Sharon Osbourne warns against viral weight loss drug Ozempic as experts weigh in

Sophie Collins

Sharon Osbourne has been in the headlines recently warning against the popular weight loss drug, Ozempic.

At this point, I think it’s safe to say we have all heard of the ‘O’ word and its effectiveness in helping thousands of people drop a few kg. However lots of us are unaware of the many side effects of using this drug for weight loss.

The trending drug, took TikTok by storm earlier this year, amassing an impressive 1.3 billion views under #ozempic and 417.5 million views under #ozempicweightloss.

TikTok creators continue to share their Ozempic weight loss journeys, offering tutorials on how to use the drug properly, and shedding light on potential side effects.

The drug’s popularity extends beyond social media, which is seen in a 436% surge in Google searches for ‘Ozempic’ over the past five years globally, according to research carried out by kaly.com.

Moreover, searches for the side effect labeled ‘Ozempic face’ have spiked by 67% in the last 30 days.

Termed ‘Hollywood’s worst kept secret,’ Ozempic has allegedly found its way into the routines of celebrities like Amy Schumer and Robbie Williams.

However, not all experiences have been positive, as highlighted by Sharon Osbourne. In a recent interview, she spoke about her struggles and said: “I’m too gaunt and I can’t put any weight on,” cautioning against its use in teenagers due to its potential for addiction.

CEO of Kaly.com, Amr Hosny, spoke about the surge in Ozempic’s social media presence, particularly on TikTok, with users showing off impressive ‘before and after’ weight loss transformations.

However, he has now issued a vital reminder to prospective users to conduct thorough research before considering the drug.

While Ozempic is FDA-approved for treating type 2 diabetes and often prescribed to diabetic patients with obesity, its off-label use for weight loss carries numerous risks.

Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and constipation, while severe reactions such as allergic responses, vision changes, pancreatitis, and a boxed FDA warning for thyroid C-cell tumours are noted in the US.

Hosny stresses the importance of consulting healthcare specialists for personalised advice before embarking on Ozempic treatment, underlining the necessity of ensuring it aligns with individual weight loss goals and health considerations.

The HPRA has also warned of a shortage of the drug in the EU due to this increased demand and say they expect this shortage to continue into 2024.

The regulatory body has since advised that: “prescribing and dispensing should be prioritised for the licensed indication and restricted to a one-month supply.”