Over the last few years, many celebrities have tried new tactics to manage their weight. One of the tactics is taking medications like Ozempic and Wegovy which have a drug called Semaglutide; the benefits of these medications include regulating blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart trouble (MedlinePlus). The primary benefit these celebrities are looking for is weight loss. Medications like Wegovy and Ozempic are intended for patients with type-2 diabetes. Many celebrities like Elon Musk have been the center of controversy around the subject as they reveal they’ve been using these medications for weight loss. Some other celebrities have spoken up against it. When it comes down to it, should people be using type-2 diabetes medications like Ozempic to lose weight?

The scarcity of medications like Ozempic affects those struggling with conditions these drugs help to negate, but with celebrities using these drugs as a weight loss tool, they are becoming even harder to find for those in dire need of them. When the medication Wegovy became hard to find, people started to turn to Ozempic as a form of weight loss. Ozempic is used in the regulation of diabetes; with the shortage of medication comes people struggling to fill their prescriptions. The shortage of Ozempic has led to doctors handing out samples to patients who are unable to access their regular form of medication. The drug Ozempic has been FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes, but it is not approved for things such as weight management.

Many celebrities have spoken out about the use of Ozempic as a weight loss drug. While the tag #ozempic has become increasingly popular with certain celebrities using it to showcase the change they have made to their bodies while using the medication, many are using it to speak up against its use as well. Celebrities are being accused of using the drug because of recent weight loss and many are trying to refute these claims. It has become so popular that it was mentioned at the Critics Choice Awards where Chelsea Handler said, “The word ‘gaslighting’ was actually Merriam-Webster’s word of the year. And for those of you who don’t know, gaslighting is when someone tries to convince you that your own perceptions of reality are wrong. Like when celebrities say they lost weight by drinking water, but really it’s because everyone’s on Ozempic.” (Smith et al.)

Using medications like Ozempic have been proven to be effective in weight loss, but there are other affordable alternatives that celebrities could use instead. Working out regularly and maintaining a diet is a healthier way to lose weight. There are a number of nutrient-rich foods that help manage a healthy diet. There are also over-the-counter weight loss alternatives, like PhenQ. PhenQ does not have to be prescribed by a doctor to take. A person taking it can expect to lose around ten pounds per month (PhenQ). PhenQ is a weight loss supplement while Ozempic is a diabetic medicine that is much more expensive and requires a prescription to use. 

The question still stands, should celebrities be using type-2 diabetes medications like Ozempic to lose weight? The short answer is no. Ozempic is not considered to be a primary weight loss drug; although it is used to regulate long-term weight management for chronically obese individuals, it’s categorized as an antidiabetic medication. It is not provided by doctors to be a temporary weight loss alternative. Not only is it not prescribed by doctors for this purpose, but it is also taking away valuable resources for individuals with type-2 diabetes who rely on it for the management of their affliction. ♦