Why Ozempic Isn’t the Answer for Sustainable Weight Loss
Nagina Abdullah
MOLECULAR & CELL
BIOLOGY, UC BERKELEY
June 2, 2023
Standing in line at the grocery store, your eye catches the unrecognizable image of Khloe Kardashian gracing the cover of the latest edition of People magazine. Intrigued by her drastic weight loss, you whip open the magazine to find out her secret, and are disappointed when the topic is ignored.
Fast forward to the 2023 Oscars. When Jimmy Kimmel jokes about Ozempic being Hollywood’s worst kept secret and the star-studded audience nonchalantly laughs, you immediately start connecting the dots. Maybe the stars are just like us – struggling to lose weight, but under the pressures of stardom, are more willing to try anything.
This past year, we’ve seen some shocking new claims about a prescription drug called Ozempic (Semaglutide). It promises dramatic weight loss without all the dieting and exercise. If it seems too good to be true, it likely is, but let’s take a closer look at how it’s gaining traction.
What is Ozempic, how does it work, and when did it become popular?
Several high-profile celebrities such as Khloe Kardashian, Chelsea Handler, Rosie O’Donnell, and Elon Musk have credited Ozempic for their substantial weight loss results. Jimmy Kimmel even joked at the 2023 Oscars that Ozempic is “The worst kept secret in Hollywood”. Ranging from $800-$1000 a month for the treatment, Hollywood’s elite seemed to have the easiest access, flaunting their results to the public as quickly as they can.
"Ozempic: The worst kept secret in Hollywood'."
Though Ozempic seems like a relatively new drug, it already has a lengthy history.
Ozempic was created back in 2012 by a team of researchers at Novo Nardisk. By 2016, the final trial was completed, and the prescription hit the market backed by doctors and other medical professionals.
With the sole intention of helping diabetes patients control their blood sugar, the weekly injections trigger a person’s body to create insulin. Insulin, in turn, lowers blood sugar, slows digestion, and makes people feel full longer. The drug not only worked, but was groundbreaking stuff.
It didn’t take long to discover that one of the most common, yet unexpected side effects, rapid weight loss, would catapult this drug to mind-boggling levels of popularity. Coined “The miracle drug” for its assistance in dramatic weight loss, demand and cost rose, supply shortages ensued, and for those who really needed its help, they lost easy access.
"My anti-aging doctor just hands it out to anybody. I didn't even know I was on it. She said, 'If you ever want to drop five pounds, this is good.
I've injected about four or five of my friends with Ozempic because I realized I didn't wanna use it cause it's silly. It's for heavy people. Everyone is on Ozempic. It's gonna backfire, something bad is gonna happen."
-Chelsea Handler
Are there any side effects to using Ozempic?
The FDA approved Ozempic for use in the US in 2017. As a result, it’s still considered relatively new and there has only been about five years of experience on long-term effects. For example, some of the most common side effects include:
- Abdominal pain
- Confusion
- Constipation
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
People who are allergic to Semaglutide are encouraged not to use Ozempic. Also, people with a family history of thyroid cancer, or patients with a rare disorder called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2 syndrome should not use Ozempic.
Is Ozempic safe and does it work?
Without a doubt, the drug has provided hope for the diabetic community. Despite a lengthy list of side effects, Ozempic, at least for the short-term, has been deemed safe. However, due to its short history, that generalization should be used with caution.
Alternatively, the results for Ozempic being used as a weight loss drug are not as successful. Despite losing dramatic amounts of weight initially, research shows that people who have taken and then stopped Ozempic, often gain up to two-thirds their weight back within one year. What most don’t know is that the use of Semaglutide is effective as a treatment, but sustainability is only guaranteed if diet and exercise are incorporated consistently into your lifestyle.
What are other fad methods people have tried for weight loss?
As I mentioned above, there are hundreds of quick ways to lose weight, but not one of those ways can brag about lasting results without including a healthy diet and exercise. There are three common examples that my clients have tried before coming to me:
- Restrictive programs are unrealistic. For example, Octavia, a strict 800-calorie program, is not sustainable. Ultimately, your previous appetite will return, leading to weight gain.
- Intermittent fasting has proven effective for some but can often create undereating which keeps people stuck at their same weight.
Surgical options are temporary. Liposuction has been promoted through clever marketing, but what’s not advertised are the unfavorable and irreversible results such as fat explosions in other areas of the body if a healthy lifestyle isn’t maintained.
What’s the best way to lose weight and keep it off?
The only way to lose weight effectively and healthily is to do it naturally. Incorporating a balanced, nutritional, and well-rounded diet into an active lifestyle will not only give lasting results, but also keep you motivated to reset when you stray off course.
When people resort to shortcuts with quick outcomes and minimal effort, the results are short-term and can lead to bigger problems down the road. Studies show that weight loss is generally 75% diet and 25% exercise. As a result, people see the biggest results when they eat smart, and learn the facts behind nutrition.
Above, I listed celebrities that flaunted instant results using Ozempic, but luckily for us, Hollywood also has plenty of examples of celebrities that lost the weight naturally.
- Rebel Wilson lost 60 pounds by adopting a new diet that reduced dairy, gluten, sugar, and caffeine. With a greater emphasis on her fitness routine and strength training, she has maintained her results, and has gained a happier perspective on life and her goals.
- Ree Drummond, a host on the popular Food Network show “Pioneer Woman”, lost 43 pounds by eating fewer calories, weighing out her portions, exercising daily, and loading up on protein instead of sugar and alcohol.
- Jessica Simpson notably lost 100 pounds in 6 months through exercising, getting plenty of rest, and eating 3 full meals and two snacks a day.
It seems like every year, there’s a new fad-diet or weight loss drug that takes the world by storm. As an online weight loss coach, I’m hyper-aware whenever new weight loss tactics hit the market because my clients want the skinny on their effectiveness.
However, fad diets typically present unsustainable eating restrictions, promote short-term weight loss, are backed by pseudo-scientific claims, and only tend to focus on one element instead of nutrition as a whole. Though following a few rules brings quick results, the weight tends to return just as quickly as it left.
There are ways to effectively lose weight and keep it off. As I tell my clients all the time, you should never accept a body that you aren’t proud of. With the proper nutritional knowledge and weight loss strategies in place, my clients have proven that the motivation to succeed will come naturally. Monica and Tree are just two of my clients that lost weight naturally by adjusting their lifestyle to lose weight in a natural and healthy way.
Masala Body offers weight loss programs that are geared towards busy working professionals who want to get healthy but have minimal time to do it. As an online weight loss coach, I can relate with my clients because I too used to be unhappy with my body. By changing my mindset and creating a lifestyle where eating healthy was enjoyable, I was able to achieve lasting results that I earned and could be proud of.
If you are interested in Masala Body’s programs, check out the 8-Week Slim Down Personal Weight Loss Coaching program or book a call with me today and share your weight loss goals. Before you know it, you will be taking the first steps towards living the rest of your life in the body you’ve always deserved.
Looking for inspiration? Check out these 15 motivating weight loss from fat success stories from Masala Body’s clients.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nagina Abdullah is a health coach for middle-aged women and professionals. She coaches women to boost their metabolism naturally, shed pounds and keep them off. Her work with weight loss clients led to the creation of Masala Body, an online weight loss platform that provides an easy and accessible system that helps women sustainably lose weight. She has helped over 1200 women successfully lose from 10-80 lbs and create a sustainable lifestyle change. Nagina earned her degree in Molecular and Cell Biology from UC Berkeley. Read More…
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