The Dark Side of Ozempic

History

Medical intervention for weight loss is not something that is new in modern society as it can be dated back several decades. Diet pills and treatments have been steadily rising to prominence as people continue to want new “fast and easy” ways to lose weight, but this “fast and easy” mentality has brought about serious ramifications. As a society, we want things that are efficient and can work with our lives. People do not want to change their lifestyles for the sake of shedding some pounds, and medical intervention allows people to not have to pause or reset their lives to embark on their weight loss journey. Ariana Chao, an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and medical director at the school’s Center for Weight and Eating Disorders, said, “‘We also do not know the side effects or risks in these populations—there could be unknown drug reactions. These medications are not meant to be a quick fix’” (Yang)1. Despite the convenience of medical intervention for weight loss, there is a real danger to using these drugs casually and for mainly cosmetic reasons. People are no longer seeing medical intervention for weight loss as a last resort; people are now seeing it as a quick and easy way out. 

Every decade seems to have a new “fix” when it comes to weight loss. In the 1990s, the new “it” drug for weight loss was Fen-Phen. Fen-Phen, a combination of fenfluramine and phentermine, proved to be an effective weight loss solution for many. Fen-Phen rose in popularity in 1992 (Cohen)2, but a mere five years later, in 1997, the FDA realized its risks and decided to take action: “In 1997, the FDA ordered Wyeth to remove fenfluramine (Pondimin) and a related drug, dexfenfluramine (Redux) from the market, after a study showed they caused damage to heart valve. That effectively put an end to the fen-phen craze” (Fauber)3. The five years between Fen-Phen’s rise and fall were enough to cause serious long-term health problems for a certain portion of those that took it. They are currently living with the consequences of taking the weight loss concoction: “The heart-valve problems caused by Fen Phen can require risky heart surgery, and primary pulmonary hypertension is a devastating disease for which there is no cure” (Cohen)4. Fen-Phen was a wake-up call to many; they were able to see the serious implications of taking diet pills. Today, people generally realize the adverse effects that come from using diet pills and concoctions like Fen-Phen that date back decades. People can be quick to dismiss the harmful side effects of a medication like Ozempic simply because Ozempic is not a diet pill. Ozempic is now being seen as a departure from dangerous weight-loss methods, despite it also having adverse effects. 

The use of Ozempic is now signaling a shift away from traditional medical weight loss methods like the infamous and dangerous amphetamine-based diet pills that were popular for decades. Ozempic has now become the new “solution” for weight loss, similar to the rise in the use of Fen-Phen in the 1990s. It took five years to discover complications associated with Fen-Phen, but it has yet to be five years from the rise of Ozempic. We cannot begin to see the potential effects that may arise from using Ozempic as a weight loss treatment–especially in those who have normal blood sugar levels. We cannot be sure that patients will not have serious complications because using Ozempic for weight loss is a new trend and a relatively new concept. People are using Ozempic to see results in the present without any regard to what complications they may have in the future, as was the case with the use of Fen-Phen in the 1990s. We have seen the serious health implications that can happen as a result of using a drug for off-label uses in the case of Fen-Phen (Cohen)5 and now in the use of Ozempic (Falconberry).6 The rise and fall of Fen-Phen was less than 30 years ago, but we are now experiencing a dangerous resurgence in off-label uses of new medication for weight loss as if we have forgotten the consequences that were discovered. We have to remember, understand, and learn from the past in order to not repeat it. Decades-old evidence proves that using medical intervention to lose weight tends to have serious complications and consequences that far outweigh the positives. People are willing to try anything to lose weight and look their best, but at what cost? 

