- RHONJ Star Dolores Catania recently opened up about her use of Ozempic and Mounjaro for weight loss.
- In the interview, she revealed that these drugs are “not an easy fix” and can be expensive.
- Experts say it’s important to make lifestyle changes while using the drug for long-lasting results.
- They also point out that insurance companies are reluctant to cover medications, making it difficult for those who need them to obtain them.
- They note that it’s important to talk to a credentialed expert rather than relying on celebrities for advice.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dolores Catania recently spoke with The American Sunrevealing that she has so far lost 20 pounds using the type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic, which she took for two years.
Previously, in April, she told Andy Cohen on Watch what’s happening live that she had recently switched to Mounjaro, another brand of medication containing the same active ingredient, semaglutide. She told Cohen that she switched to Mounjaro after taking a hiatus from Ozempic due to its cost.
The Bravo star further noted that she started the drug because “I was gaining weight every month,” hitting 163 pounds. She has since hit 137lbs but has her sights set on hitting “the low 130s”.
While many use the off-label diabetes drugs to lose weight, Catania said her need goes beyond just weight loss.
“I was medically prescribed both because I’m insulin resistant/pre-diabetic and have a thyroid problem,” she said.
Catania added, however, that semaglutide was “not an easy fix,” telling the outlet, “I work out regularly…and I have to watch what I eat.”
Dr. Amy Lee, Chief Medical Officer at Lindora Clinica weight management and metabolic health company based in Southern California, said that when you take drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy (an FDA-approved brand of semaglutide to help treat obesity), you use them as tools to help you lose weight.
“They are intended to achieve ideal, healthy and manageable weight loss faster,” she explained.
She went on to say, “These drugs are not the magic bullet and once you stop you will acquire the symptoms of hunger and cravings that you had before you started treatment. Your body will return to the “base line”.
Unfortunately, people often start using these drugs with unrealistic expectations due to the way they are marketed. Rhyan Geiger, RDN, owner of Phoenix Vegan Dietitianexplained, “Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic are marketed to make people feel like their lives are about to change for the better.”
However, Geiger added that many people overlook the negative side effects such as vomiting, diarrhea and changes in social context around food that some people may experience while taking these drugs, which can greatly affect quality of life.
In addition to having unrealistic expectations, some weight loss patients, including Catania, find that drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro can be quite expensive because insurance companies refuse to pay for them.
Geiger said it can hurt people who don’t have the money to pay out of pocket.
“Without insurance, this drug can cost upwards of $900, depending on the dose,” she said. “Coverage changes will put less privileged groups at particular risk of losing access to medicines.”
One of the reasons for the lack of coverage, according to Lee, is that insurance companies are for-profit businesses.
“The monthly payment required for this class of specialty drugs often forces individuals to carefully consider the potential return on investment and cost-benefit of treatment,” she said. “Also, will people just use this medicine and lose weight and be cured? Or does their weight come back if not taken long term or regularly? »
Lee further noted that the risk of regaining weight after stopping the drug is actually what makes most insurance companies reluctant to pay for the drug without trying cheaper options first.
She said, however, that the insurance industry is beginning to agree to better cover these drugs as more data is collected and obesity advocates speak out.
“However, we are still far from covering the majority of the population in need,” she concluded.
Geiger said that regardless of your weight loss goals, she always recommends working with a registered dietitian.
“One program doesn’t work for everyone,” she added, “because we are all individuals.”
She also pointed out that working with a professional who can provide personalized nutritional advice can help some people adopt healthier eating habits beyond just weight loss.
Additionally, Geiger cautioned against seeking out celebrities for weight loss advice because they are not credentialed professionals and “live in a different reality.”
“It’s never a good idea to take advice from someone on the big screen regarding personal health,” she advised.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey Star Dolores Catania recently opened up about her use of Ozempic and Mounjaro to help with weight loss.
In the interview, she revealed that these drugs are “not an easy fix” and can be expensive.
Experts say it’s important to make lifestyle changes while using the drug for long-lasting results.
They also point out that insurance companies are reluctant to cover medications, making it difficult for those who need them to obtain them.
They note that it’s important to talk to a credentialed expert rather than relying on celebrities for advice.