As told to Alexia Dellner
Weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have become a hot topic of late, with everyone from celebrities to your next door neighbor getting on the semaglutide train, often with dramatic results. But just like anything that’s trending, people have opinions about it . Here, we chatted to a 34-year-old mom-of-two in Connecticut who has been on Ozempic for the last four months (and shed over 30 pounds in the process) about what she wishes people—friends, family, strangers!—would stop saying to her about it. Take note and keep mum.
1. “Have you tried just eating healthy and exercising?”
“Um, yes? You're joking, right? Everyone who’s on this drug has tried their best and I promise you this was one of our last resorts before thinking about weight loss surgery, which is permanent and more invasive on the body. But most importantly—going on Ozempic is my choice.”
2. “You’re going to lose muscle and just have loose skin!”
“This could happen with any type of major weight loss (with or without assistance from weight loss drugs)—–this specific medication doesn’t make it any more or less drastic. If you go to the gym and prioritize your protein intake, you can avoid losing muscle mass.”
3. “You’re going to get Ozempic Butt and Ozempic Face . And just wait until your hair starts falling out…”
“This varies amongst patients and people read one or two articles and it freaks them out, because a small sample of people have had drastic side effects, and it scares the general public. Some people on Ozempic will work with a nutritionist to ensure they don’t fall nutrient or vitamin-deficient which can help with side effects, so my advice is to work with your doctor to align on goals and set expectations.”
4. “You’re taking it away from people who really need it for diabetes.”
“First off, I was basically pre-diabetic according to my fasting blood sugar levels, and if I continued on the path I was on, I would have ended up with diabetes or even worse. I consider it preventative medicine. It offers people like me a chance to be proactive about our health rather than reactive.”
5. “You know you have to be on it forever, right? Otherwise you’re just going to gain all the weight back.”
“Again, everyone has their own weight loss journey! What works for one person may not work for someone else. Your doctor and you can work together to determine how long you have to be on it. Ideally, this drug is used as a tool to help control your appetite, practice intuitive eating and learn to develop a healthier relationship with food overall.”
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