Doctor issues warning about 'misunderstood' long-term implications on the body after taking Ozempic
Britt Jones
Featured Image Credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus
Semaglutides have reached popularity like never before, with more and more people choosing to take drugs like Ozempic for weight loss- but there’s something you need to know before taking the risk.
While celebrities all over the globe have spoken out about the effects of Ozempic, whether they believe it’s good or bad, those who can afford it are now giving it a go in a bid to shed some weight.
However, it could do a lot more harm than good.
Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQ doctor, told Tyla that this weight loss drug could prove to be harmful.
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She explained: "Ozempic (semaglutide) is a medication licensed for the management of type 2 diabetes. While it has shown efficacy in promoting weight loss by suppressing appetite, its growing popularity among celebrities as a ‘quick fix’ for weight loss raises significant health concerns.”
These health concerns can be serious for those who aren’t careful.
She warned: "Firstly, using Ozempic for weight loss without medical supervision can lead to serious side effects.”
Wylie explained: “Gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea are common, but more severe complications like pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, and kidney failure have also been reported.”
For those living without diabetes, who are using the semaglutide for weightless, ‘Ozempic could also lead to dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), which can cause confusion, fainting, and seizures’.
Hypoglycaemia occurs when there is an abnormally low level of glucose in your blood, which then stops your body from having enough energy to carry out its activities.
The expert continued: “Many users may not fully understand the long-term implications of taking a drug designed for managing a chronic illness.”
Of course, drugs designed for one purpose typically should only be used for that one thing.
With Ozempic, it’s even more risky as it’s not an FDA-approved weight loss drug.
Wylie went on to say that mental health is another overlooked issue when taking Ozempic.
She said: "The sudden and rapid weight loss caused by Ozempic might be appealing to those under societal or industry pressures to look a certain way, but this can exacerbate or trigger eating disorders and body dysmorphia.”
Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a mental health condition which causes the person to believe that their body isn’t presented in the way that everyone else sees it.
They may believe they are too big, or too small, or unappealing in some shape or form.
This could cause them to act in self-destructive ways or partake in self-harming behaviour such as diet restrictions, or plastic surgery.
Wylie continued: “In some cases, people become overly reliant on the drug, unable to maintain a healthy lifestyle without it, fostering an unhealthy relationship with food and body image.
"The wider repercussions of this surge in use are troubling. The drug is becoming harder to access for those who genuinely need it for diabetes management, as supplies become strained.
“Furthermore, normalising its use among celebrities risks sending dangerous messages to the public, reinforcing the idea that extreme or pharmaceutical measures are the answer to weight loss, when a balanced diet and physical activity are far safer and more sustainable.”
As a final warning, the expert shared that Ozempic should ‘only be taken under the careful guidance of a healthcare professional, with a focus on long-term health rather than short-term aesthetics’.
This ensures that a person is able to take the drug safely.