Ozempic’s Surge: A Blessing or a Curse?
Ozempic® (semaglutide) — a prescription drug approved to treat type 2 diabetes — has become a sensation among those wishing to lose weight. Ozempic’s surge has raised questions about its benefits, shortcomings, and supply and added new sparks to the age-old debate about what makes the ‘ideal’ body.
Ozempic’s impact on body image
Seemingly ideal body standards, particularly for women, have changed shape from one generation to the next. The 1990s were all about the ‘heroin chic’ aesthetic; the 2000s worshipped the skinny, almost-anorexic figure; the 2010s saw a growing acceptance of curves and body positivity; while this decade appears to prefer the toned fitness-influencer body type.
Despite differences in views and beliefs about a healthy body image over the years and efforts to promote body positivity, the bias against fat and obesity remains present. Society continues to impose beauty standards that we must all seemingly fulfil to ‘fit in with the thin’. The recent rise of Ozempic® provides proof of this.
Ozempic (semaglutide) was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017 for the management of type 2 diabetes — not for obesity or weight loss. However, the drug’s visibility soared only after its weight-reducing effects came to light. Celebrities started to share their journeys with Ozempic, sparking public interest and demand for off-label use of the drug as a ‘weight loss drug’.
That said, Ozempic’s rapid rise in popularity could be a blessing in disguise. Scientists are increasingly discovering health benefits associated with the drug.
Health benefits of Ozempic
Recent studies have emphasised that the weight-related benefits of Ozempic might go beyond treatment for type 2 diabetes.
Ozempic belongs to the class of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, along with other drugs such as Wegovy® (semaglutide), Mounjaro® (tirzepatide), Trulicity® (dulaglutide), Victoza® (liraglutide), and Saxenda® (liraglutide). GLP-1 receptor agonists affect body weight by decreasing appetite and regulating insulin and glucagon — hormones that control blood sugar levels.
Specific GLP-1 receptor agonists are prescribed to treat either type 2 diabetes (Ozempic, Victoza, Mounjaro, and Trulicity) or obesity (Wegovy and Saxenda) in combination with other established therapies.
A recent study published in Nature backed the effectiveness of semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) for weight loss over a 2-year period. The study found that semaglutide can help support other weight loss measures, such as dietary changes and exercise, to tackle obesity — a chronic, multifactorial disease.
Another study, funded by Novo Nordisk, found that semaglutide may additionally improve cardiovascular and kidney outcomes in patients living with type 2 diabetes.
However, Ozempic and other GLP-1 receptor agonists, like most drugs, are also associated with a number of unwanted effects.
Side effects: Can you tell I’m on Ozempic?
Weight loss is often not the only noticeable consequence of GLP-1 receptor agonists. Side effects referred to as ‘Ozempic face’, ‘Ozempic butt’, and ‘Ozempic body’, have been described in mainstream media — a result of skin ageing and becoming loose due to the rapid weight loss attributed to treatment.
Other side effects include:
- stomach pain
- nausea and vomiting
- diarrhoea
- constipation.
There is also some evidence that once you lose weight on a GLP-1 receptor agonist, it may not stay off over the longer term. One year after stopping the once-weekly treatment of semaglutide 2.4 mg and lifestyle changes, people regained two-thirds of their initial weight loss, with a similar reversal in cardiometabolic benefits also being reported. Therefore, ongoing treatment may be needed to maintain improvements in weight and health.
Rising demands and scarce supplies: What’s next?
In 2023, New Zealand’s Medsafe followed the FDA’s footsteps by approving Ozempic for the management of type 2 diabetes. Ozempic’s addition to the Medsafe database came after earlier approvals of the GLP-1 receptor agonists Trulicity and Victoza for type 2 diabetes and Saxenda for obesity.
The recent spike in demand for these drugs — in particular, the off-label use of drugs indicated for type 2 diabetes for weight loss — is causing supply problems worldwide, including in New Zealand. In fact, Ozempic has yet to reach Kiwi shores. As a result, patients who need these drugs to manage type 2 diabetes cannot access them.
In response to this global shortage, the Pharmaceutical Management Agency (Pharmac) in New Zealand has limited the use of dulaglutide and liraglutide to those who are already taking these medicines, starting from 1 May 2024.
Both worldwide and regional pharmaceutical suppliers are monitoring these shortages and continuously striving to improve stock levels.
Conclusion
The emergence of Ozempic is reshaping how we think about body image and weight loss, but its rise in popularity might prove to be a double-edged sword. While its star status in Hollywood may drive improvements in health among those who are living with obesity, it is simultaneously causing global access issues for those who rely on these treatments for the management of type 2 diabetes. Global pharmaceutical companies are ramping up production of GLP-1 receptor agonists, so it is hoped that the restrictions in supply will be short lived and all those in need will be able to access treatment.
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Photo credit: Image design by Markus Winkler on Pexels.
