The excitement surrounding weight-loss drugs, particularly semaglutide, better known by its brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, has been hard to ignore. Politicians like Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer have championed these drugs, suggesting they could help individuals lose weight and even get people back into the workforce. In the United States, a recent poll by KFF found that one in eight adults has already used a weight-loss drug, reflecting the widespread adoption of these medications amid grand claims about their effectiveness.
However, not everyone is sold on the benefits of these drugs. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was appointed US health secretary this week, has voiced concerns, echoing doubts about the drug’s safety and efficacy. Kennedy, known for his controversial stance on public health issues, criticized Ozempic during a late-night show, pointing out that in Denmark, the drug is not recommended for treating diabetes or obesity, with authorities instead advocating for dietary and behavioral changes. He accused the drug’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, of capitalizing on America’s reliance on pharmaceutical solutions.
Despite these criticisms, there is scientific backing for some of the claims made by proponents of Ozempic. A major trial sponsored by Novo Nordisk, which involved 17,600 overweight adults with heart disease, found that those who took Ozempic experienced a reduction in deaths from all causes compared to a placebo group. Some experts, including Professor Harlan Krumholz from Yale University, have even suggested that Ozempic could slow the aging process.
Yet, evidence is beginning to emerge that casts a shadow over the long-term benefits of these weight-loss drugs. A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has raised alarms about the potential side effects of semaglutide. In a study conducted by researchers at the University of Alberta, laboratory mice were fed a high-sucrose diet to induce obesity, and then treated with semaglutide for 21 days. The results were striking: while the mice lost 35% of their body weight, including 65% of their fat, they also experienced a significant loss of lean muscle mass—including in the heart.
Although the researchers noted that the loss in heart muscle was not severe enough to be considered atrophy, they warned that if similar effects occurred in humans, the muscle loss could impair physical activity and diminish some of the drug’s benefits. This warning is further amplified by the recent disclosure from the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, which reported that 68 individuals were hospitalized due to taking Wegovy or Ozempic. In addition, over 7,200 people have reported experiencing adverse effects such as vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea—side effects that may inadvertently lead to weight loss but also cause significant discomfort.
As the UK grapples with an obesity epidemic, with a quarter of adults classified as obese, many will no doubt continue to embrace these weight-loss drugs despite their potential risks. However, the emerging evidence serves as a cautionary reminder that no medication can replace the tried-and-true methods of weight management—reducing calorie intake and increasing physical activity.
In the end, while drugs like Ozempic may offer short-term results, they do not provide a sustainable solution to the complex problem of weight loss. The latest findings suggest that more caution and further investigation are needed before these drugs can be fully embraced as a safe and effective long-term weight-loss solution.
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