Dark SIDE OF OZEMPIC: WEIGHT LOSS AT WHAT COST

Dark SIDE OF OZEMPIC: WEIGHT LOSS AT WHAT COST

Ozempic also known as semaglutide is drug approved in 2017 by FDA for the diabetes-2 patients. It is actually a weekly drug designed for the purpose of controlling blood sugar levels by initiating pancreas to produce more insulin. Ozempic was never meant to be used for weight loss reasons but for the past few years, the trend of taking ozempic for the purpose of weight loss has greatly amplified.

 

How does ozempic function

Ozempic mimics a naturally occurring hormone. As the levels of this hormone level increases, it signals the brain for satiety so you don’t consume more food. Not only that it makes you stop eating but also it slows down your digestion just like bariatric surgery does to a patient. It results in a person eating less and less food eventually leading to weight loss. 

 

Ozempic for weight loss

Weight loss by ozempic is not as straightforward as it seems. It just doesn’t target your "fat" but also your "lean mass" which is basically not fat. This has increased concern regarding muscle mass and strength loss.

A recent study conducted on mice has shed light to some interesting facts not known before. The study suggests that muscle mass change wasn't as much yet produced weaker muscles. 

 

Concerns 

According to researchers, ozempic induced weight loss was about 10% lean mass decreased. This wasn't from the skeleton muscle but from other tissues such as liver which lessen about half the original size. Although, research is needed in humans to prove if this is the case in humans or not? 

Loss of mass in active organs is part of a healthy weight loss said by Ran Hee Choi, PhD, research instructor in nutrition and integrative physiology at U of U health and co-first author of the study. It is not plausible that mass loss observed in the case has any opposing effect on the health, says Takuya Karasawa, PhD, post-doctoral researcher in the U of U molecular Medicine Program and co-first author on the study.

However, just like loss has an effect so does gains have the same effect. Therefore, loss of fat leads to loss of skeleton mass without having poor quality of life. As we grow older, muscle mass decreases and so does the mobility. Hence, it is concerning for adults over the age of 50.