Why Ozempic and Other Weight Loss Drugs Are Not the Answer
Weight loss injections, the new “trend” being marketed by influencers and celebrities alike, seem to be the hottest topic of conversation. Let’s focus on Ozempic a GLP-1 receptor agonist which has made Novo Nordisk a Danish big-pharma BILLIONS in recent years. Semaglutide drugs, such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus, work by mimicking the natural hormone GLP-1 response by binding to GLP-1 receptors. GLP-1 hormone is released in response to eating in order to manage blood glucose levels, it helps the body release insulin, slow digestion and stomach emptying (which can make you feel fuller for longer, therefore decreasing appetite). Sounds good. Sure, if you have type 2 diabetes and need help in managing blood glucose levels whilst you put in place other dietary and lifestyle changes to help you reverse your type 2 diabetes!
The Newest FAD Diet:
Recently there seems to have been a real shift in seeing influences, having changed from being “body positive”, wanting to promote body acceptance and health at every size. However, the new “wonder drug” has landed and they have ditched that trend for the newest injectible one. Body acceptance is not a trend, it is something that is extremely important and, quite frankly, I think everyone should be working towards it.
Weight loss injections are not a long-term viable solution to weight management! I feel truly disheartened when I hear people say they love Ozempic because they can “eat what they want and still lose weight”. These drugs are glucose dependant – meaning the worse your diet, the more effective they will be. Sounds crazy, right?
You aren’t happy with your weight / body / appearance etc. so you start using a semaglutide medication to change that, BUT you continue to eat exactly what you want. When you stop the injections, the weight is just going to stay off? Nope, because none of the food and lifestyle behaviours have been addressed, meaning that rebound weight gain can be a significant portion of the overall weight lost. And, you can’t seriously tell me you’re planning on using them forever... because that would be insanity, along with being extremely costly (at around £200 / month).
the risks...
All of this isn’t even touching on the extensive list of side-effects weight loss medications come with... diarrhoea, flatulence with discharge (yup, sharting), urgency to deficate, the inability to absorb those key fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E & K – think, bone health, immune health, eye health to name a few things that need these), nausea, bile reflux, stomach pain and inflammation, increased risk of gallstones, hairloss oh, and a potential increase in stomach and digestive cancers due to the damage GLP-1 receptor antagonist medications cause to your mucosal lining (the lining of your entire digestive system, think mouth to bum)!
So, what am I saying?
Ok, I’ve had my rant, but seriously - if you are going to spend your hard earned money on weight loss injections then use however long you are on them as an opportunity to re/educate yourself about nutrition and put in place sensible and sustainable dietary changes alongside the medication, in order to minimise any weight rebound that might happen.
Be realistic about your weight loss goal. You have to honour your genetics, don’t set a weight / size that is going to be unattainable long-term and therefore continue the yo-yo diet cycle. If you are fighting to be a certain size, that isn’t the size you are naturally meant to be!
And please, please, please, if you are in recovery from an eating disorder or you are aware that you have a disordered relationship with your food and your body then DO NOT fall into the trap of taking these. Instead, work with a professional (like me) to help you heal your relationship with food and yourself and finally break free of the diet culture pressures and cycle!