A drug originally created for people with type 2 diabetes is also increasingly becoming a popular way to lose weight.
Melissa Sanderson-Alsbergas is a 29-year-old woman from Kitchener who lives with a chronic condition that makes physical activity difficult. She came to a crossroads in her weight loss journey when a new prescription was discussed as a potential solution.
“I’m starting to give up,” Sanderson-Alsbergas said. “Then my doctor mentioned Ozempic.”
The drug, a branded version of semaglutide, was intended to help people with diabetes control their blood sugar. Its popularity has skyrocketed in recent months for another of its effects – doctors are now prescribing the drug for its off-label weight loss benefit.
“So I’ve been on it for a month now and so far I’ve lost about 15 pounds,” Sanderson-Alsbergas explained.
Although they have the ability to help users lose weight, professionals warn of some of the serious side effects associated with the drug.
“In the first 12 weeks of using the drug, you’re so nauseous and disinterested in foods that actually stimulate weight loss,” said Nishta Saxena, registered dietitian at Vibrant Nutrition.
Recently there has been controversy surrounding the use of the drug for weight loss purposes, especially south of the border where they have faced shortages of Ozempic.
In Canada, this does not seem to be the case. A statement emailed from Diabetes Canada to CTV News reads:
“So far, we have not received any such complaints or reports. We also continuously check Health Canada’s public site listing drug shortages – Ozempic is not currently listed as a drug shortage.
Despite reassurance from the governing body, some dietitians fear the drug will only provide a short-term fix.
“The most painful part of taking Ozempic is when you stop taking the drug, the weight will probably rebound,” Saxena said.
In cases like Sanderson-Alsbergas’, experts say the drug can be used safely and effectively. However, they caution that this requires careful consideration by both patient and physician.
With Sanderson-Alsbergas now able to easily push her son on the swing, she said the reward far outweighed the risk.