Who’s Taking Ozempic? New Study Reveals Shift and Shortage Fears

Increasing Use of Ozempic for Weight Loss Sparks Concerns

Ozempic, a drug initially developed to treat Type 2 diabetes, is now being increasingly used for weight loss. This shift, highlighted by a new study, is causing fears of potential shortages for diabetes patients.

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Study Findings: Ozempic for Weight Loss

Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found that more healthcare providers are prescribing Ozempic-like drugs for obesity. Dr. Yee Hui Yeo, a clinical fellow at Cedars-Sinai, noted, “This data suggests a significant public health shift.” However, Yeo also warned about the potential for medication shortages, stressing the need to ensure diabetes patients maintain access to these treatments.

How Ozempic Works

Ozempic mimics a hormone called GLP-1 that suppresses appetite. The FDA approved it in 2017 for treating Type 2 diabetes by helping the pancreas produce more insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. In 2021, another semaglutide drug, Wegovy, was approved for weight loss. Wegovy users lost an average of 12.4% of their initial body weight in clinical trials.

Rapid Increase in Use

Dr. Ali Rezaie, co-author of the study and medical director of the Cedars-Sinai GI Motility Program, noted the rapid increase in the use of GLP-1 drugs for obesity after their approval. Rezaie and Yeo analyzed medical records from about 45 million Americans between 2011 and 2023, finding approximately 1 million new GLP-1 drug users, mostly white women with a BMI of 30 or higher.

Shift from Diabetes to Weight Loss

The study observed a decline in new GLP-1 prescriptions among Type 2 diabetes patients while prescriptions for obesity and related conditions without diabetes doubled, particularly since 2020. Most new users were in their mid-50s, and semaglutide has become more popular than liraglutide, another GLP-1 drug.

Concerns and Side Effects

The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, suggests careful monitoring of GLP-1 prescription patterns. Despite their benefits, these drugs have common side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. Rare side effects include eye conditions, hair loss, and behavioral changes. Side effects often lead users to stop taking the medication.

Future Research

A leading diabetes researcher, whose work on hormones contributed to Ozempic’s development, recently published a paper calling for tests on how effective these drugs are in preventing chronic diseases and reducing substance abuse.

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References:

• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Study
• Annals of Internal Medicine Publication
• FDA Approvals for Ozempic and Wegovy

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This article covers the significant shift in the use of Ozempic from diabetes treatment to weight loss, highlighting the benefits, concerns, and future research directions.