Team Discussion of The Month: The Downsides Of Mounjaro and Ozempic: A Concern For Safety
Image: Mufid Majnun
Mounjaro and Ozempic may seem like flashy, new weight-loss drugs for the future of dieting – but are they truly as helpful as the media claims?
These injections have recently been glamorized in diet culture, and are the new talk of the town. Yet these injections are anything but glamorous, leading to severe health risks and other concerning issues. In recent years, the popularity of injections has skyrocketed as a way to treat people with diabetes. Yet it didn’t take long for Hollywood stars to share their weight-loss stories from using these injections. Elon Musk has recently come out to rave about using Ozempic for his own health and fitness needs. Because of this, the attraction to Mounjaro and Ozempic has grown dramatically. However, what isn’t being shared are the dangerous effects linked to the use of such weight-management drugs.
While these medications have been shown to be effective in controlling blood sugar levels, there are serious health downsides to their use that should be considered, and perhaps exposed to the public.
Alisha Dudish, a registered dietitian at Kindful Body, shared, “Many of my clients are tempted by these drugs for a quick loss solution, but it is not sustainable. You must stay on the drugs for many years to see results, and even then it is easy to go back to old habits with food and start to gain the weight back. Weight cycling is very hard on your system, and often results in a higher weight than when you started.”
Mounjaro
Mounjaro is a long-acting insulin analog developed to help people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels. How does this drug work? It essentially mimics the action of natural insulin in the body, helping to lower blood sugar levels. While Mounjaro has been found to be effective, it has also been linked to a number of potential health risks.
Downsides of Mounjaro
One of the most concerning side effects is the increased risk of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar levels. Hypoglycemia can cause symptoms such as dizziness, confusion, and sometimes even loss of consciousness.
In addition to the risk of hypoglycemia, Mounjaro can also cause an increase in appetite, leading to excess weight gain. This can be particularly problematic for people with type-2 diabetes, as weight gain can further exacerbate their condition, along with others who are riddled with pre-existing health conditions.
Image: Dmitry Schemelev
Ozempic
Ozempic injections are a type of injectable medication used to treat type-2 diabetes. Also known by its original name – semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. GLP-1 receptor agonists are a class of drugs that help control blood sugar levels by stimulating the release of insulin from the pancreas. According to a recent article shared by Forbes, “One of the side effects of Ozempic is weight loss, so some doctors have been prescribing the drug as an off-label use (the unapproved use of an approved drug) for weight-loss in those without diabetes—Ozempic has not been approved by the FDA as a weight-loss drug.” Despite this, thousands continue to flock to the drug in search of their weight-loss miracle.
Image: Online Marketing
Downsides of Ozempic
According to the Wall Street Journal: “People who stopped taking semaglutide gained back, on average, two-thirds of the weight they lost within a year, according to a study published in August 2022 in the journal Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism.”
There are many common side effects, also, associated with the drug Ozempic, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. Drastic side effects can include an increased risk of pancreatitis, thyroid cancer, and gallbladder disease. In addition to this, many people suffer severe allergic reactions to the injections, exposing yet another grave concern for its use.
Alisha shared, “I have a client taking Mounjaro for its intended use — to help regulate blood sugar due to Type II diabetes, and she is nauseous most days and doesn’t feel great.”
And if that cocktail of side effects isn’t enough to dissuade you, perhaps the sticker price will. A prescription of semaglutide can cost upwards of $1200 or more per month. A hefty price to pay for those looking to shave off a few pounds.
“There are a lot of supply chain issues with these prescriptions, so by taking these drugs for weight loss, it is making it harder for other people that need the drugs to help regulate their blood sugar,” added Alisha.
Our team continues to spread awareness around the dangerous effects of quick-fix, diet trends. It’s critical to know the truth about what these prescriptions actually do to your health.
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