It’s the weight loss drug people have been dreaming of – or is it?
Diabetes drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide have taken the medical community by storm, not only helping to keep certain endocrine disorders at bay, but also showing promising signs of controlling appetite, improving insulin sensitivity and, with both, weight loss. But the miraculous effects of TikTok’s famed Ozempic injections come at a cost.
“I talked to some dermatologists about it yesterday,” Dr. Siegel said of “Ozempic face,” a bizarre side effect reported in Ozempic patients who claim the drug makes them look older. “It’s overuse of the drug that causes you to lose weight too quickly. The oral mucosa – the fat – leaves your face and you become skinny.”
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Siegel warned on “Fox & Friends Weekend” on Sunday that the side effect could eventually be irreversible.
Semaglutide injections have taken center stage amid the ongoing search for the immaculate weight loss solution.
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“It’s something that happens to us anyway as we get older,” he explained.
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Reports of sagging skin, an older appearance and a “gaunt face” now follow the incredibly popular “weight loss” injections, but Dr. Siegel has always praised the drug for its potential to do great things.
“Ozempic is actually a great drug. It’s the first weight loss drug I’ve seen that I think really works,” he said. “It actually improves insulin, it improves sugar elimination, it decreases hunger…”
A diabetic patient prepares to administer an injection of Ozempic into the stomach.
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TikTok has turned semaglutide injections like Ozempic into the latest weight loss craze for its alleged host of benefits, creating long-running shortages and sparking debate over whether patients should have off-label access. to the drug.
Celebrities have also embraced the trend and spoken publicly about their use, creating an alarming recipe for ongoing shortages.
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Weight loss due to diabetes medications is becoming an increasingly common craze.
(Photo by Annette Riedl/picture alliance via Getty Images))
Since the popular drug became a namesake among the weight loss community, the FDA has approved another, more potent semaglutide injection and a glucagon-like peptide agonist (GLP-1 agonist) for long-term weight loss. term named Wegovy.
The drug has also seen shortages after demand surged last year.
In addition to concerns about the “Ozempic face” and the older appearance it may cause, experts have warned that the drugs can cause other more serious side effects, including an increased risk of rare forms of thyroid tumors, vision changes, kidney problems and gallbladder problems. .
Rapid weight loss also poses health risks, which can cause gallbladder problems, metabolic problems, and hormonal imbalances.
Semaglutide and tirzepatide injections are also used to help treat or control other endocrine disorders such as insulin resistance or prediabetes and metabolic syndrome.
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Fox News’ Julia Musto contributed to this report.