By Kate Dennett, Daily Mail Australia
23:52 March 14, 2024, Updated 23:56 March 14, 2024
A leading doctor has slammed the use of Ozempic by celebrities, claiming they are giving the weight loss drug a “terrible name”.
Dr. Nick Coatsworth appeared on Friday's Today show and spoke about the drug becoming a trend in Hollywood after stars admitted they were using it to lose weight.
The infectious disease doctor claimed Hollywood stars who use Ozempic to lose weight gave the drug a “terrible name”.
Ozempic is a diabetes drug, but it is also sold privately for weight loss, and celebrities including Sharon Osbourne, Amy Schumer, Boy George and Heather Gay have admitted to using the drug.
Commenting on the increase in celebrities using Ozempic, Dr. Coatsworth argued that many of the stars using Ozempic are not heavy enough to need to take the drug.
He said, “I think Ozempic has gotten a terrible reputation because of its use by celebrities.Obviously, most celebrities weigh so much that they don't need to use Ozempic at all, but especially if they're more… If you're carrying weight, a BMI above 30 will result in fairly noticeable weight loss.
“In that sense, it's a silver bullet. This has elevated the manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, to the number one company in Denmark. That's a very good thing.
This comes after the maker of the hit weight loss drug asked Hollywood stars to stop hoarding Ozempic and similar drugs due to shortages.
Eli Lilly, the maker of weight-loss drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound, urged non-obese people to avoid weight-loss drugs in a bizarre 30-second ad that aired on television.
The report says they are only tested and approved for people who are overweight or obese, meaning they are at high risk for other diseases such as heart disease or cancer, or who have type 2 diabetes. .
○zempic is diabetic Although it is a drug, it is also sold by individuals for weight loss purposes, and its popularity has skyrocketed in recent years (stock image)
The ad's caption reads, “Some people are using drugs for which they were never intended. For a small dress or tuxedo. For a big night. For vanity.''
“But that doesn't matter. We are working on these treatments for people whose health is affected by obesity.”
David Ricks, CEO of Eli Lilly, also recently told CNN:
“These drugs were invented for people with serious health conditions. They weren't invented just to make celebrities look a little better.”
The blockbuster weight-loss drug, which costs about $950 a month out-of-pocket, has been in short supply for months after soaring demand.
The number of prescriptions written for weight loss drugs in the United States has jumped more than 2,000 percent since 2019, from 230,000 prescriptions in 2019.
The drug, given as a weekly injection, works by mimicking hunger hormones in the body, making you feel full even if you haven't eaten recently.
Celebrities such as Chelsea Handler, Elon Musk and Patti Stanger have admitted to taking Ozempic, but there has been speculation that other stars may be using it.
Chelsea previously said she lost a few pounds with the drug, but then realized it was Ozempic and stopped using it, saying it should be reserved for diabetics.
she said: “I'm quitting.” That's so irresponsible. I injected 4 of her friends or 5 of her friends with Ozempic. Because I realized that I didn't want to use it because it was stupid. It's for heavy people. ”
Tesla CEO Elon also said he lost nearly 30 pounds (13.6 kg) while taking the drug, and attributed his changes to “fasting + Ozempic/Wegoby + not being able to eat good food.” This was due to the fact that
Sharon Osbourne also revealed that she took Ozempic, but said the drug caused her to lose so much weight that she “needed to gain it back.”
The 71-year-old started taking the medication last December and weighed 142 pounds (64.4 kg) at the time, and although she lost more than 45 pounds (20 kg) on the drug, she has since lost 97 pounds (43 kg). ) I lost weight.
She told Women's magazine, “When you lose a lot of weight, it becomes easy to become dependent on it, which can be very dangerous.”
“I couldn't stop the weight loss and now I've lost 42 pounds. I can't afford to lose any more.”
