The use of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic for weight loss has sparked a lot of debate. And this isn’t the first time medical experts have raised concerns about using the drug outside its original intent.
Originally created to help manage blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 Diabetes, Ozempic has since helped many people drop pounds. But that wasn’t its main job to begin with.
Famous names like Oprah Winfrey, Sharon Osbourne, Amy Schumer, and Rebel Wilson have all admitted to using GLP-1 medications whether to lose weight or keep it off.
That said, since Ozempic isn’t officially cleared by the FDA as a weight loss drug, using it for anything other than treating diabetes could come with serious risks.
Most people have seen photos of the weight loss results, but not everyone understands what this drug actually does to help you shed pounds.
Luckily, a YouTuber named @ZackDFilms broke it all down in a visual simulation, walking viewers through exactly what happens inside your body once Ozempic enters your system and it’s not pretty.
It also covers some unpleasant side effects that might make your stomach turn a bit literally.
He states: “Once Ozempic is in your bloodstream, it activates the part of the brain that make you feel full, reducing your appetite.”
After that, the drug gets to work regulating your blood sugar levels to help reduce cravings that might otherwise lead to overeating.
This helps you feel fuller for longer—but for some people, that effect might come with nausea, and even diarrhea.
People who watched the clip were both shocked and fascinated by how the drug manages to suppress hunger and help users lose weight in such an intense way.
Dr. Ben Bickman, a scientist and professor at Brigham Young University in Utah, warned that Ozempic might even lead to loss of muscle mass.
“You have a substantial amount of lean mass that’s getting loss as the person is losing weight. To make that clear, for every ten pounds of weight loss, only six is fat – four of it is coming from non-fat sources like muscle and bone,” he told Thomas DeLauer.
“What’s more, one study found that one version of these drugs, actually stimulates the production of new fat cells.”
He continued: “This becomes a problem because when a person start to regain fat mass after stopping Ozempic, with more fat cells comes a greater potential to gain more fat.”