How it works and what are the risks of the medicine

Ozempic has gained popularity in recent years due to its effect on weight loss. Indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, the medicine has weight loss as one of its effects and has been used for aesthetic purposes.

But what many people question is whether using Ozempic to lose weight is safe.

Endocrinologist Aline Teles explains that semaglutide, a substance in Ozempic, is effective and safe for weight loss because it makes people feel fuller when they eat and reduces cravings for sweets and carbohydrates, for example.

“It restricts hunger and food intake by mimicking a hormone, released by the intestine after eating, that affects brain regions involved in appetite and reward,” he adds. Despite being safe, the specialist emphasizes that it is necessary to evaluate the medication from a professional.

Aline comments that the medication works mainly in the gastrointestinal tract, its main adverse effects are gastrointestinal. The main symptoms are: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and worsening of reflux symptoms.

“It is important to highlight that, in most cases, these symptoms are mild to moderate. More serious and less common adverse effects include risks of acute pancreatitis, intestinal obstruction, gastroparesis, reduced mobility of the gastrointestinal tract and medullary thyroid cancer”, he comments the specialist about the side effects.

The professional believes that the drug “fever” is due to advances in science. “Science is changing rapidly, along with public opinion, about obesity, which is increasingly understood as a disease that can be treated medically with medication, rather than being understood as a failure of willpower.”

However, drug treatments for obesity have a regrettable past, with medications having several serious side effects, triggering catastrophic heart and lung conditions, for example. History was marked by failures to find safe and effective medications for weight loss, until the emergence of GLP-1 analogues – Liraglutide and Semaglutide. Originally developed to treat diabetes, these agonists of the gut hormone called GLP-1 induce significant weight loss, with negligible side effects in most patients. More recent studies have also shown cardiovascular benefits – reduced cardiovascular risk and its broader impacts on cardiometabolic health.”, concludes the specialist.

Medicines arriving in Brazil

Wegovy (semaglutide), from Novo Nordisk, the same pharmaceutical company responsible for Ozempic, should reach Brazilian pharmacies from July. The medicine was approved by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) in January 2023 for the treatment of obesity and overweight. Both Wegovy and Ozempic require a medical prescription.

Anvisa approved the medicine for adults who are obese or overweight with any associated comorbidity. The maximum price to be charged is R$2,484, according to the Medicines Market Regulation Chamber (CMED).

‘Ozempic’s Head’

The term ‘Ozempic head’ became one of the most talked about topics on social media this week after singers Maiara, from the duo with Maraísa, and Mari Fernandez, as well as other celebrities shared their weight loss and users stated that the loss occurred due to the use of medicines. On social media, fans used the expression to point out that, after losing weight, the artists’ heads are disproportionate in size to their bodies.