Semaglutide, originally an antidiabetic medication for adults with type 2 diabetes, has been used for long-term weight management in recent years, causing controversy over potential side effects, accessibility, and the ethics of its popularity.
The medication goes by the pharmaceutical names of Ozempic and Rybelsus for the treatment of diabetes and the name Wegovy for weight loss, but is most commonly referred to as Ozempic by the general public.
The drug was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for type 2 diabetes in December 2017, and the use of it for weight loss (Wegovy) for adults who are overweight with a weight-related health condition or have obesity was approved in 2021. Ozempic is not a weight loss drug, but is often misused as one.
"The fact that there's a medically approved prescription for managing weight and staying healthier, in my lifetime, feels like relief, like redemption, like a gift, and not something to hide behind and once again be ridiculed for. I’m absolutely done with the shaming from other people and particularly myself,” Oprah Winfrey told People in December 2023.
It was originally created to help patients with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels, and it works by mimicking a gut hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP). As a weight loss drug, this affects your organs to increase feelings of fullness and reduce cravings.
Semaglutide is a solution (liquid) that is usually administered once a week by injection under the skin in the thigh, stomach, or upper arm. Common known side effects include nausea, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea, and vomiting. It may also increase the risk of short-term gallbladder disease and possible thyroid tumors, including cancer.
“My concern is that we don’t have any long term studies on the effect of the drug on people who don’t [have diabetes]. As someone involved in the health community, I worry for these people taking it, but I have also seen the benefits short term, so I can see the attraction people have to it. Obviously, those who actually need it should have priority,” NHS physical education teacher Megan Goyda said.
Semaglutide first appeared on the FDA’s shortage list in 2022, and has been low in supply due to high demand intermittently ever since. Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company that supplies Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy, says that the supply of the drug will remain limited for the rest of the year.
“We will do our best to support those who want to start taking Wegovy but it is important to recognize that overall demand will continue to exceed supply. This means that some patients may still have difficulty filling their prescriptions. We will continue to closely monitor market dynamics and prescribing trends,” the Novo Nordisk website said.
Since the popularity of the drug as a means for weight loss skyrocketed, the drug has become more inaccessible. In recent years, this has become the topic of discussion as to whether the use of semaglutide as a weight loss drug is ethical, as those who need it for diabetical purposes are having greater trouble obtaining the medicine they rely on to control their blood sugar levels.
Public opinion on using semaglutide for weight loss is polarized. Many celebrities and influences have praised the drug’s results, often sharing their experiences with it on social media. On the other hand, there is backlash from those who see it as a shortcut that ignores the complexity of weight management, which includes factors like diet, exercise, mental health, and socioeconomic influences.
“Ozempic is a medical essential for some people who are diabetic, and I think that it shouldn't be used for purposes other than that because it'll take medication away from those who actually need it and those who it was created for,” NHS junior Gabriella DeNicola said.
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