Background 

The amount of people now looking for medical intervention for weight loss is rising at an unprecedented rate. The use of Ozempic for losing weight has been on the rise for the past couple of years, and modern day is now being dubbed as the “Ozempic Era.” Semaglutide–or better known as its brand name Ozempic–is an injection specifically engineered to treat type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is something that is completely different than ever before in the weight loss industry; it is not a diet pill strictly intended for weight loss, but it is, instead, stabilizing the patient’s blood sugars leading to a decreased appetite and weight loss. This is how semaglutide works within the body: “Semaglutide signals the pancreas to create more insulin and also lowers glucagon, which helps control blood sugar levels. This can result in weight loss but experts point out that Ozempic has not been approved for that purpose” (Yang)7. Ozempic is a drug that is advantageous for those with diabetes because it can help control blood sugar levels. A side effect of Ozempic is weight loss, yet people have become focused and obsessed with the side effect because it is what they are truly searching for. Ozempic was not created for weight loss, but people, on a desperate search to find an effective way to lose weight, have lost sight of the potential negative effects of using a drug that is not intended for weight loss. People disregard the potential side effects because there is not the same level of fear associated with Ozempic as with diet pills. Although Ozempic is now being used for weight loss, many people do not categorize the drug with the other dangerous diet pills because it is not a diet pill. It is an injection made for those with diabetes that has been used by the diabetic population for years. There is not enough research on the effects of using Ozempic for those without diabetes to support the use of Ozempic, solely, as a means for weight loss. Despite the lack of research, many people fail to think of what can go wrong. They think: “What is the worst that could happen?”

The Rise of Ozempic

Ozempic is no longer being used to treat exclusively diabetic patients. The injection is now known as more of a cosmetic treatment for those that have struggled with their weight. Ozempic can seem like an easy fix to decades of weight struggles for some, but there is more to solving this problem. Ozempic doesn’t constitute a lifestyle change or seek to find the root of the problem. To truly understand the reasons why we eat the way we do, we must take a look within ourselves to find the root of the problem. For some, weight gain can be triggered by disordered eating, mental illness, family history, trauma, etc. We must not look to “quick fixes” like Ozempic as one of the first steps in our weight loss journey; it does not seek to fix the root of the issue and will only yield temporary results. Ozempic alone does not improve people’s self-esteem or their relationship with food because it essentially replaces the mental and physical hard work people would have to do to lose this weight naturally. The struggle to lose weight is one that is prevalent and frustrating for an increasingly large portion of the public, especially with the prevalence of societal standards and diet culture in the modern age. The risks associated with using Ozempic for purposes other than its FDA-cleared use should be enough to deter people from trying it out, but they are not. When people see others finding success using something, especially when they have struggled with their weight for a long time, they will jump at any opportunity to try it out. 

The marketing of Ozempic by Novo Nordisk, the company that produces Ozempic, has problematic and contradictory messages. Ozempic is known for its infamous commercials that feature the catchy jingle: “Oh! Oh! Oh! Ozempic!” (“Ozempic Commercial TM”). The 2013 commercial, which has surmounted over 300,000 views on YouTube alone, features weight loss as a benefit–not as a side effect. The voice actor for the commercial says, “You may lose weight. In the same one year study, adults lost, on average, up to twelve pounds” (“Ozempic Commercial TM”). On the same screen, as this is being said, “Ozempic is not a weight-loss drug” (“Ozempic Commercial TM”) is displayed, although not prominently, on the bottom of the screen for a total of three seconds of the entire commercial. Novo Nordisk is blatantly deceiving their customers by hiding the important information “in plain sight.” Not only is the statement that Ozempic is not meant for weight loss not said verbally, it is not on the screen for nearly enough time to inform people of the intended use of the drug versus the now popular use of the drug. People are becoming victims of deceptive advertising, and this kind of deceptive advertising is capable of having detrimental effects on people’s health. People will focus on what was said in the commercial instead of noticing the text that tells them that Ozempic is not meant for weight loss. They will focus on the fact that Ozempic has allowed some patients to lose weight simply because it is what they want to hear. Novo Nordisk has been “turning a side effect into a selling point” (Shmerling)8. This definitely calls into question the ethics of Novo Nordisk as a company. From the commercials alone, we can see that Novo Nordisk cares more about selling Ozempic than not taking advantage of individuals struggling with weight loss. 

