Chicago — Oprah Winfrey did not say whether she was using Ozempic, Wigovy, or another drug, but it sparked a new debate about who should use weight loss drugs and their effectiveness.
Winfrey, who turns 70 next month, said she had struggled with her weight for years and thought it was all about willpower. She said she now feels relieved that she doesn't blame herself and has new tools to fight her obesity.
Winfrey revealed that she uses weight loss drugs, telling People magazine, “The fact that there is a medically approved formula for managing my weight and staying healthy has been a comfort to me for the rest of my life.” I feel like it's like a gift, like a salvation, and it's not something I can hide just once.” He will be ridiculed again. ”
She said: “For 25 years it has been a public sport to make fun of me. There are qualities in me that no amount of willpower can control.”
Dr. Veronica Johnson, an internist and obesity specialist at Northwestern Medicine, said, “I approve of these drugs for patients who are struggling with their weight or have weight-related symptoms.'' Ta.
Mr Johnson said diabetes and weight loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wigovy and Munjaro were giving patients a new lease of life. Some of the effects of these drugs are similar to those in people who have undergone surgery, she said.
“Weight is a risk factor for a lot of different medical factors, so if you treat someone's weight, you can prevent them from getting different forms of different cancers, developing diabetes, having heart disease. “We can reduce the risk of doing so,” she said.
However, the recent popularity of these drugs also comes with challenges. Johnson said some people are using the drug as a quick fix, making it difficult for people with diabetes to get the treatment they need to survive.
JB Starks, who has type 2 diabetes, said Ozempic has made a huge difference in managing his diabetes and weight, but he is currently unable to get his prescription filled due to a nationwide shortage.
“I've gotten to the point where I'm simply frustrated that manufacturers and industry haven't found a way to establish priorities to get drugs to the people who need them most. “The obese people, and then the people in the middle,” he said.
Johnson said some people are using copy brands because they want drugs.
“There are medical spas, and there are compounding pharmacies that offer non-FDA-approved products at a lower price,” she said.
Johnson said the key is to talk to your doctor, make a plan and commit to a healthy lifestyle that improves your quality of life.
The makers of Ozempic and Wegovy said they would take legal action against sites misusing their brands. They said the 2-milligram dose is in very high demand, but smaller doses are currently available in the United States.
Copyright © 2023 WLS-TV. All rights reserved.
