Ozempic Craze
story by Madison Docherty, design by Zoey Ryan
Ozempic is the latest craze when it comes to weight loss but what do we really know about this ‘miracle’ drug?
The weekly injection was originally created to help support diabetes patients, as it mimics a natural hormone in our body that helps to increase insulin production, which is what diabetics lack. However, according to Healthing reporter Shawn Radcliffe in May 2024, 13% of Americans have admitted to taking a GLP - 1 stimulant, which is what ozempic is classed as, for weight loss reasons alone. So why is this drug that was created to help those with diabetes now being taken by one in eight Americans for weight loss reasons?
What Is Ozempic?
Ozempic was created by the Danish pharmaceutical brand Nova Nordisk, a brand that is now worth over 351 billion U.S. dollars, with the goal to eliminate obesity, according to Nova Nordisk’s mission statement. This links us back to America as a study by Trust for America’s Health found that over 4 in 10 American adults have obesity. The drug was then found to have benefits to people who have type two diabetes upon further testing and it began to get rolled out for type two diabetes after FDA testing. According to Columbia Surgery, people on ozempic can see weight loss of up to 20% which is more than previously created weight loss drugs, so it's no surprise that people want to get their hands on the injectable drug.
Ozempic became popular among doctors who began prescribing it for type two diabetics, including Dr. Nicole Norton, a registered dietitian, nutritionist and certified diabetes care and education specialist, who spoke about the drug. “Ozempic is great in my opinion for patients that I’ve seen with diabetes diagnosis,” says Norton.
Celebrity influence plays a part in how Ozempic became so widely known. Many celebrities have been open about them using Ozempic, whether you spot it in their fridge like Scott Disick, or follow Elon Musk, who openly tweeted about taking the drug. Some other names that have admitted to taking the drug include Oprah Winfrey, Khloe Kardashian and Kelly Clarkson.
Ozempic gained its screen time and popularity when Dr Oz did a nine minute piece titled, “Could a Diabetes Drug Cure Obesity?” back in 2021 this is the first time a GLP - 1 drug was shown on national television for weight loss use instead of just diabetes.
Norton spoke up about the influence that others can have when making people even consider the drug, “I’ve also heard a lot of people that have friends or family that are on and they’ve had success. And so they go, oh, you know they had success, I want to try it.”
The Impact:
When it comes to figuring out how ozempic works and how the weight loss actually occurs, Norton explained it as a drug that allows people to feel fuller from smaller meal portions. Therefore they are not eating as much and it contributes to them losing weight. However there can be extreme downsides to this, Norton said, “One downside that I’ve seen with patients is it decreases their appetite so much that they don’t want to eat, and so it’s hard to get them to eat which can lead to nutrient deficiencies. So then they’re not getting enough calories, they’re not getting enough protein and so that can be problematic for some people.”
Like all medical drugs ozempic also has its positives and negatives and these are all written about on Ozempics website, some of the positive effects of ozempic include, lowering your blood sugar levels, lowering the risks of cardiovascular events such as a stroke, heart attack or deaths because of heart disease in adults, as well as weight loss. Ozempic is also surrounded by negatives including but not limited to, nausea, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea and vomiting. In severe cases taking ozempic can cause possible thyroid tumors including cancer, the negatives are also clearly listed on Ozempics website.
There are warnings when it comes to taking ozempic, which include not taking the drug if you or your family have a history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 this warning can be seen on ozempic’s website.
A study done by Dr. Nicole Andonian for GoodRx has now found that when you stop taking weekly injections of ozempic you can lose some of the benefits the drug had, for instance your blood sugar levels will change almost immediately after stopping the injection along with an increased appetite returning. Andonian also found that after a period of time the weight that was lost whilst on the drug will gradually start to return.
A survey completed by KFF found that 45% of Americans surveyed would take a drug like ozempic for weight loss reasons alone and as long as it is safe and effective.
Norton speaks about the ability for people to get their hands on the highly sought after drug, saying “Providers use caution when prescribing as dieticians, we can’t prescribe it. It would be their PCP’s like a PA or Md or a nurse practitioner that would prescribe it. But I have seen several people that don’t have a diabetes diagnosis asking for ozempic, but it's only FDA approved for type two diabetes right now.”
When it comes to purchasing the drug through health care providers Norton says that it can cost “maybe four or five hundred out of pocket” however the drug can now be purchased online through online doctors for the price of $200 a month. Another survey completed by KFF looked into the affordability of the drug for people using it for both chronic illnesses and weight loss. They found that 53% of people who had part of the prescription covered by their healthcare still found it, ‘“somewhat” or “very difficult”’ to afford the drug.
You are also now able to purchase ozempic online from online doctors. LifeMD allows you to purchase ozempic for as little as $65 a month. Other sites also are now prescribing GLP - 1 drugs like ozempic for low costs. Because of this, the Better Business Bureau is now warning consumers of scams when it comes to purchasing ozempic online. The scams require customers to pay through apps like Cashapp or Zelle. The bureau is warning people against purchasing prescription medicine online from a seller that does not require proof of prescription.
