In a world where Instagram-worthy photos reign supreme, the pressure to battle against obesity and look flawless could be high. It has long been a public health challenge that prompts various interventions, including lifestyle changes, diet plans, and surgery. Some individuals are turning to “wonder drugs”, including the use of anti-obesity medicines such as Ozempic (Semaglutide).
Many users find it revolutionary for its efficacy in the fight against obesity. The doctors witnessing a rise in this trend have raised concerns about their safety, risks and consequences. Recently, doctors in the United Kingdom warned people who consume Ozempic to achieve a ‘beach body’. The doctors raised concerns over rising use of Ozempic and how harmful it could be for the body.
The national medical director of NHS England, Stephen Powis, said during a press conference in Manchester that drugs including Ozempic and Wegovy should only be used by people prescribed to them for obesity or diabetes, according to a New York Post report.
“I am worried about reports that people are misusing them. They are not intended as a quick fix for people trying to get ‘beach body’ ready,” the doctor added.
Manufactured by Novo Nordisk, Ozempic is a medication primarily used to treat type-2 diabetes. It belongs to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists that help manage blood sugar levels. The medicine works by imitating the hormones that the body naturally produces to stimulate insulin release in response to food.
It is sold under the brand ‘Rybelsus’ and was launched in India in January 2022. The anti-obesity drugs market has increased to Rs 474 crore as of January this year, according to a report by market research firm Pharmarack.
Ozempic has recently been repurposed for weight loss and is marketed under the brand name Wegovy, following clinical trials that demonstrated its effectiveness in drastically reducing body weight.
Meanwhile, a consultant in acute medicine and president-elect of the Society for Acute Medicine, Dr Vicky Price, said that young and beautiful girls are landing in emergency rooms across the UK while buying Ozempic online.
“Sadly, we are seeing serious, life-threatening complications, including inflammation of the pancreas gland and alterations in blood salt levels, in these patients, who were not aware of the risk they were taking,” Dr Price was quoted as saying by the New York Post.
He went on to say that there is an urgent need for regulation and control of access to anti-obesity drugs online to avoid more patients becoming ill.
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