Introduction

Nowadays, celebrities and thousands of people choose an easier path to lose weight; using a weight-loss substance that acts like an appetite suppressant. In a recent interview with a British-American celebrity, Kelly Osbourne, she encouraged everyone who wants to lose weight to use the magical agent “Ozempic” instead of going through mundane exercises and having a painful workout routine. The Hollywood trend of using type 2 diabetic medications; Ozempic and Wegovy is concerning.

The main aim of these medications is to help diabetic patients who suffer from obesity to lose excessive weight that might endanger their health status or could lead to additional complications for diabetic patients such as cardiovascular disease. Although it is helping a lot of people to lose weight, this phenomenon is causing havoc leading to a shortage of these medications for patients who are actually at risk and need them. 

Elon Musk (Tesla founder) has used Wegovy to make himself healthier with an improved body shape.¹ Majority of stars were reported to use Ozempic. This would ignite a thought of which one is better. Who can take Ozempic? And who can take Wegovy? The pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk manufactures both products and they have been approved in many countries. Although they consist of the same active ingredient; Semaglutide, they have been marketed for different conditions.

Obesity overview

Obesity is now considered a chronic disease and has become an epidemic issue that presents a serious risk to overall wellness. It is identified by too much fat accumulation in the body from an imbalanced diet. It is a major risk factor for fatal diseases, like heart disease and diabetes. Carrying extra weight long term would increase risks of muscle aches and developing cancer. Luckily, obesity can be reversed by stopping high-calorie diet and controlling food intake.²

Obesity is diagnosed by using the body mass index (BMI) chart, the use of an equation measuring the weight with the height. Having a BMI over 30 is considered obesity. Weight circumference measurement is also used for the assessment of obesity, men are considered at high risk if their waist circumference is more than 40 inches, and women is more than 35 inches. 

During the past few years, the pharmaceutical industry has come up with brilliant solutions for those who are obese and other illnesses. A few examples include drugs like Liraglutide, Semaglutide, and Orlistat.³

Every case is different, if you are living with obesity, consulting your GP about your solution is the ideal approach you could take in managing weight loss.³ Some patients are advised to eat healthy and exercise regularly, others might need medications to be added to their routine, while for patients who are severely obese; weight loss surgery is the only thing that could be done to save their lives.³

Ozempic

Semaglutide is an antidiabetic agent in the form of an injection, a type of molecule that attaches to glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptors in the body and activates insulin secretion. It also suppresses the appetite giving the patient a feeling of being full.⁴

It is a prescription-only medication intended to lower blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetic patients either alone or combined with other antidiabetic medications alongside lifestyle modifications to achieve good management.

Dosing schedule

It should be administered to adults who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.⁴ It is used once weekly as instructed by the healthcare provider:

• The starting dose is 0.25 mg for the first 4 weeks 
• From week 5, the dose will be increased to 0.5 mg for an additional 4 weeks
• If additional sugar control is needed, then the dose will be titrated up to 1 mg weekly

Side effects

The most common adverse events of using Ozemic may include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain
• Constipation
• Headache 

Some of the side effects can be minimised by avoiding fatty food and increasing the consumption of food that contains high percentages of water such as soups. The treatment should be stopped immediately if there is an arising issue with acute pancreatitis.¹⁰

Based on the health recommendations, semaglutide isn’t recommended to be used by patients suffering from kidney damage, pregnant and breastfeeding women.¹⁰ 

Benefits

A recent study has been conducted to conclude that Semaglutide intervention therapy is associated with proven clinical weight loss in overweight and obese individuals.⁵ Another study has shown that Semaglutide offers a powerful shield to obese and patients with heart failure, thus providing extra protection to the heart.⁶

Shortage issue

Due to the proven advantages of Semaglutide, people have started to abuse the system through off-label prescribing, which led to global shortages.⁷ This phenomenon is concerning because type 2 diabetic patients who could benefit from Ozempic cannot obtain it.

Wegovy

Wegovy has the same active ingredient as Ozempic, which is Semaglutide yet the dosing and indication are different. Wegovy is an approved medication for weight management for adults accompanied by a healthy diet and physical activity.⁸

It is recommended to be prescribed only for those who are clinically obese - patients who truly need it, and not those who want to lose a couple of pounds. For instance, if the BMI falls between 30-35, Wegovy can be prescribed to combat weight problems.³

Some patients coming from minor ethnic groups having slightly lower BMI levels might be eligible to take the medication.⁸ Patients whose BMI is between 27 to 30 are considered overweight can also get a prescription from their healthcare professional if they have coexisting heart diseases and breathing problems.⁹

Teenagers can be given semaglutide if they weigh more than 60 kg. The advised dose for adults is 2.4 mg injected once weekly, after 6 months of the treatment if the patient wasn’t successful in losing 5% of their weight then other factors should be considered as it can be taken up to 2 years.¹¹

Contraindications

In addition to what was mentioned in the Ozempic section, people dealing with or having a familial history of thyroid tumours should not use Wegovy.

Summary

Nowadays, social media plays a crucial role in educating and informing the audience about the latest news, including medical knowledge. However, we should be aware not to rely on medical updates on various social media platforms as they are recognised as inaccurate or based on personal experiences. We are as human beings different from each other, and each one of us has a unique composition.

For this reason, the treatment options are required to be personalised. Type 2 diabetes can lead to complications like heart problems, kidney diseases, and obesity. Luckily, advanced agents have been introduced to the market to aid in resolving some issues related to the matter.

One of the global pharmaceutical manufacturers worldwide has introduced 2 brands having the same active ingredient for a vital reason. Ozempic and Wegovy are accepted and available internationally to eliminate the chaos regarding the off-label use we constantly hear about. Celebrities and other influential figures have misused both brands to maintain their physique, causing a shortage for those who are in need. 

Ozempic is a medication to control type 2 diabetes, it is used for adults who are obese with unmanaged blood sugar levels. While Wegovy can be used to treat obesity of different age groups including adolescents and adults, it also has additional heart protection benefits.

Consulting your healthcare professionals and getting prescriptions is the key to getting treatment that best suits you. And always remember, the choices you make today can pave the way to a happier tomorrow.