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Surgeon shares stark reality of life after Ozempic, and explains who should actually take it
Ozempic is all the rage in Hollywood as a revolutionary weight loss drug, but a surgeon has shared the stark reality of life after the fat-dropping injections.
Dr. Karan Raj, an NHS surgeon who has worked on weight loss surgeries, claimed that only a certain group of people should be using Ozempic to drop some pounds.
Stark reality of life after Ozempic
“If you’re thinking of taking Ozempic for short-term weight loss, as a surgeon who’s been involved with weight loss surgeries, let me tell you the truth,” he said in a viral TikTok video.
The surgeon explained that research shows many people who stop taking Ozempic will regain most of the weight they lost, so it’s not the long-term fix celebrities are making it out to be.
One study in the Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism journal found that one year after stopping weekly Ozempic injections, participants had regained two-thirds of their weight loss. So, Ozempic alone isn’t a enough to make you lose weight, it has to be combined with other lifestyle changes.
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Ozempic is a brand name for semaglutide, a diabetes medication which is now being used as a weight loss drug. The weekly injection reduces your appetite and slows down the movement of food in your gut, keeping you fuller for longer, Diabetes UK explains.
Other brands include Wegovy and Mounjaro, and the idea that most of the weight is gained back after a year has become known as the “Ozempic rebound”.
Who should actually take Ozempic?
Dr. Karan Raj claimed that people who are looking to lose a few pounds shouldn’t be taking Ozempic, saying the medication is only a good idea if the alternative is “life-threatening chronic metabolic diseases”.
Metabolic disorders are conditions that affect the metabolism, MedlinePlus explains. Your metabolism is the chemical reactions that turn food into energy, and these disorders occur when abnormal chemical reactions in your body disrupt this process.
The most common one is diabetes, which is characterized by high blood glucose levels. Over time, this leads to damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.
The surgeon explained that for these people, Ozempic has a “far lower risk” than weight loss surgeries like a gastric bypass which involve rearranging your guts, offering similar benefits while being “far less invasive”.
“So in specific cases, Ozempic can be a game-changer for the treatment of obesity, but for someone who is slightly overweight and taking Ozempic to shed a few kilos or get that summer six pack, the risk benefit ratio of Ozempic does not land favourable,” he said.
Ozempic lists some of the side effects as nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting and constipation. In rare cases, it can also cause pancreatitis, a severe condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed.
How to lose weight naturally
If you want to lose weight, you need to take in fewer calories than you use up, MedlinePlus explains. You can do this by eating more nutrient-rich foods and less foods and drinks with lots of calories, salt, sugar and fat.
Finding healthier ways to cook, such as using healthier oils and baking or grilling instead of frying will help. It’s also a good idea to limit your alcohol intake too when trying to lose weight.
Doing more exercise will also help you burn more calories than you consume. The NHS�says�adults should aim to do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity per week.
A combination of all of these lifestyle changes is most beneficial when trying to lose weight. If you are not seeing any progress, it’s a good idea to speak to a healthcare professional who can provide more guidance.
Dr. Karan Rajan (MBBS), better known as Dr. Karan Raj, is an NHS Surgeon in the UK who has been in practice for almost 10 years. He is also a Clinical Lecturer at Imperial College London and the University of Sunderland.
