What are Ozempic breasts, butt, face? Experts weigh in on weight loss drug woes

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Ozempic is primarily prescribed for managing type II diabetes but is also used by many people as a weight-loss drug.

In addition to being expensive, Ozempic has numerous side effects that have made this so-called miracle weight-loss drug quite controversial. Photo: Getty Images

New Delhi,UPDATED: May 22, 2024 11:24 IST

When the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Ozempic as a treatment for type II diabetes, they did not anticipate it would revolutionise the weight loss market.

However, just a few years after its launch, Ozempic—a drug that makes you feel satiated—has become a popular choice in the West and has caused hundreds of people to lose weight drastically.

However, like any other drug that sounds too good to be true, Ozempic too has side effects or impacts that, sadly, people discover after consuming the drug. The latest ones on the list are Ozempic breasts, butt and face.

But what is Ozempic?

We will get into the possible side effects of the drug in a bit, but before that let us tell you a little more about the drug.

Let's start from the start.

Ozempic, semaglutide, Wegovy, liraglutide, etc, are some of the names that you must have read if you've ever Googled, "how to lose weight fast".

But what do these terms mean? Ozempic is primarily prescribed for managing type II diabetes, Photo: Getty Images

Let us break it down for you:

Dr Sanjay Agarwal, head of the department of diabetes, obesity and Metabolic Diseases, at Sahyadri Super Speciality Hospital, Pune explains:

All these medications that we have mentioned before belong to the class of drugs known as GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1) receptor agonists.

Semaglutide is one such drug that is marketed under two main brand names: Ozempic and Wegovy, both of which are injectable medications.

Ozempic is primarily prescribed for managing type II diabetes, while wegovy, a higher-dose variant, is specifically approved for weight loss and is prescribed for chronic weight control.

However, Ozempic is now also used as a weight-loss drug by many.

Wegovy can be used by adults and adolescents aged 12 and older who meet certain body mass index (BMI) criteria.

Although people with type II diabetes may use Wegovy, it is not approved to treat diabetes.

Wegovy can be used by adults and adolescents aged 12. Photo: Getty Images

Another medication in this GLP-1 receptor agonist family is liraglutide (available in India), marketed as Victoza and Saxenda, which also aids in managing type-II diabetes and weight by slowing stomach emptying, preventing glucagon release, and stimulating insulin synthesis.

How does semaglutide AKA Ozempic work for weight loss?

Dr Tushar Tayal, a consultant of Internal Medicine at CK Birla Hospital in Gurugram tells India Today that since semaglutide belongs to a class of medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1 RAs, it mimics the GLP-1 hormone that is released in our gut in response to eating.

Generally, GLP-1 goes to the pancreas and helps the pancreas make insulin - but only when the body needs it. Ozempic works by inducing satiety. Photo: Getty Images

So, when glucose levels rise, the body needs more insulin, and GLP-1 or Ozempic (its mimicker) helps the pancreas release insulin.

"GLP-1 in higher amounts also interacts with the parts of the brain that suppress your appetite and signal you to feel full, which induces satiety. This feeling of being satisfied or "full", suppresses your appetite. This is why it works for weight loss," says Dr Tayal.

What are the side effects of Ozempic?

In addition to being expensive, Ozempic has numerous side effects that have made this so-called miracle weight-loss drug quite controversial.

Dr Manoj Chawla, a consultant of diabetology at PD Hinduja Hospital & MRC at Khar, Mumbai, tells us that these GLP-1 RAs largely have gastrointestinal side effects.

The common side effects are:

diarrhoea
belching
acidity
gastritis
bloating of stomach
occasionally, constipation
headache and nausea
possibly vomiting.

But he also mentions that there are some rare side effects as well of the disease, which are:

medullary thyroid cancer
pancreatic and pancreas cancer (however, it is very rare and has not been seen in the recent past)
sugar levels going down drastically

"These side effects are usually dose-dependent in the initial days of its use. Hence, most of these medications are usually started on a small dose and then gradually increased after every few weeks," says Dr Chawla.

But what are Ozempic butt, face and breasts?

In the list of the possible side effects of Ozempic, social media users (who have used the drug), have come up with a new term which they call Ozempic butt, face and breasts.

For instance, Jessica Dennis, a mother-of-four currently in South Dakota, said her breasts shrunk while on Ozempic, reported DailyMail.

However, Dr Chawla says that when an individual loses weight, you will see changes in the shape and structure in other parts of the body, including the butt and the breasts.

"The volume and shape may change or there might be sagging in the breasts in women, due to losing weight, which is being called Ozempic breasts," according to Dr Chawla. Ozempic, in some rare cases, causes sagging of breasts. Photo: Pexels

This same definition is applied in terms of the Ozempic face and butt.

Dr Agarwal says that the "Ozempic face" is caused by the thinning of facial features as facial fat reduces, sometimes giving a more gaunt appearance.

"For instance, due to weight loss, the face doesn't look fluffy any more, they are hollowed out. The colour of the face, when an individual loses weight fast, is lost too," says Dr Chawla.

Similarly, "Ozempic butt" refers to the loss of fat in the buttock area, which might lead to a sagging appearance.

"But according to experts, these changes happen with other forms of weight loss as well, including weight loss drugs that are causing drastic weight loss in an individual," says Dr Chawla.

Alternatives of Ozempic in India

Since Ozempic is not available in India, people are obtaining it through the grey market or importing it, according to Dr Chawla.

However, Dr Tayal and Dr Chawla note that individuals in India are using two other types of drugs for weight loss: liraglutide (the injective one), which has been available for many years, and an oral form of semaglutide called rybelsus. Liraglutide is available in India. Photo: Getty Images

"People are using it off-label for weight loss," says Dr Chawla.

Celebrities on Ozempic

Today, several celebrities have openly discussed their use of Ozempic, while others have chosen not to.

Notable figures include comedian Chelsea Handler, who mentioned using it unknowingly before stopping due to ethical concerns, and Amy Schumer, who ceased using it after experiencing adverse effects.

Additionally, Elon Musk has acknowledged using the drug for weight-loss purposes.

Published By:

Dristi Sharma

Published On:

May 18, 2024

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