Miracle Drug or Fad: Ozempic in Obesity Management

We all fell for it: Chloe Ting’s “Get Abs in Two Weeks” challenge during quarantine. Despite Chloe Ting's promising dramatic results, for most of us, those two weeks came and went without a single ab in sight. While gaining immense engagement and cult-like followings online, her workouts reflect a broader trend of quick-fix solutions for weight loss that have flooded the market amidst an obesity epidemic.

Despite a surge of ineffective fad diets and weight loss gimmicks, the basics of calorie reduction, balanced nutrition, and regular physical activity have remained as the cornerstones of sustainable weight management for American adults, 30.7% of whom are overweight and 42.4% are obese (1). However, for some, traditional methods yield slow or ineffective results, prompting the medical community to begin looking elsewhere for more reliable interventions. Enter Ozempic.

Originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes and manage blood sugar levels, Ozempic has garnered swaths of attention for its off-label uses as a weight loss solution, hailed by some as a miracle drug for obesity treatment. How does it work? Ozempic (semaglutide) belongs to a class of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. Simply put, Ozempic mimics hormones in the body to help people feel full longer and reduce caloric intake (2). However, as with all drugs, there are side effects, and Ozempic is no exception. Its side effects are commonly gastrointestinal, including nausea, diarrhea, or constipation, but one side effect, weight loss, has captured the attention of doctors and patients alike (3). Indeed, Ozempic has been shown to achieve 5.6% and 10.9% weight loss after three and six months, respectively (4). So, is Ozempic a miracle drug, or is it merely a fad propelled by society's obsession with rapid weight loss? The answer likely lies somewhere in between.

The weight loss industry is notoriously prone to trends. Many weight loss drugs have gained popularity only to fade into the backdrop with the emergence of newer alternatives or as adverse effects become more known. Indeed, both historical and current examples of Fen-phen, Alli (orlistat), Qsymia, and many more pharmaceutical drugs empirically prove the tendency of patients to treat weight loss drugs as trends. Moreover, while Ozempic can aid in weight loss, it fails to address the root causes tied to obesity, including metabolic health, lifestyle factors, and emotional eating. In other words, Ozempic does not act as a long-term one-stop-shop for easy weight reductions. Certainly, stopping Ozempic prompts lost weight to likely return (3).

But is it right to promote the use of Ozempic as a weight loss solution? The sudden popularity and celebration of drugs like Ozempic raises concerns about body-image culture. The pressure to conform to societal standards of body size and shape is immense, and the marketing of Ozempic for weight loss both takes advantage of and feeds into this narrative. However, while Ozempic may offer promising results, it reinforces the notion that pharmacological interventions are the best, or only path, to achieving health. This perception of weight loss drugs overshadows the need for holistic approaches to weight management that involve diet, exercise, and mental health support. Critically, it risks reducing obesity management to a pill rather than addressing the complex socio-environmental factors that contribute to weight gain in the first place, such as sedentary lifestyles, food insecurity, and poor access to nutritional education.

Ultimately, Ozempic's potential as a tool for obesity management is undeniable. Its technical benefits, helping individuals achieve significant weight loss in particular, have earned it a place in discussions about modern obesity treatments. Although it may offer hope for many, Ozempic is not a silver bullet for obesity. Solving the obesity epidemic requires a multifaceted approach, one that includes education, lifestyle changes, government action, and more. So, at best, Ozempic is one step forward of many in solving the obesity epidemic. At worst, it's just another trend.

Graphic by Allison Chin

Reviewed by Aria Eaddy

References

1. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (n.d.). Overweight & obesity statistics. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/overweight-obesity

2. UC Davis Health. (2023). Ozempic for weight loss: Does it work and what do experts recommend? https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultivating-health/ozempic-for-weight-loss-does-it-work-and-what-do-experts-recommend/2023/07#:~:text=How%20does%20Ozempic%20work%3F,food%20to%20leave%20the%20body

3. Ozempic® Side Effects | Ozempic® (semaglutide) injection. (n.d.). https://www.ozempic.com/how-to-take/side-effects.html 

4. Ghusn, W., De la Rosa, A., Sacoto, D., & Cifuentes, L. (2022). Weight Loss Outcomes Associated With Semaglutide Treatment for Patients With Overweight or Obesity. JAMA Network Open., 5(9). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.31982