Ozempic, a double-edged sword

By Darwin Collazo

For centuries, the image of the slender figure has dominated society as an ideal to emulate, leading to the creation of countless “solutions” promising effortless weight loss. Drinks, exercise routines, creams, medicinal teas, restrictive diets, and even costly procedures such as plastic surgery and gastrointestinal interventions have been marketed to help people achieve their ideal weight. These options target those who feel they do not fit society’s imposed standard. Yet, in an unexpected twist, a medication long considered a lifesaving treatment for millions of diabetics around the world, semaglutide, most widely known by its brand name Ozempic, has suddenly emerged as a symbol of thinness and the newest path to achieving that ideal.

In recent years, Ozempic has become a symbol of hope for millions of people who not only struggle with diabetes but have also discovered in this medication a proven tool for weight loss. Thousands have joined the growing number of individuals willing to spend large sums of money to obtain it, drawn by the significant physical changes it has demonstrated in people seeking to lose weight. Ozempic is not merely promising, it has become clear evidence of the medication’s effectiveness. But, as with anything that appears perfect, it also has a darker side.

Ozempic has several side effects that are relatively common among its primary users, people with diabetes. These include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, and loss of appetite. Although the severity varies from person to person, these reactions are well-documented, and patients are informed that they may occur. However, some side effects are more serious and can become permanent. Numerous cases have been reported in which individuals experienced reduced kidney function, pancreatitis, vision problems, and, in rare but possible instances, even memory issues. This raises an important question: What sacrifices are we willing to make in pursuit of an ideal body?

Besides the one already mentioned, there are many other alternatives that offer the same result, such as Monjauro, Wegovy, and others, but Ozempic remains at the forefront as the face of the ideal image for those who want to feel they fit into the ideal that the world has constructed for society. But despite its pros and cons, this medicine has not lost the battle; on the contrary, it has shown itself stronger than ever, with the governor of California, Gavin Newsom, joining the Ozempic craze and wanting to create a program so that the residents of this state can have this medication at a very low cost, showing that Ozempic, despite everything, has a lot of history to tell.