Even if we do believe that weight loss drugs can help obese individuals lose weight - which, by their move to prescribe the drug, it's clear the NHS does - what happens when those who fall within a "normal" weight start taking it? 

Many appear to be forking out for the drug themselves, with reports showing they're spending anything from $1000 to $1500 a month. Some Tiktok users are even claiming to be making their own at home concoctions of the drug to see quick fix results without the price tag.

It's important to note, too, that all of the celebrities reported to be using the drug for its weight loss benefits have what would be considered a healthy BMI, and appear to be using it to supplement even further weight loss - in Kim's case, reportedly to fit into a dress for a red carpet appearance. 

 

Risk vs reward

It's scarily easy to purchase Ozempic online without a prescription - in the UK, you can purchase off-label on "health" websites where it's described as a “weight loss drug” primarily - but it goes without saying that doing so poses a whole heap of risks.

"The manufacturer themselves warn of mild symptoms, such as nausea and stomach pain, to more serious issues spanning inflammation of the pancreas, thyroid tumours and even cancer," shares Boellinger.  One immediate risk could also be hypoglycaemia (otherwise known as low blood sugar) if the drug is misused or administered incorrectly, she adds.

Beckford agrees, adding that you could also experience kidney failure, gallbladder problems, and changes in vision.

Her two cents? "The fame surrounding Ozempic is concerning. It suggests a normalisation of a drastic measure to lose weight, which may encourage other pharmaceutical companies to want their slice." 

Not to mention the fact that, if you're prescribed Ozempic for weight loss, you may lose the weight and then put it back on when you come off the drug, stresses Boellinger. "It isn't a long-term solution," she shares. "One Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism study published last year found that once you stop using Ozempic, you are likely to see a speedy return of the weight you have lost."

Shortages are already affecting those who rely on the drug

We all face pressure to maintain a certain body image, but the Ozempic craze is about so much more than that, already seriously impacting those with diabetes and who rely on the drug via prescription.

Novo Nordic, the suppliers of Ozempic, first warned of "supply constraints due to an unprecedented demand" in August last year, shares Boellinger. "This is extremely concerning for those who depend on the drug to manage their blood sugar levels for medical reasons," she shares. "Type 2 diabetes, if not managed properly, can have severe consequences including blindness or loss of limbs due to nerve damage - long term, it can result in death. GPs were even advised to proactively contact patients relying on Ozempic and where possible prescribe alternatives."

Beckford agrees, stressing that there have been "significant shortages" in the UK causing those with type 2 diabetes to struggle to access the drug from their pharmacies. 

If you're prescribed it for weight loss, it's after a consultation with a medical professional who deems your weight such a risk factor, it's vital for you to lose weight to stay alive. "There are strict guidelines for its use and clinical criteria need to be met before it can be prescribed," she stresses. "Shortages of Ozempic could also affect this group of people who can struggle to access treatments for obesity." 

Why as a society are we constantly striving for the next quick fix? 

Good question - and one that Rhiannon Lambert, a nutritionist and eating disorders specialist, is passionate about.

"Unfortunately, the science isn’t sexy and sustainable weight loss takes time, which is why many choose to take more extreme routes such as diet pills or injections," she explains. 

She goes on to explain that these products are often unregulated and that, at current, we simply don’t know what the longer-term health impacts of taking them for weight loss.

So, why is the Ozempic craze so worrying? And will the hype around Ozempic influence a new wave of diet pills and quick fixes? Short answer: most likely.

It's a wider issue, and once more highlights that all genders, but women in particular, are hugely pressured to look and act in a certain way to "fit in." "Drugs like Ozempic prey on people’s vulnerabilities, exacerbating the expectations within society to look an “ideal” shape or size," shares Lambert. 

Boellinger agrees, adding that as a nutritionist she finds it "seriously worrying."

"We're working so hard to move away from diet culture and educate people on how to actually improve their health - skinny does not equal healthy and using or promoting drugs like Ozempic which only focus on weight loss regardless of the effects on health really sends the wrong message," she adds.

As a Health Editor, I find it so disheartening. When will the obsession with being skinny stop? And when will we accept that self love and acceptance is far more important than looking a certain way, or reaching a certain number on the scales? 

Actress and presenter Jameela Jamil agrees, adding in a passionate statement on her Instagram that she "fears for everyone." "Rich people are buying this stuff off prescription for upwards of $1,000. Actual diabetes are seeing shortages. It's now a mainstream craze in Hollywood."

"I'm deeply concerned but I can't change any of your minds because fatphobia has our generation in a chokehold," she added.

Beckford adds that the drug capitalises on a deep-seated sense of insecurity that many of us have in who we are and how we understand our place in the world. " Our physical body is a scapegoat for more fundamental or existential difficulties we may come up against in day-to-day life," she explains.

The main problem with trends such as these, she adds, is that they are "inconsistent, transient, and arbitrary" - you'll all remember the clean eating cut-everything-out trend of 2016 which led to thousands if not millions of eating disorders globally, and the Special K diet and Atkins diet before that. "Trends suggest a global "buy in", meaning that those that don’t see themselves fitting in, may turn the blame inwards," details the psychiatrist.

This, in turn, can lead to unhealthy and dangerous behaviours in order to fit the narrative – for instance, restricting your diet or compensating for your food through exercise or purging. "Research has demonstrated the strong link between social media use, negative body image and eating disorder symptoms," she adds.

For now, know this - you don't need to lose weight, change the way you look, or spend excessive amounts on drugs to fit in. You are perfect as you are. Let's hope the worrying craze goes away as quickly as it came about.