Stars – they are just like us. But sometimes we really shouldn’t be like them. Hollywood elites and TikTok influencers are using weight loss and diabetes drugs like Ozembic as an off-label shortcut to weight loss.
Trouble is, it’s not safe. Or more effective.
Hartford HealthCare’s obesity specialist, Joseph St. Pierre, DO, explains why.
> Interested in weight loss? Do this health risk assessment
What is that drug again?
The generic name is Semaglutide, a drug that targets areas of the brain that regulate appetite and eating.
As a treatment for obesity, Semaglutide is prescribed as Wegovy. It’s also a key ingredient in the diabetes drug Ozembic.
Both have garnered attention as a weight-loss “biohack” for the rich and famous. Celebrities like Elon Musk have admitted to using them. TikTok influencers boast about it.
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So what’s the problem with taking drugs like Ozembic or Wegovy for occasional weight loss?
These drugs are not safe for everyone. The FDA has only approved them for people who meet strict health criteria — like a diagnosis of diabetes or obesity, or for people who are overweight with another weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure.
And they’re certainly not for casual or cosmetic use. If you’re on a weight-loss drug, you and your doctor better do it over the long term.
“We treat obesity as a chronic disease,” says Dr. St Pierre. “Think of blood pressure medication: you take medication and you usually stay on medication.”
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But hypothetically, would these drugs work for occasional weight loss?
In a word: no.
In response to the celebrity craze for the drug, Bravo host Andy Cohen tweeted, “What happens when you stop using #Ozempic????”
What is indeed happening.
“When you stop the drug, the weight comes back,” says Dr. St Pierre. “That’s true of any class of weight-loss drugs.”
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Okay, but what if I qualify for weight loss medication? what should i know
First, “There’s nothing fast with these drugs,” says Dr. St Pierre. For example, the clinical study of semaglutide resulted in an average weight loss of 15% over 68 weeks in non-diabetic patients. Grab your calculator: That’s a year and four months.
Second, “My personal experience, not based on evidence, is that the majority of people experience side effects,” says Dr. St Pierre. These include nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux and fatigue.
Third, and positively, if you are fit and under the supervision of a doctor, these medications can be a powerful tool in helping you achieve a healthy weight.
Any final thoughts?
We regularly see celebrities making unhealthy efforts to lose weight. It doesn’t look good and sets a bad example for everyone.
“I’ve seen patients intentionally suffer severely from the side effects of medication without telling their doctor, all in hopes of weight loss. It’s very dangerous,” says Dr. St Pierre.
If you’re concerned about your weight or think you might be a candidate for weight-loss medication, talk to your doctor — and then keep talking to them. They are your partner for safe and effective weight loss.
As the Hollywood set chases after the next fad, you have a long-term plan that actually works.
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