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The American obsession to be thin is getting worse, and the new word on people's lips is Ozempic.
According to Food and Drug Administration, Ozempic, a semaglutide, mimics the GLP-1 hormone that is released in the gastrointestinal tract in response to eating. One role of GLP-1 is to prompt the body to produce more insulin, which reduces blood glucose (sugar). GLP-1 in higher amounts also interacts with the parts of the brain that reduce appetite and signal a feeling of fullness.
Traditionally, Ozempic has been used for Type 2 diabetes treatment. Now, it is becoming popular for weight loss and at times it is doctor recommended, which is what it should be. Celebrities have taken to using it, too, and several overweight ones have suddenly become pencil thin. The catch, though, is that insurance won't cover it unless you have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
My problem with it would be anyone's problem if they actually researched what they are putting in their body. Not only does Ozempic ruin the digestive process, but it also gives people a terrifying complexion. Their cheeks look sunken in and they look tired. Once people stop taking the drug, they just gain all the weight back so they are stuck taking it for the rest of their life.
I am all for getting healthy, and believe me, I struggle with maintaining a healthy stature, but I don't think getting skinny with this drug is the healthiest way. The side effects should be enough to convince people not to take it if they don't absolutely need it.
One of the big ones is the possibility of getting tumors on the thyroid.
Others include nausea, diarrhea, stomach (abdominal) pain, vomiting and constipation.
Because the want for Ozempic or other drugs that impact weight loss initiatives is so fierce, the sale of these drugs has taken to the social media. I was scrolling on Instagram the other day and my feed was interrupted by an add for Ozempic. It showed two side-by-side pictures of a woman using the drug — one that depicted her as overweight and unhappy, one that depicted her as thin and happy. It then said, "You too can transform your body with Ozempic. Subscribe and click on the link to get a prescription."
What is concerning to me is the need to put an ad on social media in the first place. Personally, it is always better to have a discussion with your doctor, the doctor that knows your medical history and habits, not another so-called "doctor" who you have never met.
Ozempic does help people, there's no denying it. But I think of it as a last resort if you have not absolutely tried everything else. I say try the natural, hard work way first. It just it seems like people are expecting Ozempic to be a miracle weight-loss solution that works instantly.
It would be amazing if we could take some magical pill to lose weight like that, but for now it takes work, exercise and eating right.
Finally, I think Ozempic should be prescribed by your doctor and no one else.
Is this drug the answer to America's obesity problem? I don't know. What I do know is cocaine was prescribed to treat everything from fever to cough and was a key ingredient in Coca-Cola before it became illegal. As Rick James said, "Cocaine's a h--- of a drug." Or what about heroin being used to cure a cough?
Ozempic isn't the first time a weight-loss drug hit the streets. Those who grew up in the 1990s probably remember the "miracle weight loss drug" Fen-Phen, which eventually was disapproved for human consumption due to the rising number of heart faliures tied to the drug. T
My point is, drugs aren't always the answer, and maybe the trending drugs aren't as helpful as we think.