Novo Nordisk is not the only figure that has been advertising for Ozempic. The company Noom, which is “a startup that for years has touted a psychological path to weight loss” (Court and Bloomberg)9, has also done extensive advertising for Ozempic. The company Noom started as a way for people to find out the psychological reasons for the way they eat, but Noom has now branched out from their original goal and become an online pharmacy through Noom Med (Court and Bloomberg)10. Noom is actively advertising their online pharmacy through Instagram advertisements, which I have personally encountered, by using “trendy” medications like Ozempic to generate traffic. Noom, in particular, has made it easy for anyone to get medication via telemedicine (Court and Bloomberg)11. Companies like Noom have created an ease of access and a sense of casualness when it comes to medical interventions for weight loss. By researching the ins and outs of Ozempic and its impacts, I have personally been the subject of extensive advertising for weight loss–particularly by Noom. “Do you qualify? Ozempic? Mounjaro? Saxenda? Medical weight loss is finally available to the public” (“Do You Qualify?”)12. The FDA has not cleared Ozempic for weight loss, and Ozempic, themselves, have stated this fact on their website and in their advertisements–in fine print, of course. Despite these disclaimers given by Ozempic, the Noom advertisements do not disclaim, rather they declare, that these medicines are meant for weight loss. In a similar advertisement, Noom stated, “It’s not cheating. It’s jump-starting your goals” (“See If You Qualify”)13. Although the advertisement doesn’t explicitly state that Ozempic or any of the other popular drugs also being used for weight loss jump-starts one’s goals, the advertisement has an injection needle in the background–which anyone who knows anything about semaglutide or other weight loss injections can identify. They essentially are implying that one can jump-start their weight loss goals through these injections. Despite Ozempic not being cleared by the FDA for weight loss because that is not its intended use, companies like Noom have chosen to mass market Ozempic to vulnerable populations that are struggling with weight loss. 

These are some of the advertisements that I have seen on my personal instagram in just the span of two weeks.

Ozempic has gone viral, in part, through the use of social media. Celebrities have talked about their weight loss journey and many have attributed it to Ozempic: “Billionaire Elon Musk credited it for his dramatic weight loss. Celebrity sites allege that many more A-listers are using it to stay trim” (Yang)14. There are celebrities that have admitted to using it for their weight loss, yet some celebrities are hesitant to attribute their new figure due to the controversy surrounding Ozempic. Our culture is largely centered around looking up to celebrities and influencers, so the virality of Ozempic in the public is affected by these celebrity transformations. We are now living in an age where social media is easily accessible to us, which, in turn, allows us to be more influenced by influencers and celebrities alike. When people are desperate to find ways to lose weight, they will go to those they trust and admire for guidance. When they see their favorite celebrity or influencer finding something that is working for them, they are likely to be influenced to ask about it or even try it out. Influencers are not only capable of influencing the kind of makeup one buys or what restaurant their followers go to; they are able to influence major health decisions that can ultimately have serious implications. The role of social media in the marketing of products and services–including controversial means for weight loss–is expanding at an exponential rate, and there is a responsibility of those with power to use their influence to inform rather than persuade. 

Marketing weight loss is clearly marketed more towards women. Women are historically expected to meet societal expectations for beauty which has often been to be skinny, and the pressure to meet the skinny standard is amplified after women have children. The pressure to bounce back is ever present. This can be seen in the case of Lillian Belle, a Tiktoker, Youtuber, and mother who chose to take Ozempic in order to embark on her postpartum weightloss journey. She described her frustration from being unable to make further progress, “I can’t lose anymore” (“Follow Along for My Semaglutide Weight Loss Journey”)15. Belle detailed her experience on Ozempic on a week-by-week basis from the start of her Ozempic journey to fulfill her goal in being transparent in sharing her experience.

