clock: Doctors warn of potential side effects of celebrity weight-loss drug Ozempic
Ozempic is currently causing quite a stir. The drug, usually prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes, has been touted as Hollywood’s “worst-kept secret.” weight loss.
Ozempic’s newest champion is Jeremy Clarkson, who recently describes his experience using the drug to lose weight and prevent type 2 diabetes.
in his latest column Sunday Times Subject: “I have a magic jab and my huge intestine is already shrinking” Clarkson, 62, wrote.
“Of course, in the future you have to balance it, or you’ll die. But for now, it’s been great.”
The presenter learned that his friend was taking “a new Danish drug called Ozempic” to prevent diabetes, and after “when questioned, they all raved about it,” he said he was injectable. He said he was introduced to drugs.
But experts warn that using the drug as a weight loss aid has potentially nasty side effects, and Dr. Amir showed up in Lorraine this morning to discuss the controversy and offer some advice. Did.
Everything you need to know about Ozempic, from how this drug works to its health risks, in 10 points.
What is Ozempic? Ozempic, Ryblesus, and Wegovy are all brand names for a compound called semaglutide. This drug is commonly used as a diabetes medication and can be prescribed in various doses and can be in the form of weekly injections administered to the stomach, thigh or arm, or daily oral tablets. .
This drug is reported to reduce appetite. “It’s a once-a-week injection, a hormone that our gut naturally produces,” explained Dr. Amir Khan on ITV’s Lorraine show during a discussion of the drug. “It sends a message to the pancreas to start producing insulin. But one of the side effects is that it slows down the movement of food in your gut, so you feel fuller for longer and you don’t have as much appetite. If you eat less, you will lose weight.”
The drug is rumored to be secretly used by many Hollywood starsOn Sunday night at the Critics Choice Awards, Chelsea Handler hinted that many celebrities take injections. “Because, like when celebrities joke about losing weight by drinking water, actually everyone is taking Ozempic,” she joked. I am using.”
Searches on social media also continue to link the Kardashians to drugs. But despite Kim Kardashian’s disapproval of using Ozempic and her sister, Chloe releases statement denying she used itthe hashtag continues to grow.
Some celebrities have openly admitted to using the drug as a weight loss aid Including Elon Musk, who said twitter He tried it – along with Wegovy, a similar drug. The Tesla founder said his one injection a week was his secret weapon because he “lost 30 pounds”.
It’s a hot topic on the internetThanks to its reputation as a daily weight loss pill, Ozempic is rapidly increasing its views and shares on social media. On TikTok, the hashtag #ozempic has already earned him 414.1 million views, and Instagram is littered with users sharing “Ozempic’s journey” to weight loss.
The drug was hailed as a potential ‘game-changer’ in official UK studyIt first started to make headlines in the UK as a weight management tool after University College London. studyA study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that just over a third (35%) of people who took it for obesity lost more than a fifth of their total body weight.
Professor Rachel Batterham, Director of Obesity Themes at UCLH’s Center for Weight Management and UCL’s Center for Obesity Research, said: Three-quarters (75%) of those who received semaglutide 2.4 mg lost more than 10% of their body weight, and more than one-third lost more than 20% of their body weight.
“No other drug comes close to achieving this level of weight loss.
Ozempic comes with risks. Dr. Amir Khan, who appeared on ITV’s Lorraine Show, outlined some of the potential side effects. “Of course, any drug, any drug, this is a drug and it has side effects,” he said. It can cause inflammation of the pancreas, or pancreatitis.
Dr. Khan said it can also cause gallbladder problems. “It can even cause kidney failure,” he added.
The drug continues to stir controversy. The drug is only available in the NHS for type 2 diabetes and as a prescription obesity drug, but you can also buy it online. However, doctors are concerned about the risks that people using it are not closely monitored by medical professionals.
It is also believed that there is growing interest in the drug as a weight loss aid. thought to be the cause of the shortage For those who need diabetes medicine.
Clarkson’s drug celebration sparked discussion on social media. Some have criticized the presenter for using drugs as a weight loss method.
“For all diabetics struggling to find the one drug that keeps you alive, here’s why: People like Jeremy Clarkson are buying it to lose weight.” user murmured.
Others have noted that the drug does not currently have FDA approval for weight loss.
“It’s not approved as a weight-loss drug, and the FDA approval is only to treat type 2 diabetes, not to ‘prevent it,'” said another user. I have written.
Doctors say weight loss pills are not magic cures. of NHS We recommend that you consult your doctor for advice on how to safely lose weight “by eating a healthy, balanced diet and engaging in regular physical activity.”
We will also let you know about other useful services such as:
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Local weight loss groups – offered either by local government, NHS or paid commercial services
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Exercise by prescription – You will be referred to your local active health team for many sessions under the supervision of a qualified trainer