So many people these days seem to be obsessed with Ozempic. I watched my mom suffer from uncontrolled diabetes, and she could have benefitted from this medication as it is and was initially intended for people with diabetes. Ozempic is designed to, along with diet and exercise, improve blood sugar levels in adults with type two diabetes.
Defined by the University of California, “Ozempic, known generically as semaglutide, was approved in 2017 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in adults with type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is a weekly injection that helps lower blood sugar by helping the pancreas make more insulin,”.
It is also known to reduce risks of major cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attack, or death in patients with type two diabetes. It is furthermore supposed to assist in weight loss, which is also beneficial to a diabetic patient. My mom might not have had to suffer a fatal heart attack had she had access to this medication.
However, I am concerned about all of the celebrities and influencers touting its use as a diet drug. Specifically if they do not have diabetes. There are too many side effects to outweigh the risks if you are just trying to lose a few pounds. It’s especially concerning if your only goal is to seek that “Ozempic look”.
Furthermore, there is so much abuse around the consumption of this medication that there is not enough on the market to supply the patients who medically need it, with all of the influencers, celebrities, or very wealthy using Ozempic as a weight loss alternative.
In fact, according to Medical News Today, “However, many people take it without a prescription to try to reach their desired body weight. High demand among people who use it off-label is causing a limited supply in the United States,”.
Essentially, the growing obsession with Ozempic as a quick weight loss solution is not just a matter of personal health choices but has broader ethical and medical implications; as we already noted, it was developed primarily to help people manage type two diabetes, a condition that impacts millions of lives worldwide.
Its role in improving blood sugar control and reducing the risk of serious cardiovascular events makes it a vital option for those battling this chronic disease. However, the surge in off-label use for weight management by non-diabetics not only depletes the availability for those who genuinely need it but it also raises legitimate concerns about the potential side effects and misuse of the drug.
So that leads me to wonder, why are people obsessed with their looks? Or rather, changing their looks? Unless you are morbidly obese or have some life-threatening tumor on your face, why do people want to reconstruct how they look?
What is body dysmorphic disorder?
I have a friend who once was a good-looking person growing up and into womanhood. But she always wore so much makeup that hid how beautiful she really was. Then, in her twenties and thirties, she had several plastic surgery jobs done on her face. Fast forward to today, and she looks twenty years older than her peers and is no longer the attractive woman she once was. I do not understand why someone would willingly pay a surgeon a substantial sum of money to cut their face up. It’s especially alarming because, typically, the folks who do this, like my friend, are not bad-looking to begin with.
The Mayo Clinic describes body dysmorphic disorder as, “Body dysmorphic disorder is a mental health condition in which you can’t stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in your appearance — a flaw that appears minor or can’t be seen by others,”.
They went on to note that, “When you have body dysmorphic disorder, you intensely focus on your appearance and body image, repeatedly checking the mirror, grooming or seeking reassurance, sometimes for many hours each day. Your perceived flaw and the repetitive behaviors cause you significant distress and impact your ability to function in your daily life. You may seek out numerous cosmetic procedures to try to “fix” your perceived flaw,”.
Sounds a lot like my friend, unfortunately. The temptation to use Ozempic as a weight loss panacea often stems from deeper psychological issues such as body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Individuals with BDD may fixate on their weight or other aspects of their appearance to such an extent that it causes significant distress and disrupts their daily lives.
Healthcare professionals are in a difficult position. On the one hand, they seek to adhere to the principle of do no harm, which would typically discourage prescribing potent medications like Ozempic for off-label uses. On the other hand, the pressure from celebrities and influencers touting the drug’s efficacy for weight loss can make it tempting to yield to patient demands.
Healthcare professionals must educate patients on the primary purpose of Ozempic and encourage safer, more sustainable weight loss methods that involve proper diet and exercise.
*Note: All content within this article is meant for informational purposes only and is in no way a replacement for professional medical or psychological advice or support. Seek immediate and appropriate care from a healthcare professional should you or a trusted loved one deem it necessary.
Is body dysphoria a mental illness?
BDD is a severe mental health condition that requires appropriate psychological intervention, not just superficial solutions. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have proven effective in managing BDD and addressing the underlying anxiety and obsessive behaviors.
There is a pressing need for increased public awareness about the appropriate uses of Ozempic. Social media platforms and influencers hold significant sway over public opinion, and with that comes a responsibility to provide accurate, science-based information. These figures must take on the responsibility of also sharing with their followers the risks of off-label drug use.
What does Ozempic do?
In conclusion, because Ozempic could save lives for those with diabetes, its misuse as a diet drug presents an enormous amount of risks and at the same time, contributes to drug shortages. Better awareness, ethical responsibility, and sound medical guidance are essential to ensuring that this medication is used safely and appropriately.