Lillian Belle begins her journey by going to a clinic to get a weight loss consultation by a nurse practitioner. She takes her viewers along the process that ensues before she can begin taking the medication. They measure her weight and take before photos, but Lillian did not mention any blood work being taken (“Follow Along for My Semaglutide Weight Loss Journey”).16 There was no documented baseline for what her body was like before taking Ozempic due to not taking any blood work prior to her first injection. In addition to the initial blood work prior to her first dose, there should have been blood work taken throughout the process to make sure that her body was handling the medication correctly and not creating any harmful, life-threatening side effects. Lillian Belle, however, put her trust in her nurse practitioner, and she seemed very excited to embark on her weight loss journey. The second video Lillian posted detailed how excited she was for her first injection, yet, wanting to be transparent and vulnerable, she shared how she was nervous about the potential side effects. She, again, stated her motivations for taking the injection: “I am 18 months postpartum, so I am taking this to jumpstart my weight loss” (“Week 1 on Semaglutide”17). One can hear her self-consciousness when she talks about her mental struggle with her postpartum body. It is clear that the societal expectation for her to look, at least the way she did before having her son, was taking a toll on her mental health. Her third video details her experience taking her first and second injection; Lillian Belle, a busy mother, experienced fatigue after the injection. She said, “It’s not for the weak” (“Semaglutide Week 2 Update!”)18. Lillian acknowledges that the injection is more intense than she thought; it doesn’t seem as easy as she thought it would be. In her following video, Belle says, “I’m tired of being fat, and I’m too lazy to do it the old-fashioned way” (“Take the Skinny Shot with Me!”)19. I commend her honesty, and she definitely is not the only person wanting a “fast and easy” solution to their weight problems and body dysmorphia. Belle clearly hoped that the Ozempic injections would help aid her in these issues. Throughout several of Belle’s initial videos, she seemed to be experiencing some “common” side effects like nausea, vomiting, and fatigue, but it, personally, took me by surprise when she revealed that she stopped taking her injections after less than six weeks. She experienced even more severe symptoms after stopping the medication: “The fact that I’m feeling so ill because I stopped it just shows what it was doing to my body” (“An Update on My Semaglutide (Ozempic) Journey”)20. Lillian Belle quickly realized what she was doing to her body by taking the Ozempic injections, and she knew she had to stop. There is no telling what she would have experienced down the line if she did not analyze what was happening with her body in a timely manner. She also says, “I don’t think it’s normal to feel that way just to lose weight” (“An Update on My Semaglutide (Ozempic) Journey”)21. You should not have to put your life on hold due to the sickness that comes as a side effect of using these medications for weight loss. Losing weight should involve positive lifestyle changes; it should not cause you to feel the intense symptoms Lillian Belle describes. In the end, Lillian Belle leaves us with a thoughtful reflection of her experience on semaglutide: “You don’t need to inject poison into your body to lose weight, and I’ve learned that the hard way” (“An Update on My Semaglutide (Ozempic) Journey”).22 After stopping the Ozempic injections, Lillian Belle vowed to go back to the gym–signaling a new beginning in her current weight loss journey. Although this is a singular account of what taking Ozempic can be like, it truly shows the struggles that one can face even with Ozempic being seen as an “easy way out.” Her videos also detail the inner dialogue of a mother’s struggle to get back her pre-pregnancy body, which is an experience many mothers know all too well. Companies like Ozempic take advantage of the societal standards for women’s bodies and sell them a solution that is not approved by the FDA. 

Lillian Belle’s before pictures.

The ethics in the weight loss industry need to be called into question. Companies should not be allowed to have commercials and advertisements boasting about the side effects of medications as benefits. Doctors should feel a level of culpability because they need to be advocates for their patients, and they have a responsibility to be fully transparent about the unknowns of using Ozempic for weight loss in the long-term. Patients will wholeheartedly do whatever their doctors tell them to do because they trust their doctors and their knowledge; patients are less likely to think about potential negative implications because of the trust they have in doctors and experts. This trust has been taken advantage of, and this must not continue. 

The Future of Ozempic

Ozempic, themselves, put a disclaimer on their website: “Ozempic® is not FDA approved for weight loss or chronic weight management” (“Frequently Asked Questions”)23. Ozempic was not created for weight loss, despite one of the drug’s side effects being weight loss. Ozempic’s side effect of weight loss is effective in treating one of the leading risk factors for diabetes: “obesity is the leading risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes” (Yang)24. Although Ozempic may have the potential to stop diabetes from developing in obese patients and those who are pre-diabetic, there is no long-term study that details the potential health issues that may arise from the use of a medicine that is not meant for people with normal blood sugar levels. There is no reason to think that the potential benefits of Ozempic will outweigh the unstudied side effects. Doctors know this better than anyone. Doctors have this information at their disposal, and they continue prescribing Ozempic to their patients. Although pharmaceutical companies bribing doctors to prescribe their medications is technically illegal, Novo Nordisk is taking sly steps to ensure they are in doctors’ good graces: “Experts are sounding the alarm after a report that popular weight-loss injectable manufacturer Novo Nordisk spent $11 million last year on meals and travel for thousands of prescribing doctors” (Prater)25. This raises the question on the ethics of the doctors that prescribe this for weight loss. One can question their reasoning for prescribing Ozempic to their patients. Are patients being prescribed Ozempic because they will benefit from it? Or are they being prescribed Ozempic as a sort of pawn in the pharmaceutical-doctor relationship? “Health-care providers wrote more than 9 million prescriptions for Ozempic and similar drugs in the final three months of 2022, according to a new analysis of medications that have become highly sought-after for their weight-loss effects” (Gilbert)26. There should be more pushback by doctors when a patient comes for an Ozempic consultation. There should be extensive testing to prove why the patient should take this medicine. The doctor should try to get their patient to try everything else, and if they feel it necessary and that the risk is worth it, only then should they prescribe Ozempic. Ozempic must not be step one in a patient’s weight loss journey; it must be one of the last resorts due to its understudied effects on people without diabetes. Although social media, celebrity culture, and societal standards have contributed to the prominence of Ozempic, the doctors who are prescribing it are ultimately the ones to blame. Why are the ethics of these doctors not being called into question? “The long-term effects of semaglutide are as yet unknown, particularly when it comes to weight-loss purposes, although the history of weight-loss drugs counsels extreme caution” (Huxford)27. Knowingly prescribing a medication whose side effects have not been studied is negligent. Doctors should evaluate their actions and take accountability. We will see the true effects of their negligence years or even decades down the line. If they do not stop the casual and widespread prescribing of Ozempic, I’m afraid the implications will be disastrous.

