Mia Williams
It feels as though just about every celebrity in Hollywood is using Ozempic - but what effect does the controversial drug actually have on your body?
There is a lot of conversation around the controversial drug, which was originally created to help treat type 2 diabetes.
But as we know, many celebrities - including James Corden and Rebel Wilson - have got their hands on the injections for a totally different reason.
The drug is highly effective for treating a number of several chronic diseases, but can also work as an anti-obesity medication.
Advert
And although Ozempic should not be prescribed as a weight-loss drug, many celebrities are using the injections with that intent in mind.
Ozempic comes in the form of an injection that you place into your thigh, abdomen, or upper arm, once every week.
It is known as a GLP-1 medication, which mimics the hormone released from the digestive tract which lowers blood sugar and makes you feel more full.
Obesity medicine specialist Dr W. Scott Butsch spoke to the Cleveland Clinic to explain why the drug works for weight loss, and why, potentially, it may not be as bad a solution as people are making it out to be.
Advert
Dr Butsch claimed that it may be useful for people to look at obesity in a different way to understand how Ozempic can be useful.
He said: "Obesity isn’t a behavioural problem.
"It’s not managed by just eating less or exercising more.
"Obesity is a complex, metabolic disease.
Advert
"It’s a dysfunction of the normal pathways that regulate our body weight or, more specifically, our body fat.
"Taking anti-obesity medications like Ozempic, may change your body’s reaction to food intake and weight loss."
He added: "These medications allow your body to seek a lower weight range, and this is not solely related to reducing your food intake."
Weight loss can happen within the first week or two of taking Ozempic.
Advert
But weight loss isn't the only benefit of using the drug.
When coupled with a healthy nutritional eating plan and regular exercise, Ozempic and the newest GLP-1 medications can improve your blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure.
As well as this, it can also reduce your chances of suffering a stroke or heart attack.
Ozempic slows down your digestion, so risks and side effects often occur.
Advert
Less severe risks include symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, flatulence, and heartburn.
More severe side effects can include pancreatitis, vision changes, allergic reactions, fatigue or dizziness, gallstones, kidney issues, and thyroid tumours or cancers.
Ozempic is an expensive drug, hence why you may see a lot of celebrities have access to the new medication.
Whilst it can work as an affective weight-loss drug for those who are obese, it should never be used for a short-term or 'quick fix' solution.
Just like you wouldn't take insulin if you didn't suffer from diabetes, you should not be taking Ozempic for weight loss reasons if you are not obese.
However, Dr. Butsch added that it is a 'game-changer' for those who really need it.