OZEMPIC recently made headlines after criticizing celebrities for using type 2 diabetes medications to lose weight.
But a woman in Dublin spoke about how Ozempic changed her life and urged people to be less harsh on those relying on the drug for weight loss.
Ashley O’Driscoll, 36, lives in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin and began her weight loss journey on June 27, 2022.
She originally weighed 134 kg (22 stone) and stood just 5 feet 11 inches. [her] height”.
Her weight began to seriously affect her mental and physical health, preventing her from going out with family and friends.
Ozempic was recently approved for weight loss, so Ashley decided to try it and gradually increased her dose.
Injected once a week, Ozempic lowers blood sugar levels, delays stomach emptying, and makes you feel fuller for longer.
For Ashley, who had tried numerous times to lose weight since 2009 and failed each time, it was a last resort before opting for surgery.
Ashley now weighs 101 kilograms (15.9 stone), a total loss of 33 kilograms (5 stone) since last June.
She told The Irish Sun:
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“I’m literally half the size I was at this time last year. It’s a miracle, honestly.”
Regarding side effects, she explains:
“I got over it pretty quickly because the benefits outweighed the side effects a million times.
“Once you get over the first bit of nausea and headache, your life will change.
She points out that while Ozempic has helped her, it’s not the only thing, explaining:
Addressing the controversy surrounding the drug’s use for weight loss, she explained:
“What people need to understand is that obesity, especially morbid obesity, is a disease, much like diabetes, and one that is less talked about.
“The fact that something was put on the market to help people should be no different than someone with diabetes or any other health condition.
“It changed my life and I will never stop supporting it, but there is a lot of hard work behind the scenes as well.
Ashley posts her weight loss journey on TikTok and accomplishes goals like hitting 20,000 steps a day.
“You have all the type 2 diabetics [who are saying] “We can’t get it now because everyone is using it for weight loss” – people need to see it.OK, it’s hard to get because of this, but Helping people who are trying to lose weight they are not losing weight… do it in other ways.
“For me, this was my last option before weight loss surgery.
“Body-loss surgery is a major, life-altering decision that not only can be very expensive, but it will also require you to undergo general anesthesia with stitches or excision of half of your stomach.
“Using Ozempic doesn’t change your body in the sense that your stomach doesn’t contract, and it’s all due to different eating habits.”
She continues: On another level, this is necessary to make our lives better.Obesity is a silent killer.
“I have a 14 year old. She will be 14 next month. If I hadn’t done this when I did, how long would I have lived to see her grow up?” I don’t understand.”
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In conclusion she said:
“If I can do it, anyone can do it.”