  1. Yang, Allie. “Ozempic Is a Serious Drug with Serious Risks. Here’s What to Know.” Science, National Geographic, 7 Aug. 2023, www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/ozempic-tiktoks-favorite-weight-loss-drug-is-unproven?loggedin=true&rnd=1700442847358.  
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  2. Cohen, Kate. “Fen Phen Nation.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 13 Nov. 2003, www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/prescription/hazard/fenphen.html. 
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  3. Fauber, John. “Slippery Slope: Fen-Phen Users Recall a ‘miracle’ Turned Nightmare.” Medical News, MedpageToday, 19 Apr. 2015, www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/slipperyslope/51044.  
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  4. Cohen, Kate. “Fen Phen Nation.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 13 Nov. 2003, www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/prescription/hazard/fenphen.html.  ↩︎
  5. Cohen, Kate. “Fen Phen Nation.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 13 Nov. 2003, www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/prescription/hazard/fenphen.html.   ↩︎
  6. Falconberry, Kelli. “Understanding the Risks of Off-Label Use of Ozempic: What You Should Know.” Understanding the Risks of Off-Label Use of Ozempic | Selah House, 4 Sept. 2023, www.selahhouse.com/resources/understanding-the-risks-of-off-label-use-of-ozempic/#:~:text=1-,What%20Is%20Off%2Dlabel%20Use%20of%20Ozempic%3F,cause%20people%20to%20lose%20weight.  ↩︎
  7. Yang, Allie. “Ozempic Is a Serious Drug with Serious Risks. Here’s What to Know.” Science, National Geographic, 7 Aug. 2023, www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/ozempic-tiktoks-favorite-weight-loss-drug-is-unproven?loggedin=true&rnd=1700442847358.  ↩︎
  8. Shmerling, Robert H. “What Happens When a Drug Goes Viral?” Harvard Health, Harvard Health Publishing, 21 Feb. 2023, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-happens-when-a-drug-goes-viral-202302212892.   ↩︎
  9. Court, Emma, and Bloomberg. “Health Startup Noom Is Now Adding Weight Loss Injectables to Its Offerings, Says ‘Outcomes Are so Much Better.’” Fortune Well, Fortune, 24 May 2023, www.fortune.com/well/2023/05/24/noom-med-weight-loss-injectables-ozempic-wegovy-mounjaro/. ↩︎
  10. Court, Emma, and Bloomberg. “Health Startup Noom Is Now Adding Weight Loss Injectables to Its Offerings, Says ‘Outcomes Are so Much Better.’” Fortune Well, Fortune, 24 May 2023, www.fortune.com/well/2023/05/24/noom-med-weight-loss-injectables-ozempic-wegovy-mounjaro/.   
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  11. Court, Emma, and Bloomberg. “Health Startup Noom Is Now Adding Weight Loss Injectables to Its Offerings, Says ‘Outcomes Are so Much Better.’” Fortune Well, Fortune, 24 May 2023, www.fortune.com/well/2023/05/24/noom-med-weight-loss-injectables-ozempic-wegovy-mounjaro/.   ↩︎
  12. “Do You Qualify?” Instagram, Noom, 12 Nov. 2023, Accessed 21 Nov. 2023.  ↩︎
  13. “See If You Qualify.” Instagram, Noom, 30 Oct. 2023, Accessed 21 Nov. 2023.   ↩︎
  14. Yang, Allie. “Ozempic Is a Serious Drug with Serious Risks. Here’s What to Know.” Science, National Geographic, 7 Aug. 2023, www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/ozempic-tiktoks-favorite-weight-loss-drug-is-unproven?loggedin=true&rnd=1700442847358. ↩︎
