Kelly Osbourne raves about ‘superb’ weight-loss drug Ozempic regardless of mom Sharon’s unhealthy expertise – and she or he says critics are simply JEALOUS

Over the summer time I used to be fortunate sufficient to be invited to a 60th birthday at which the after-dinner leisure was a non-public efficiency by one of many UK’s main male pop stars. Extra eye-popping than the precise present, although, was how unbelievable mentioned star seemed. He was a mere shadow of his former self, prancing across the stage in a silver catsuit. His secret? Semaglutide, or Ozempic as it’s branded, a brand new weight-reduction plan drug that everyone – however all people, darling, together with one of many world’s most well-known supermodels – is seemingly taking. 

Initially developed to deal with sort 2 diabetes, it’s used off-label (for a objective apart from that for which it was licensed) in each the US and the UK to deal with weight problems. In analysis performed by its billionaire producer, the Danish-based pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk, sufferers misplaced a median of 17 per cent of their total physique weight over 68 weeks. This compares with 5 to 9 per cent for ‘oldschool’ anti-obesity medicine comparable to Metformin. 

Solely out there within the UK on the NHS you probably have sort 2 diabetes, Ozempic will be obtained by a non-public physician, and if you’re prepared to take it with out medical supervision – not beneficial by docs (see panel) – you may get it on-line by varied weight-loss programmes. It’s typically taken in pill kind however extra generally as an injection. 

Initially developed to deal with sort 2 diabetes, Semaglutide is used off-label. It has been branded as a brand new weight-reduction plan drug that everyone is seemingly taking

Predictably, Hollywood has been conscious of Ozempic for lots longer than us – Selection journal lately quipped that the drug deserved its personal thank-you speech on the Emmys, as so many stars on the rostrum had clearly been taking it. Elon Musk raved about its extra highly effective sister drug, Wegovy, on Twitter; Kim Kardashian, it’s hotly rumoured, used semaglutide to lose 16lb so as to match into Marilyn Monroe’s gown for the Met Ball. On TikTok the hashtag #ozempic has had greater than 285 million views. 

Because of the hype, there was a surge in demand, inflicting shortages on each side of the Atlantic, with a backlash towards influencers and celebrities hogging provides forward of determined diabetes victims. Predictably, Huge Pharma has give you an alternate – tirzepatide (model title Mounjaro), manufactured by Eli Lilly – but it surely has but to be permitted by the US Meals & Drug Administration for weight reduction. 

Novo Nordisk has issued an announcement to say its provides might be replenished by the top of the 12 months, but it surely hasn’t quelled nervousness. At the very least two middle-aged male pals of mine who began utilizing it in September are getting themselves in a twist about being caught quick earlier than the vacations. As one personal London GP remarked to me: ‘It is just like the H RT panic final spring.’ 

So what precisely is that this drug? Semaglutide belongs to a category referred to as GLP-1 agonists, which not solely regulate blood sugar however, as was found a couple of decade in the past, additionally mimic the intestine hormones that regulate our appetites – those that inform the mind after we are hungry or full. There are, in fact, unintended effects: acid reflux disease, nausea, exacerbation of IBS signs and fatigue (however a lot much less so than in earlier GLP-1 agonists comparable to Saxenda), in addition to pancreatitis, gallstones and, in very excessive doses, it has induced thyroid tumours in rats. In the meantime, once you cease utilizing it the impact wears off instantly and in some circumstances it will not work in any respect. 

‘I’d describe semaglutide for example of very good science,’ says main advisor endocrinologist Dr Efthimia Karra from her personal follow off London’s Harley Road. ‘However it’s not a panacea for everybody. Round a fifth of customers don’t reply to it. It’s because the human physique favours weight acquire, thus once you shed extra pounds the physique will do something to revert to its highest BMI. The heavier you’re the tougher it’s to shed extra pounds. If a affected person has made no progress in three months, I’ll take them off it.’ 

Banker’s spouse Laura, a local New Yorker in her mid-50s who had hovered between a long time, began utilizing it in January. ‘The Paleo weight-reduction plan, 5:2, CBT, NLP, bootcamp, weight-reduction plan supply companies – I’ve tried all of them,’ she says from the household dwelling in Hampshire, ‘and I’ve at all times yo-yoed proper again. After my final annual checkup I severely contemplated giving up. Then my physician instructed semaglutide.’ 

After solely a month she seen her garments had change into looser. From then on, the burden began dropping off. ‘The unusual factor was, I wasn’t consuming something completely different. I simply could not bodily have seconds any extra, and the concept of pudding after a full meal had misplaced its attract.’ Three months on, she is 2 stone lighter ‒ although sometimes she suffers heartburn if she eats too late at evening or drinks alcohol ‒ and after we spoke in autumn, she was wanting ahead to shedding one other stone by Christmas. 

‘There’s a niggling voice that tells me it’s each dangerous and lazy to take a drug to shed extra pounds, and I fear that it’ll all pile on once more if I cease taking it. But when it does, I’ll severely take into account taking it indefinitely.’ 

Personal London GP Dr Martin Galy has been prescribing semaglutide for a couple of 12 months to shoppers who can not lose the burden they gained in menopause. He has seen it have a transformational impact, too, on a lot youthful ladies who are suffering polycystic ovary syndrome. ‘PCOS victims are troublesome to deal with, and you may think about how physique picture performs a vital half on the subject of shallowness.’ 

However in keeping with Tom Sanders, professor of diet and dietetics at King’s School London, it’s not a magic bullet. Commenting on a examine on semaglutide printed in The New England Journal of Medication in 2021, he says, ‘The problem post-weight loss is to stop a regain in weight,’ he wrote. It might show to be helpful within the quick time period, however ‘public well being measures that encourage behavioural modifications comparable to common bodily exercise and moderating dietary vitality consumption are nonetheless wanted’. 

That mentioned, given our rising nationwide weight problems statistics and the escalation in accompanying well being points comparable to coronary heart failure, most cancers and obstructive sleep apnoea clogging up hospital beds, we will want one thing. Semaglutide stands out as the wealthy individual’s drug in the present day, however may or not it’s permitted for extra widespread use? Solely time will inform.