If you’re battling obesity and want to boost your health and overall quality of life, weight loss is key. But it’s easier said than done. Diet and exercise just don’t cut it for everyone. If you’re nodding in agreement, you may have already heard of Wegovy or Ozempic — medications that reduce hunger and promote weight loss.
But doctors and researchers are sounding the alarm as research continues to indicate Wegovy, Ozempic, and similar weight loss drugs pose a serious and growing risk to health. Social media hype has convinced many people that these drugs are safe and present the use of weight loss drugs as the fastest and easiest solution to obesity and obesity-related health problems.
Dr Omar Paipilla, a board-certified bariatric surgeon, who works with a US-based medical tourism provider for weight loss surgery in Mexico, Be Slim Bariatrics (BSB), is also concerned about the use of weight loss drugs. Dr. Paipilla is an expert in this field, with over 20 years of medical experience. Here’s what he told us:
“Wegovy (also known as semaglutide) may be useful for treating obesity in people who can’t safely undergo surgery. However, it’s important to be aware of the medication’s unpleasant side effects. For instance, around 73% of patients using the highest Wegovy dose in clinical trials reported stomach-related side effects. Furthermore, when compared to bariatric surgery, Wegovy won’t lead to the same amount of weight loss.
It is also concerning that the FDA has given Wegovy their most serious boxed warning regarding the increased risk of thyroid C-cell tumors. Although it is up to each person to determine if they are willing to take medications with associated risks, the increased risk of thyroid cancer would make me very wary of prescribing these drugs to individuals when bariatric surgery can be safely performed.”
Knock-off Weight Loss Injections, Wegovy and Ozempic
One of the most worrying things is that shortages and the high cost of Wegovy and Ozempic have created a black market for risky copycat versions of weight loss drugs. Typically manufactured in India and China, the lack of regulation means many of these fake medications will inevitably contain ingredients that may be extremely harmful.
As with many other copycat medications, there is also a high chance they will have unreliable dose information, which could lead to higher doses than approved by the FDA being used. This may increase the risk of severe side effects, including thyroid cancer.
Unfortunately, everyone is vulnerable to risk from knock-off drugs, which the FDA and pharmacy boards have been warning about. Novo Nordisk, the maker of Wegovy and Ozempic, also expresses concern about “insufficient clinical evaluations by some telehealth providers” promoting these drugs.
NB: The FDA has released a warning about compounded versions of popular drugs Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy. These drugs have been on the FDA’s drug shortages list, which can lead to the creation of mixed or compounded versions that haven’t undergone safety reviews. Reports of adverse events highlight the importance of using FDA-approved drugs instead of potentially unsafe compounded versions.
How Successful Are Wegovy and Ozempic vs Weight Loss Surgery?
Side effects of Wegovy and Ozempic include nausea, vomiting, gallbladder problems, inflammation of the pancreas, and thyroid cancer. Subsequently, it’s critical these drugs are carefully monitored and prescribed only when absolutely necessary. Although opinion is divided, at this current time, bariatric surgery is more successful. Another important consideration is the ongoing high cost of these weight loss medications when compared to the cost of weight loss surgery. In six months you could spend the same amount on Wegovy or Ozempic, and in just 18 months you will inevitably spend considerably more, than you would have done for bariatric surgery.
If you’re looking for a long-term weight loss solution, bariatric surgery may be the key. Compared to one clinical study that showed Wegovy resulted in 15% weight loss, patients who undergo weight loss surgery typically lose 60 to 70% of their excess weight in just over 12 months. Additionally, at this time, research indicates it is not safe to be on Wegovy or Ozempic for longer than two years, and when you stop using these drugs, your appetite returns.
On the other hand, once bariatric surgery is performed and your stomach is made smaller, your appetite is repressed. Even more interesting is many patients report losing all desire to eat high-fat and high-sugar foods following weight loss surgery.
Final Thoughts
As tempting as a simple injection to reduce your appetite and make it easier to lose weight may be, it’s unlikely to be a solution that will work for many people for their lifetime. That’s not to say there are no benefits to these weight loss drugs, and certainly, for some people with health-related issues, they may be an extremely useful tool to assist in weight loss, especially before bariatric surgery.
But before you choose Wegovy, Ozempic, or another weight loss drug, take some time to consider before choosing to use these drugs rather than have weight loss surgery.
