Is Ozempic the answer for weight loss?
I am very concerned about the use of Ozempic for weight loss. The heart of this problem is more sociological than medical. The media constantly bombard us with images of the perfect body.
Ozempic is FDA approved for type 2 diabetes and reducing cardiovascular risk in people with type 2 diabetes. I reviewed the FDA Development Timeline for Ozempic Approval. There is no mention of FDA approval for weight loss. Where is the risk versus benefit and scientific rationale? How can this drug be so widely accepted by the medical community and public?
Reading directly from the FDA’s “Warnings and Precautions”, the warnings include; pancreatitis, diabetic retinopathy, hypoglycemia, acute kidney injury, hypertensive reactions, acute gallbladder disease. “Adverse reactions”, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation. In other medical references, Ozempic may cause visual changes, unusual mood changes, thoughts about hurting yourself, signs of thyroid tumor, and symptoms of ileus (stomach paralysis). Are patients advised of these warnings and adverse reactions?
What is more frightening is that when one stops taking Ozempic, weight gain returns. Is this drug to be taken for life? Is there a medical plan for continuing or stopping the use of Ozempic?
The medical community, including myself, is concerned about the risks of being overweight and obese. The public is concerned about primarily how they look. After trying all types of weight loss plans, without success, it might be best to recognize that you may be overweight. We are all more than our physical appearance. To understand this and apply it might be the key to a positive life-changing path.
As a final note, anxiety and stress of not being perfect, as well as other life stresses, results in the release of cortisol which is a stress hormone. Chronic stress causes havoc physically and mentally, and often leads to weight gain.
