For many people getting a beach body is a top aim at this time of the year. As the nights get lighter and the weather milder, thoughts turn to shedding the layers of clothing in the spring and summer.
But winter weight gain - especially with the Christmas festivities - can mean unwanted pounds on the bathroom scales. And it is rarely as easy to shed the pounds as it was to gain them.
Now a new drug has been hailed for helping speed up weight loss. More than 400,000 global searches have been made in the last year for ‘Ozempic injection’, which goes to show how much interest the drug is attracting.
So, what is the drug and is it safe to use? Health experts at Now Patient have shared all you need to know about this new drug.
Navin Khosla, Pharmacist at Now Patient has looked at the rise in the number of people using Ozempic for weight loss. And she warns it might not be the answer people have been looking for.
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic is the brand name for the drug also known as semaglutide. It is an injectable medication prescribed to people with type 2 diabetes. The main action of the drug is to lower the body’s blood sugar by encouraging the pancreas to make insulin.
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Why is Ozempic being used for weight loss?
Ozempic helps an individual's appetite reduce, whilst increasing the amount of time it takes food to exit the stomach, which in turn makes a person feel fuller for longer. It’s for these reasons that some people are now using Ozempic to encourage faster weight loss, however, the drug hasn’t been regulated for anything other than type 2 diabetes.
What are the side effects of Ozempic?
Reduced appetite
Nausea
Diarrohea
Dizziness
Vomiting
Is it safe?
Navin said: “Ozempic is rapidly becoming a well-known drug due to it being mentioned in news articles and headlines around the world. As celebrities are now leading the way in using this drug for weight loss, it has resulted in over 75,000 online searches being made in the last year alone for the term ‘buy Ozempic online’, people need to be aware of the risk before purchasing the drug.’
“Firstly, Ozempic is a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes so it should only be used for that reason, however, for anyone purchasing Ozempic, especially online, it’s important to source it from a regulated company so that you know the drug is fit for purpose and not illegally made and imported.”
“Like all drugs, Ozempic does have a number of potential side effects which some people may experience. Some of these include vomiting, nausea and constipation, so it’s important to be aware of these dangers before using the medication.”
“If you’re struggling with weight loss, we encourage you to explore the best avenues which don’t include medication and if you feel like you aren’t seeing the results you’d like to, there could be an underlying issue behind this so speak to your GP and they can give you the best advice possible.”
