Are we seeing the start of an “Ozempic for all” movement?
In yesterday’s post on the expansion of the definition of obesity to include 70% of Americans, I wrote:
Who’s celebrating? The makers of diet drugs and the purveyors of diet programs.
Well, today I saw this article:
The study, published in the Lancet journal and funded by Novo Nordisk, looked at data from 17,604 people aged 45 and over who were overweight and had cardiovascular disease, who were randomly assigned either weekly injections of semaglutide or placebo.
Previous analysis* of this data by the same international team found that semaglutide reduced heart attacks, strokes and other major cardiac events by 20% in this group.
In the new study, the team found that this reduction in major adverse events was similar regardless of participants’ weight at the start of the trial. That is, people only marginally classed as overweight, with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 (the average BMI for adults in the UK), saw similar benefits as those with obesity who had the highest BMIs.
The benefits were also largely independent of how much weight people lost in the first four and a half months of taking the drug. However, the researchers found a link between shrinking waistlines (the reduction in waist circumference) and heart benefits, with this accounting for a third of the drug’s protective effect on the heart after two years.
Google’s AI says “Novo Nordisk is a Danish pharmaceutical company that manufactures and distributes Ozempic, a prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity … an injectable medication containing semaglutide …”
So this study is funded by the manufacturer of the drug. That doesn’t mean the finding is a lie, but it certainly means it should be looked on with caution.
Thing is, these weight-loss drugs also have major side effects. The known ones tend to be GI problems, but often serious enough to cause people to stop the drug even though quite motivated to take it. And even one of the study authors says:
This work has implications for how semaglutide is used in clinical practice. You don’t have to lose a lot of weight and you don’t need a high BMI to gain cardiovascular benefit. If your aim is to reduce cardiovascular disease, restricting its use to a limited time only and for those with the highest BMIs doesn’t make sense.
At the same time, the benefits need to be weighed against potential side effects. Investigations of side effects become especially important given the broad range of people this medicine and others like it could help.
We have no idea what the long-term side effects would be; these drugs are relatively new.
I have friend that is taking a low dosage of the drug. He has no ill side effects, and he has not had to take insulin. So for him, a win win.
My BMI is in the 29 range, and I am 79. BMI is not recalibrated for age. Should I take it? Don’t know. I may think about it and talk with my Doc. I am down 20 lbs, would like to lose another 15 lb or so. Get down to 170
I was on Ozempic for type 2 and didn’t experience any significant weight loss. But what I did experience was gastrointestinal problems. Without wanting to be too graphic, I would sometimes to go 3-4 days between bathroom visits. I felt terrible, and would finally have to resort to laxatives to correct the situation. Eventually I said enough is enough, and told my doctor that I would not take the drug.
As for weight loss and lowering my a1C, largely curtailing sugar and grains, along with time-restricted eating (16:8 intermittent fasting 6 days/week) is what worked for me.
@neo: Are we seeing the start of an “Ozempic for all” movement?
Why not?
That’s what happened in the 90s with Prozac. Doctors were essentially handing out Prozac and SSRIs like Chiclets to anyone who asked.
Happily the many side-effects of Prozac aren’t terribly debilitating or dangerous. Nonetheless, withdrawing from Prozac is unpleasant and many people, decades later, are still stuck in the Prozac Roach Motel.
Prozac was never tested for long-term use. It was supposed to be temporary … until it wasn’t.
Here’s a tidbit they didn’t notice until the mass social experiment had gone on for a few decades.
Brain zaps. Yum!
______________________________
The only thing that’s known to help prevent brain zaps is to stay on the antidepressant.
–“In SSRI Withdrawal, Brain Zaps Go from Overlooked Symptom to Center Stage?”
https://www.psychiatrist.com/news/brain-zaps-go-from-overlooked-symptom-to-center-stage-in-ssri-withdrawal/
I went on Jardiance and am now within normal weight range. So YMMV
Mary, I have been on Jardiance for almost 2 yr. Didn’t do anything for my weight. I take it for my Kidneys. My neighbor takes it for his heart. Wonder Drug?
I’m taking Wegovy. I’ve lost 30 pounds so far. No side effects. And it’s good for my heart. And I’m feeling better all the time. The Otter Spouse says I look great. Needless to say, I’m very happy with the results.
I’m don’t care about negative long term effects, if any. I don’t anticipate being around for the long term.
“We have no idea what the long-term side effects would be; these drugs are relatively new.” Neo
This.
Following survival of the cytokine storm, the only damage my husband suffered was a blockage in an artery (not the “widowmaker”). He was put on a statin, a blood thinner and a beta blocker post angioplasty/stent procedure. I was disappointed when the doctors kept him on all 3 drugs. 5 years now and I came across an article on Metoprolol–90 million prescriptions and being used off-label for anxiety in children. NO LONG TERM STUDIES until Germany is now looking into it. Turns out that for women using the drug long-term the incidence for a fatal heart attack is 45% greater. This is the very thing the drug was originally prescribed to avoid.
I brought the article to his doctor and he is no longer taking it.
I’m convinced that one of the objectives of the pharmaceutical industry is that we all be on at least one drug and the earlier the better. To my knowledge there is no drug without side effects, every one a double-edged sword wherein the greater good needs to be be decided.
I’m 65 this year and like a switch, my metabolism changed. As of February, I have excised 800 to a 1000 calories per week from my diet while increasing my moderate exercise. I have only lost 4 pounds which tells me I would be packing them on without the calorie reduction. No alcohol (I used to be a daily drinker– G & T and wine), no sweets except fresh or dried fruit. Gave up seed oils 2 years ago. Was raised on and maintain the Mediterranean diet. I have arthritis in both feet and genetic bunions that have emerged and cause problems. Aging is a challenge requiring a lot of adjustments. My goal is to maintain mobility and be drug free. Time will tell.
Every time I think I might try a semaglutide for my slight overweight and an a1C at the top end of normal, I look at the side effects and decide to spend more time on my rowing machine.
I wonder what society will be like when everyone is physically beautiful. Beauty and/or handsomeness is a great social advantage in today’s world. What will replace it in tomorrow’s world?
Irish otter,
You’ll also have an uncontrollable urge to walk around with other people and work on Chevrolet pickups that don’t know what grease is!
I walk the yard marking dog (and other critters) poop while my mobility limited wife drives along behind on a small zero turn lawnmower to do the actual pickup. According to my smart watch, poop patrol causes me to walk a literal mile.
While we’re all distracted, trying to discover the (latest, greatest) fountain of youth, lose weight and achieve radiant health…
“We’re Living Through A Coordinated Sabotage Of Truth-Seeking Institutions”—
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/were-living-through-coordinated-sabotage-truth-seeking-institutions
So is health the new soma?…
(Maybe hate is…)
+ Bonus:
“Subversion of thought as a strategy to delegitimize Israel, undermine the West;
“Western democracies need to develop and implement countermeasures that preserve democratic values while addressing technological manipulation.”—
https://www.jns.org/subversion-of-thought-as-a-strategy-to-delegitimize-israel-undermine-the-west/