  15. Belle, Lillian. “Follow Along for My Semaglutide Weight Loss Journey #vlog #vlogger #weightloss #mom #dailyvlog” YouTube, 23 Sept. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvePixWIAyo.  ↩︎
  16. Belle, Lillian. “Follow Along for My Semaglutide Weight Loss Journey #vlog #vlogger #weightloss #mom #dailyvlog” YouTube, 23 Sept. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvePixWIAyo.  ↩︎
  17. Belle, Lillian. “Week 1 on Semaglutide #vlog #mom #weightloss #postpartum #vlogger #momlife #weightlossjourney.” YouTube, 26 Sept. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duB2MhlZZ_c.  ↩︎
  18. Belle, Lillian. “Semaglutide Week 2 Update! Love y’all & Normal Content Will Be Back #vlogger #vlog #mom #weightloss.” YouTube, 30 Sept. 2023, https://youtu.be/kdFXon7mlaI?si=DrZhax1Jo4jzPqkb. ↩︎
  19. Belle, Lillian. “Take the Skinny Shot with Me! #weightloss #weightlossjourney #mom #vlog #ozempic #dailyvlog #vlogs.” YouTube, 15 Oct. 2023, https://youtu.be/3PF3e33Nm48?si=ykiGoCVV4SlljWVN. ↩︎
  20. Belle, Lillian. “An Update on My Semaglutide (Ozempic) Journey #vlog #mom #weightloss #weightlossjourney #grwm.” YouTube, 7 Nov. 2023, https://youtu.be/e9wRU6YJeN4?si=T8tV5YdS-eFilyIQ. ↩︎
  21. Belle, Lillian. “An Update on My Semaglutide (Ozempic) Journey #vlog #mom #weightloss #weightlossjourney #grwm.” YouTube, 7 Nov. 2023, https://youtu.be/e9wRU6YJeN4?si=T8tV5YdS-eFilyIQ ↩︎
  22. Belle, Lillian. “An Update on My Semaglutide (Ozempic) Journey #vlog #mom #weightloss #weightlossjourney #grwm.” YouTube, 7 Nov. 2023, https://youtu.be/e9wRU6YJeN4?si=T8tV5YdS-eFilyIQ. ↩︎
  23. “Frequently Asked Questions.” Ozempic® (Semaglutide) Injection, Sept. 2023, www.ozempic.com/faqs.html?modal=isi&showisi=true&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=take%2Bozempic&utm_campaign=1_All_Shared_BR_Branded_Specifics&mkwid=s-dc_pcrid_605466743932_pkw_take%2Bozempic_pmt_p_slid__product_&pgrid=141675593447&ptaid=kwd-450547815768&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpompBhDZARIsAFD_Fp9oTl0cQIwts8Tv9qidnrlnySSfExGDnz8FNm8q2ow6oZ32IZG7LfEaAkWTEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&f=weight%2Bloss. ↩︎
  24. Yang, Allie. “Ozempic Is a Serious Drug with Serious Risks. Here’s What to Know.” Science, National Geographic, 7 Aug. 2023, www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/ozempic-tiktoks-favorite-weight-loss-drug-is-unproven?loggedin=true&rnd=1700442847358. ↩︎
  25. Prater, Erin. “Ozempic Manufacturer Novo Nordisk Spent $11 Million Last Year ‘wining and Dining’ Doctors. Experts Slam the Move as a Breach of Doctor-Patient Trust.” Fortune Well, Fortune, 24 July 2023, www.fortune.com/well/2023/07/21/ozempic-novo-nordisk-meals-travel-prescribing-doctors/.    ↩︎
  26. Gilbert, Daniel. Prescriptions for Ozempic and Similar Drugs Have Skyrocketed, Data Shows, The Washington Post, 27 Sept. 2023, www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/09/27/ozempic-prescriptions-data-analysis/.  ↩︎
  27. Huxford, Zoe. “Ozempic and the Dark History of Weight-Loss Drugs.” Dazed, Dazed, 4 Apr. 2023, www.dazeddigital.com/beauty/article/58533/1/brief-history-diet-pills-weight-loss-drugs-ozempic-obetrol-fenphen-benzedrine. ↩︎

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