HEALTHLINE – Ozempic received FDA approval for use in adults with type 2 diabetes in late 2017. But lately, it’s been in the headlines for other reasons: Purported weight loss benefits and a shortage.
“People are talking about them because there is a trend of celebrities and influencers increasingly turning to off-label use of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic for weight loss by people who are not obese or diabetic,” says Dr. Rekha Kumar, a New York City-based endocrinologist and head of medical affairs at the weight care program Found.
For example, comedian Chelsea Handler recently revealed her doctor prescribed her Ozempic in case she ever wanted to lose 5 pounds during an appearance on the podcast Call Her Daddy.
But Kumar says stories like Handler’s are problematic.
“The trend of medispas, boutique weight loss practices, and illegitimate telehealth businesses liberally prescribing to people who don’t meet criteria is not only irresponsible prescribing but could interfere with getting the medication to those who need it the most,” Kumar says.
Kumar and other experts separated fact from fiction by answering the following common questions about Ozempic.
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic is a brand name for the drug known as semaglutide, explains Dr. Angela Fitch, FACP, FOMA, the president of the Obesity Medicine Association and chief medical officer of knownwell, a weight-inclusive healthcare company.
Kumar notes that Ozempic is a weekly injectable medication for people with type 2 diabetes. Its initial FDA approval was for doses of 0.5 mg or 1 mg. In 2022, the FDA approved a higher dose of 2 mg.
“It lowers blood sugar by helping the pancreas make insulin,” Kumar says.
Is Ozempic FDA approved for weight loss?
No.
“Ozempic is only approved for diabetes,” says Dr. Charlie Seltzer, a Philadephia-based physician with board certifications in obesity and internal medicine.
