Featured Image Credit: TikTok/@dr.karanr / Jakub Porzycki / NurPhoto via Getty Images
Topics: US News, World News, Health, Viral, TikTok, Social Media
Tom Earnshaw
Topics: US News, World News, Health, Viral, TikTok, Social Media
A doctor with millions of followers on TikTok has opened up on the 'truth' when it comes to taking Ozempic if you want to lose weight.
Dr. Karan Rajan has waded in to the Ozempic debate, with the medicine labelled a 'miracle drug' by some who want to shed the pounds.
The likes of Sharon Osbourne have opened up on using the drug to lose weight, revealing how her eating habits have changed as a result.
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Former Nickelodeon star Josh Peck poked fun at himself following the release of the drug, with fans praising him on his own weight loss journey.
The drug was originally created to help people with type 2 diabetes but now, wider access has been granted for the general public.
Taking to TikTok, where he has more than five million followers, Dr. Rajan explained when you should be taking weight loss drugs like Ozempic and when they should be outright avoided due to the risks that come with them.
Yep, it's not risk free folks.
"If you're thinking about taking Ozempic for short term weight loss, as a surgeon who has been involved with weight loss surgeries, let me tell you the truth," he says.
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"Research shows that most people who stop Ozempic will regain most of their original weight.
"This study of almost 2,000 adults showed that patients how stopped ozempic regained two thirds of the lost weight within a year.
"The question then becomes do you actually need to chase weight loss at all cost, or at the cost of taking medications for life?
"And the answer to that might be yes if the alternative is life-threatening chronic metabolic diseases.
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"For the select group of patients who would benefit from Ozempic it's got a far lower risk profile than major weight loss surgery which literally involves rearranging your guts.
"And it can still offer similar weight loss benefits and be far less invasive.
"In specific cases, Ozempic can be a game-changer for the treatment of obesity.
"But for someone who is slightly overweight or a normal weight, and taking Ozempic to shed a few kilos or get that summer six pack, the risk-benefit ratio of Ozempic does not land favourably.
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"To get a six pack are you willing to risk a side effect like pancreatitis, the inflammation of the pancreas that can be fatal.
"Ultimately the data shows Ozempic alone is not sufficient for sustainable long term weight loss. It has to be combined with lifestyle changes including dietary changes and exercise."
When taking something like Ozempic, we reckon you should always listen to the experts on this.