Ozempic and the Media

In recent years, GLP-1 blockers like Ozempic have become more frequent in Western culture through a spike in social media fame, often straying away from the real purpose of medications like these.

Anyone on social media is aware of the trend cycle that seems to come and go faster than anyone could comprehend. Between the new products, clothes and slang the average person consumes daily on social media, everyone seems to be saying and wearing new things by the hour. What the media has not experienced before is a medication going viral.

Most on social media have become aware of Ozempic. Whether or not it has been roped into jokes revolving around miracle weight loss, or allegations thrown at celebrities that have suddenly thinned down for the season, injectable GLP-1 blockers have been popular buzzwords across many screens. Regardless, most do not know what Ozempic is, what it does to the body or the demographic it is made for.

Dr. Quaerna, a pharmacist states “Ozempic (semaglutide) is an injectable prescription medication used primarily to improve glycemic control in patients with [type 2] Diabetes.”

This means that the prescription targets the GLP-1 receptor, which is found in the pancreatic cells. Ozepmic increases the amount of insulin produced by the pancreas, which can lower blood sugar and cause depleted feelings of hunger. These lowered hunger cues can cause weight loss, a side effect the media has been emphasizing like no other.

Those on social media have been most commonly using the term “Ozempic face” for celebrities who seemingly have lost large amounts of weight in a short amount of time, changing the look of their faces entirely. From numerous Kardashians, Ariana Grande to even Elon Musk, the increase in celebrities being accused of or openly using drugs for weight loss seems to increase by the day.

These stories have made it as far as to the feeds of teenagers and young adults. Abby Zimmerman, a current sophomore at Northwest High School stated, “[it’s] weird, they’re not diabetic or pre-diabetic as far as the public eye [is concerned].” 

Although it may seem that the lives of celebrities are so far away from the average person, there is a real impact to the increase in discussion on GLP-1 blockers. The demand for Ozempic is at an all-time high, but the people taking it often are not type 2 diabetics. Celebrity endorsement has slowly diffused through to the general public. Instead of as a treatment for diabetics, Ozempic is being labeled as a “miracle weight loss drug.”

Just like diet culture in the early 2000s swirled magazines and other forms of media, Ozempic seems to be the newfound way to get thin fast. As a direct result, the price of Ozempic is at an all-time high, making it harder and harder for pre-diabetics and diabetics to obtain GLP-1 blockers even with insurance. This is an issue that is taxing diabetics everywhere, even within the Waukee community.

Delphi Lonsdale, a sophomore at Northwest High School and daughter of a pre-diabetic diagnosed Ozempic expressed, “It’s become normalized which is frustrating because people forget it’s an actual necessary medication for those who need it.”

What can the media do then to ensure once again Ozempic is accessible for type 2 diabetics? The simple answer is to ensure media users are doing their research. The side effects of those who are not diabetic taking Ozempic seem to be surfacing every day, and almost all of them are negative on a long-term scale.

As consumers of the media, holding celebrities accountable for the things they promote is crucial. The people their words impact are astronomically larger than anyone could imagine. Those taking Ozempic must be the target demographic, no matter if it is becoming as publicized as any other viral trend.