This was the third time I’ve rejected an endocrinologist’s prescription in 5 minutes. “I’ll put it in your file, so if you change your mind it will be there,” she replied curtly.
I had read a lot about Ozempic, an injectable semaglutide intended to treat type 2 diabetes, but now celebrity One of the main side effects is rapid weight loss. However, I didn’t realize how easy it would be for an average person like me to get hold of medication just to shed some extra pounds.
I should have known Medical lipophobia is such a common reality that 5’11”, 275 lb fat people, myself included, have to deal with it almost every time they step into a doctor’s office. How many times have you seen a doctor and been advised (or ordered) to lose weight, regardless of the nature of your symptoms? Chronic migraines? “Lose weight!” Painful stomach cramps? “Lose Weight!” Debilitating Anxiety? “Lose weight!”
Three years ago, I had my thyroid removed because two nodules in my throat had grown to the size of grapefruits. This happened because the GP took too long to diagnose the problem and blamed it on the weight gain. If I had tested earlier, I could have been given medicine to shrink the nodules, which means I still have my thyroid today and a constantly fluctuating dose of Synthroid, an artificial hormone, for the rest of my life.
Over the years, I’ve heard maddening stories of people being patronized by doctors or being misdiagnosed and treated.
So I wasn’t surprised when my doctor pushed Ozempic on me. Ads, TikTok, new york In magazines, on the Oscar stage. “Everyone looks so nice. Looking around this room, I can’t help but wonder if Ozempic is right for me,” joked the ceremony’s host, Jimmy Kimmel.
However, Ozempic is only approved by Health Canada for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, not for weight loss. The two dosages are completely different. Weight loss requires almost twice as many injections as glycemic control. Side effects include nausea, diarrhea, digestive problems and, in more extreme cases, vomiting, extreme fatigue, and even lethargy and depression.
Ozempic is often not covered by insurance plans when used off-label, such as for weight loss. According to Karine Gravel, a registered dietitian with a doctorate in nutrition, “Depending on the dosage prescribed, the cost can vary between $250 and $500 a month. That’s a huge amount. These costs will be with me for the rest of my life because when I stop taking Ozempic the weight goes back on.” Gravel called it the band-aid solution. “It works on the surface temporarily. If you have a negative body image or a difficult relationship with food, it doesn’t really solve anything and may increase the risk of the patient developing an eating disorder.” It is often presented as this miracle cure for cases.
That’s what happened to Alexandra*. She started taking her Ozempic in February 2021 on her doctor’s advice to manage her diabetes and lose her weight as an added “bonus.” “Within a few weeks, I experienced nausea, stomach pains, extreme fatigue, and most amazingly, I had episodes of bulimia, relapsing into an eating disorder I had recovered from over the years.” said Alexandra, who has gained 20 pounds at Ozempic.
By that point, Alexandra said she spent four out of seven days in bed, in addition to the drugs making her very tired and causing vomiting, diarrhea, and even spells of fainting. had to go on sick leave.Oddly enough, even though I increased my dose, I continued to gain weight.After a few months, I stopped taking medication to regain my health, energy and life. I decided to quit.”
Amélie* can empathize. She is taking her Ozempic to control her diabetes. “It works pretty well, but the adjustment process is really difficult,” she said. I’ve only lost about 12 pounds in that time, not the extreme changes you see on TikTok.”
Dr. Benoît Arsenault, a researcher at the Quebec Heart and Lung Institute and an associate professor of medicine at Laval University, said Ozempic could help people if prescribed correctly. and people of all sizes suffering from cardiometabolic disease. [like insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.] My problem with this drug is when it is prescribed to people who are overweight and have no cardio-metabolic problems. “
My mind was made up about Ozempic before I saw the doctor. I refuse to fall prey to yet another tempting weight-loss promise that, in the best-case scenario, will get me yo-yoed back to where I started.
Dr. Stephanie Leonard, a psychologist who specializes in treating eating disorders, said: “It can bring back a lot of pain and trauma from the past.”
I feel that the growing popularity of this class of drugs is just the beginning. WeightWatchers that make headings for getting sequencesis a weight loss management telemedicine company known for making medications like Ozempic easier to access. But I will not participate. I actually like my body, despite society trying to convince me that I should feel otherwise. I would rather have the diet industry play me.
* Withhold surname.
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