Weight loss drugs are becoming more available to the general public, but there is often a lack of awareness of who should truly be taking them.
Unfortunately, we live in a world where celebrities and content creators dominate our screens and lives, often presenting with perfect bodies that make the general public feel insecure about the way they look.
Despite many people having healthy bodies to be proud of, the skinny epidemic means that more and more people are now opting to take weight loss drugs as a way of slimming down.
These drugs, which include the popular Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy, all began as treatments for Type-2 diabetes, but have shifted their focus somewhat after their significant weight loss side effect was noticed by the world.
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It's important to note that Ozempic is not approved for weight loss by both the NHS and FDA.
Since the medicines work to suppress appetite and make you feel fuller for longer, it's only natural that people are seeking out the drugs as a way of losing weight, even if it means putting up with the many other less pleasant side effects that have also been associated with them.
Although in the UK there are strict rules about who can be prescribed Mounjaro through the NHS, it seems obvious that people can access it through less legitimate online pharmacies, with some content creators even illegally advertising it to their audience.
The US has today (5 January) announced that Wegovy weight loss pills are now available to purchase, which only seems likely to increase the number of people taking them further, even when most health experts recommend that it's only people with severe weight issues that might cause problems with the heart who should be taking them.
We've seen people young and old start up on these GLP-1 medications, but there are specific groups who shouldn't take them under any circumstances.
Who shouldn't be taking these kinds of drugs?
Mounjaro, for example, is not suitable for people with long-lasting health conditions or a history of them within their family, including medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), pancreatitis and gastrointestinal diseases, as it could make symptoms worse or even cause tumours in the case of MTC.
Naturally, if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, then these medications are also a big no, but that didn't stop several online pharmacies from advertising these weight loss drugs to new mums recently.
Richard Wood, a pharmacist at Simple, says: “If you become pregnant during treatment despite additional safety measures like condoms and hormonal contraception, it is important that you stop Mounjaro as soon as you know you’re pregnant and seek support from your GP and Mounjaro provider.”
Since Mounjaro works to slow down digestion, it's also worth avoiding them if you're on other medications, as it could affect the way that they work on your body. You should always provide a list of any current medications that you're on before taking weight loss drugs.
Finally, these medications shouldn't be given to anyone under the age of 18, as all of the clinical trials have been carried out on adults.
Sadly, the ease with which people are able to get their hands on these medications suggests that this advice has likely already been ignored, but the best thing to do is to speak to your GP or doctor if you're concerned about your weight.
Topics: Ozempic, Mounjaro, Health, Social Media
James Moorhouse