During the opening monologue of the 95th Academy Awards, Jimmy Kimmel made a joke about whether Ozempic was right for him.
Ozempic is a diabetes drug that is also prescribed for weight loss. The drug, along with its weight-loss counterpart Wegovy, interferes with insulin production and stabilizes blood sugar levels, while also decreasing appetite.
However, injections of semaglutide, the ingredient used in both drugs, are currently on the FDA’s list of shortages, meaning many type-2 diabetics who need it aren’t able to get it.
Doctors caution that while the drugs have gastro-intestinal side effects, they can also lead to more serious side effects, such as pancreatitis.
They stress that there is no quick fix to weight loss and taking medication like Ozempic is a long-term decision.
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