By Aaminah Matthews
In recent months the clinical drug known as Ozempic has catapulted into the public eye. It is being utilized by celebrities and wellness influencers on social media to promote quick weight loss. However, Ozempic is a drug for diabetes, and this usage of the drug for the wrong purposes has led to a major shortage for people with Type 2 diabetes.
The FDA approved Ozempic to treat Type 2 diabetes in 2017. Still, a major side effect that was noticed by the FDA was extreme weight loss which is why it became so popular and gained the attention of celebrities and wellness influencers.
This has caused a major problem because it is a drug that is now being used for excessive weight loss and not its intended needs.
Over the years, the FDA has withdrawn approval for several weight loss drugs due to concerns for potentially life-threatening side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation.
In August of 2022 a lawsuit was filed against the drug Ozempic by Novo Nordisk, a Danish multinational pharmaceutical company to the United States Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation, stating generic over the counter versions of Ozempic were being sold to get both customers suffering from diabetes to buy it and people who wanted to lose weight as well.
Many people on social media are influenced by the physical appearance of wellness influencers specifically, and utilizing this drug can cause followers to be encouraged to do the same.
Local DMV wellness influencer, Jawaad Khan, responds with his opinion on how to live a healthier lifestyle and not get sucked into the trends of social media.
“I think that when it comes to your body, cutting corners and taking shortcuts isn’t viable long term.” He said, “Quite often, some of the biggest icons and notable figures in bodybuilding have suffered from substance abuse in this regard, and many have paid the price fatally. Not a road I’d recommend embarking upon.”
Along with that, there are alot of healthier methods to maintain the shape and healthy lifestyle that people try to get through quickly by swallowing a pill. Elyn Garrett Jones, Public
Information Officer of the Baltimore County Department of Health and Human Services says,
“Eat a healthy diet, be active, consume less salt and sugar, reduce intake of harmful fats, and avoid harmful use of alcohol.”
Jones says that Baltimore County has public health nurses, social workers, program managers, registered dieticians, community outreach workers, community clinics, and providers who participate in community outreach and internal programs developed to help link citizens to resources.
Towson University students, a part of the community, also have outlets such as dieticians and resources for students to become more aware of what they are being exposed to and how to take care of themselves, Dymond Hamlin, M.A., LGPC, Health Education and Promotion Coordinator at Towson University.
“Towson has a registered dietitian, Precious Nwokeleme, that meets with students to help them make healthy choices on campus,” she said. “She also works with students to make realistic and sustainable goals that work with their schedule.”
The drug Ozempic if continues to not be adequately utilized, and generic versions of it being sold over the counter will affect many lives, and lawsuits such as the recent one opened last year will continue to follow.