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What is Ozempic? -

Ozempic, the trade name of the active ingredient semaglutide, is an injectable medication formulated to help adults with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar.

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Managing blood sugar levels -

Ozempic, made by the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, is taken as a once-weekly self-administered injection to manage said blood glucose levels.

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Original use -

Ozempic was originally approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat people with type 2 diabetes and who risked serious health consequences without medication.

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Weight loss can be achieved -

People with type 2 diabetes who use Ozempic can lose weight while using the medication.

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Reduces appetite -

Ozempic reduces your appetite so you eat less. It also slows down the movement of food in your gut, meaning you stay full for longer.

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Gaining popularity -

As a result of these weight-loss benefits, there has been a spike in demand for Ozempic... from people without type 2 diabetes.

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Ozempic goes viral -

News of Ozempic's weight loss effects have gone viral on social media.

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Prescription medicine -

Ozempic is a prescription medication. It can usually only be purchased from a pharmacy.

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"Off-label" -

But there's a growing trend where people are obtaining Ozempic through "off-label" prescribing, specifically for weight loss. While legal, off-label prescribing is done at the discretion of the prescriber.

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Bad for your figure -

In fact, the drug is seen by some overweight people as a quick and convenient way to lose weight. Incidentally, obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above.

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Surge in popularity -

But the surge in popularity of Ozempic and Wegovy, semaglutide's other best-selling brand name, has led to shortages of the medication in Great Britain and the United States.

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Celebrity endorsement -

Using Ozempic has become a wellness fad fueled by celebrity endorsements. Tech billionaire Elon Musk recently told his 116 million Twitter followers that the drug was behind his recent slim-down.

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Boris Johnson -

Former British prime minister Boris Johnson is another high-profile individual who extols the virtues of Ozempic, even writing about his experiences using the drug in the UK's Daily Mail newspaper.

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Amy Schumer -

But it's in Hollywood where Ozempic has created the biggest buzz, and the greatest controversy. American actress and stand-up comedian Amy Schumer revealed during an appearance on 'Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen' that she had recently taken the drug. In the same breath, she berated other celebrities for lying about taking Ozempic, though Schumer didn't name anybody specific.

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Kathy Bates -

In the case of Kathy Bates, who celebrated losing 100 lb (45 kg) in 2024, the star was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes back in 2017. This kickstarted a health transformation that has been seven years in the making. Many assumed her major weight loss was all thanks to Ozempic, but she says the drug only helped her lose the last 20 lb (9 kg). "I have to impress upon people out there that this was hard work for me, especially during the pandemic," Bates said in an interview with People. 

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Chelsea Handler -

Fellow actress and comedian Chelsea Handler said she unknowingly sampled Ozempic, according to a January 2023 report in the Los Angeles Times. She claimed that "everyone is on Ozempic" and called the medication a "miracle" that's "too good to be true."

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Khloé Kardashian -

Khloé Kardashian has vehemently denied assumptions that she is on Ozempic. She was forced to quell rumors after people questioned her toned physique in a photoshoot for Sorbet Magazine.

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Julia Fox -

Model and actress Julia Fox is another celebrity who has gone on the defensive, claiming in an interview with ET that she's never used Ozempic.

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Kyle Richards -

And American actress, socialite, and television personality Kyle Richards, one of the stars of 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,' has always denied using Ozempic.

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Golnesa "GG" Gharachedaghi -

But there are some Hollywood celebs who aren't so coy about their Ozempic use. Reality television star Golnesa "GG" Gharachedaghi didn't "see a reason to hide" being on the medication when discussing her health journey during a recent interview with 'Entertainment Tonight.'

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Remi Bader -

Unfortunately, Ozempic isn't a one-time cure. TikTok content creator and model Remi Bader reminded listeners during an episode of 'Not Skinny But Not Fat' podcast that after being prescribed a course of the drug by her doctor and then stopping, she "gained double the weight back."

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Is it safe? -

While Hollywood continues to weigh in on the subject, the question remains: is Ozempic safe the way it's being used?

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Possible side effects -

Experts point out that the drug's side effects may include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach pain, and headaches.

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Loss of appetite -

Some users have claimed they have lost the pleasure of eating. In fact, a less common side effect of Ozempic is altered taste.

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Pancreatitis -

According to Diabetes UK, Ozempic in rare cases can induce acute pancreatitis.

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Reduced kidney function -

And, warns the drug's manufacturer Novo Nordisk, Ozempic may cause reduced kidney function.

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Does it actually work? -

According to the UK's National Institute for Health and Care (NICE), Ozempic can help people reduce their weight by more than 10%.

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Lifestyle choices -

But this weight loss can only be achieved if users combine it with other lifestyle interventions, for example a low-calorie diet and increased activity.

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Who shouldn't use Ozempic? -

And beware! You should never use Ozempic if you or an immediate family member has had thyroid cancer in the past, notes Medical News Today. Similarly, avoid the drug if you have a rare form of cancer called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2.

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Ozempic and COVID-19 deaths -

The various benefits and dangers of weight loss drugs like Ozempic have been widely discussed in the media, but a surprising 2024 study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shines a new light on the medication. The study found that those treated with a 2.4 mg dose of semaglutide, the active ingredient in drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, had a 33% lower chance of dying if they contract COVID-19. While they were still susceptible to catching the virus, their risks of adverse side effects and death were greatly reduced. The large study began before the pandemic and included 17,600 people, all of whom were overweight and suffered from heart illnesses but did not have diabetes (the illness the drug was originally intended to treat). The study also suggested that semaglutide has other health benefits, with one of the authors describing a 29% reduction in deaths from non-heart-related causes. It was previously found in other studies that the drug may reduce the risk of serious heart-related events such as heart attacks and strokes. 

Sources: (FDA) (Diabetes UK) (NIH) (GOV.UK) (Daily Mail) (CNN) (Los Angeles Times) (Elle) (NICE) (Medical News Today)

See also: Rare cancers that challenge the medical profession

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