Authored by: Neha Sodhi
Art by: Michelle Choi
Weight loss has become a top priority for many people today. Intermittent fasting, the keto diet, 75 Hard, and 30-30-30 are a few examples of trends popularized in the media for those wanting to drop a couple of pounds. Recently, one particular treatment has skyrocketed in popularity, Ozempic, with about three-quarters of Americans being aware of this drug’s existence. While many people have heard of this drug, opinions on its usage are divided. Studies have found that 62% of Americans believe that Ozempic is not good for people with weight-related chronic diseases, 12% of Americans believe it is a good option, and 26% of Americans are unsure [1]. With so many opinions and uncertainties, it is important to understand how Ozempic works before arriving at any conclusions and determining whether it is a viable weight-loss option.
Ozempic is an FDA-approved injectable drug that works to regulate blood sugar levels. The main component of this drug is semaglutide. Essentially, semaglutide’s main purpose is regulating glucose homeostasis, hence it is a medication that intends to help those with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes [2]. However, due to its ability to also reduce appetite and stimulate weight loss, it has been taken up by those who do not have those medical conditions and just wish to lose weight.
When blood sugar levels rise during a meal, a hormone called Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is released, stimulating insulin production. Insulin, in turn, helps absorb glucose from the bloodstream, delivering it to cells that require energy. Semaglutide is a synthetic version of GLP-1. Adding semaglutide to our bodies would increase the effects of insulin and would assist with glucose regulation [3]. While the primary response is upregulating insulin, GLP-1 also slows gastric emptying, increases the amount of pancreatic β-cell release insulin, and reduces glucagon release. First, slowing down the speed at which food leaves the stomach, helps people feel fuller for longer, decreasing the amount of food they eat and hence their caloric intake. Next, by increasing β-cells and reducing glucagon, there will be less glucose accumulation in the body. All these side effects decrease appetite and hence result in weight loss [2].
Upon understanding how Ozempic works in the body, we can now look at how this treatment, which was initially made to treat chronic diseases like diabetes, has become so popular as a weight loss tool. Various studies reveal how this trend has been popularized by social media. For example, an analysis of 100 TikTok videos found that more than 50% of them mentioned using or planning on using Ozempic solely for weight loss. These videos have collectively garnered over 70 million views [4]. Unfortunately, many of these videos encourage the use of Ozempic without explaining the potential health hazards and implications of using such a drug. Additionally, a study conducted at the University of Trento, Italy, determined that the most prevalent Ozempic-related topic discussed on Reddit was “Semaglutide and Weight Loss Experience,” which was the largest discussion chain with 1336 posts [5]. Perceptions of these treatments are skewed among social media users since these videos and posts tend to overlook the risk factors and focus primarily on the weight loss benefits, disregarding the original purpose of these drugs.
The role of social media is significant in the misconstrued notions behind weight loss treatments, especially Ozempic. Among all the influencers trying to make videos for views, few include all the information necessary to understand what Ozempic is, what it is primarily used for, and how it affects the body. As we encounter such content on the Internet, it is important to remember not to be easily swayed by the latest trends online and to conduct your own research to make well-informed decisions about your health.
References
Tyson, A. (2024, February 26). How Americans view weight-loss drugs and their potential impact on obesity in the U.S. Pew Research Center.
https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2024/02/26/how-americans-view-weight-loss-drug
Kommu S, Whitfield P. Semaglutide. [Updated 2024 Feb 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet].
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Chao, A. M., Tronieri, J. S., Amaro, A., & Wadden, T. A. (2022). Clinical insight on
SEMAGLUTIDE for chronic weight management in adults: Patient selection and special
considerations. Drug Design, Development and Therapy, Volume 16, 4449–4461.
Basch, C. H., Narayanan, S., Tang, H., Fera, J., & Basch, C. E. (2023). Descriptive analysis
of TikTok videos posted under the hashtag #Ozempic. Journal of Medicine, Surgery, and Public Health, 1, 100013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glmedi.2023.100013
Fong, S., Carollo, A., Lazuras, L., Corazza, O., & Esposito, G. (2024). Ozempic
(glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist) in social media posts: Unveiling user
perspectives through Reddit topic modeling. Emerging Trends in Drugs, Addictions, and Health, 4, 100157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etdah.2024.100157
