What's with all the hype surrounding Ozempic and other weight-loss drugs?

The medication Ozempic and its competitors were first developed in the 2010s to treat diabetes and obesity. But they’re now widely being used off-label as weight-loss aides.

Some fear their popularity could undermine the body-positivity and inclusivity work that has helped different body types be embraced in mainstream culture.

Why Ozempic?

Every generation seems to have it's own popular diet drug.

Even Oprah Winfrey — arguably the most visible and powerful dieter of the last century — has embraced a pharmaceutical approach to her own weight management. She's used words like, “relief,” “redemption,” and “gift” to describe the class of drugs known as “GLP-1 agonists,” which includes Ozempic.

What makes Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro so sought after is how efficacious they are, said Dr. Ellen Schur, an obesity medicine doctor and researcher at UW Medicine.

"This family of medicines act on a system of hormones that are released from the gut when we eat, and one of these hormones is called GLP-1," Schur said. "It's produced in the intestines when we eat and it travels through the bloodstream to the pancreas. And there, it causes the pancreas to make more insulin."

That in turn helps our body move glucose and energy into our heart, cells, brain and muscles. Ozempic also triggers GLP-1 receptors in the brain to signal fullness. And "because [it's] treating the underlying biology of appetite and body weight as it's regulated in the brain," Schur said, it can cause people to consumer fewer calories, and thus, lose weight.

When people attempt to lose weight with lifestyle changes alone, they typically lose about 5% to 7% of their bodyweight, according to Schur. But regaining that weight is common; current data indicates weight-loss drug users are able to lose 10% to 15% of their bodyweight.

But along with the benefits of weight-loss drugs may come some drawbacks.

"Constipation, diarrhea — there are some serious side effects and risks," Schur said, adding that medications like Ozempic can also cause inflammation of the pancreas.

Body positivity in a post-Ozempic world

The United States has made some inroads when it comes to addressing weight discrimination through policy. In May 2023, New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed into law legislation that prohibits discrimination based on an individual's height and weight. Additionally, some physicians are taking on a weight-neutral approach to health care.

But Tigress Osborn, chair of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, believes the publicity and current media fascination with Ozempic creates an "uphill battle" for those trying to advocate for fat people today.

"What comes up when we're doing this work is, 'Well, wouldn't it just be easier for you to lose weight?' or 'Wouldn't it just be easier for them to lose weight?'" Osborn said. "And when the public has a perception that it's easier than it used to be to lose weight, then it's even easier to make that argument."

Osborn argues there's another reason we may be hearing a lot about Ozempic and other weight-loss medications: Drug companies are spending a lot of money to promote them.

"I do think it's really important for us to note the amount of money spent on the marketing of these drugs and the sort of concerted efforts of the pharmaceutical industry to cultivate a market for these drugs," she said.

How is the pharmaceutical industry cashing in?

Right now, two pharmaceutical companies are ahead of the rest when it comes to producing and marketing weight-loss drugs: Novo Nordisk, the Danish company that makes Ozempic, and U.S.-based Eli Lilly, which makes Mounjaro and Zepbound, said Madison Muller, a health reporter for Bloomberg.

Pfizer is also hoping to hop into the weight-loss drug market as well.

"A lot of experts think that there's room for multiple companies in this because ultimately, if we have more products, it will make the products cheaper," Muller said. "There is room for ... pills because the drugs right now are injections."

Listen to Soundside's full interviews with Dr. Ellen Schur, Tigress Osborn, and Madison Muller by clicking the play icon at the top of this story.