesper Lau of the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. In 2017, it was officially approved for use, specifically for people with type 2 Diabetes.

The weight-loss portion of the effects of semaglutide was more a “fortunate” side-effect than an intended use of the drug. During the trial period of semaglutide, patients treated for type 2 diabetes often remarked on lost weight. This common symptom inspired scientists to develop an alternate form of the drug that focused on this portion of the drug’s effects for an additional source of revenue. And, thus, Wegovy was born.

Does Semaglutide Actually Work?

With its collection of incredible results, Ozempic has become the new face of weight loss, despite skinniness not being a reliable indicator of overall body health. Truly, the narrative should be around the health benefits the drug can have for people who take it as prescribed when the drug is right for their set of conditions. It’s talked about rather casually in the public sphere as if it’s an alternative to other fads like One Meal a Day or Ketogenic diets. Semaglutide is different from those ‘quick fixes’, and isn’t something you can use to drop a few unwanted pounds every once in a while.

Ozempic and other approved semaglutide-based treatments are lifestyle changes, ones that should be paired with other healthy choices like additional exercise and healthier food consumption. There are real, incredible positive side effects from taking the drug as prescribed, however. For patients who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing negative health effects due to being overweight or obese, this treatment could, very literally, save their life. Furthermore, for those who have type II diabetes, this could be a truly life-changing treatment of their disease.

Research has found a whole collection of positive health benefits, including improved liver and heart health, and an improved immune system better equipped to fight cancer cells. Another study found that even those who do not have diabetes can decrease their risk of heart disease by taking the medicine as directed.

So, in short, Semaglutide isn’t a gimmick or a fad — the issue lies within how popular media is treating it. It isn’t the miracle toted by celebrities, but it is certainly a marvel of modern medicine.

There are some key ‘downsides’ to consider, however, namely that it only works for as long as it’s being taken. Once most patients stop taking semaglutide, they gain back their weight, which may negate some of the positive effects they gain from the treatment. It’s designed to be a treatment, not a cure, meaning that, should you decide to use semaglutide as your solution, you’ll need to keep taking it for the rest of your life (or, until you’re no longer interested in whatever weight you want to reach).

We also don’t truly know about the long-term effects of lengthy semaglutide treatment yet. Though several studies have indicated no significant correlation between key organ damage/diseases, some researchers have called into question the follow-up duration of the studies being far too short. We also have much research to do to determine whether tolerance for the drug will decrease over time and whether patients will slowly gain the weight back, even with continued use.

Semaglutide isn’t a Risk-Free Weight Loss Option

Semaglutide and all its name brands have become rather sensationalized, talked about casually as if they are perfect and easy-breezy. In reality, much like nearly all other medical treatments, there is a whole list of potential side effects, some of which could even be life-threatening. The most common side effects noted tend to be digestive, ranging from nausea to stomach pain, to constipation, diarrhea, and vomiting. Though most who take semaglutide see these symptoms improve over time, around 10% of patients have found that they do not and, eventually, stop their treatment to end the near-constant discomfort.

There’s also the matter of “Ozempic face”, a phenomenon where Ozempic users experience skin changes that make them appear older and give their faces a loose, saggy experience. Though certainly not as dangerous as some other symptoms, it is certainly a side-effect to consider, should one be interested in using Ozempic for achieving personal aesthetic goals.

On a more serious note, there are also reports of concerning side effects, including “pancreatitis, changes in vision, hypoglycemia, gallbladder issues, kidney failure” and also in rare cases gastroparesis or malnutrition. There seems to be some evidence, too, that using semaglutide can increase the risk of the development of thyroid tumors. Though no tumor development has yet been noted in human patients, medical studies of the injection using rats have shown correlations between it and thyroid carcinomas.

If all that isn’t enough, the recent popularity of the drugs has led to shortages that affect the people who need it most: people with type 2 diabetes. An alternative to insulin could effectively be lifesaving for some, especially those who have resistance to or intolerance to insulin or other medications used to treat the disease.

Because of the shortage, there has recently been an uptick in counterfeit production to take advantage of the shortages. It would be remiss to not note here that there are no FDA-approved generic brands of semaglutide as of the writing and posting of this article. Over-the-counter options and brands other than Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus tablets are not approved by the FDA.

The FDA has also announced that there are instances of illegal marketing of semaglutide online and counterfeited production of the drug is rampant. The FDA can only assure the quality of drug manufacturing and distribution of semaglutide in state-licensed pharmacies. There is no telling how many additional risks will accompany these fake versions, let alone if they will have any of the intended positive effects. But, should you seek out this treatment option, you do so through licensed doctors and pharmacies.

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Semaglutide is a truly marvelous treatment, with sound science developed over decades by credible researchers. The short-term results are clear: when taken as directed (and only as prescribed), the treatment can have proven positive effects on both health and weight, particularly for those with type 2 diabetes. But, it isn’t a miracle, despite what some more sensationalist rhetoric floating about the ether might indicate.

Taking semaglutide comes with a fair share of risks, ones that must be considered well before beginning such a treatment. It also requires quite a commitment and should not be treated like a fun little way to diet instead of a juice cleanse or a stint of OMAD. Problematic connotations of diet culture aside (which deserves its very own article, if I’m being honest), semaglutide isn’t a cure — it’s a commitment that treats symptoms as long as one continues to consistently administer it.

So, and I write this at the risk of sounding like a medical commercial, speak with your doctor to determine if Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus is right for you.

It isn’t magic, but it is some pretty damn good science.

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Crossposted from Medium. Follow for new articles on science and sustainability every other week! :)