Expert warns of 'weight loss' drug Ozempic's side effects after losing three stone

A health expert has warned of the side effects of taking Ozempic after losing three stone. Speaking on the latest episode of hit podcast show Dairy of a CEO, Johann Hari shared his experience of being on the drug, how it affects him and its 'weight loss' properties.

Johann Hari is a New York Times best-selling author, his books include, ‘Chasing the Scream’, ‘Lost Connections’, and ‘Stolen Focus’. He has written for the world’s leading newspapers and magazines, and has twice been named ‘National Newspaper Journalist of the Year’ by Amnesty International.

Ozempic is indicated for the treatment of adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus as an adjunct to diet and exercise (as monotherapy or in combination with other medicines for treatment of diabetes). The main action of the treatment is to lower the body’s blood sugar by encouraging the pancreas to make insulin.

However, the medication can potentially lead to an average weight loss of around 15 per cent, alongside changes to diet and exercise. In a statement, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said that although Ozempic was not approved for weight loss, "it is commonly used off-label for that purpose" in Britain.

Johann Hari started taking Ozempic in January 2023, where he would inject himself once a week. He decided to give it a go after facing struggles with weight gain during lockdown and ended up losing three stone.

Before deciding to take Ozempic, Hari admitted he felt so "deeply conflicted from the very beginning" by the "extraordinary benefits and disturbing risks of the new weight loss drugs."

He later recalled: "I remember the first day I took the injection, a couple of days later I remember waking up and I was lying in bed and I had this weird feeling, when you're not quite with it. I was struggling to articulate it and I felt very nauseous, which everyone gets when they start taking.

"But that wasn't the thing that was puzzling me, and then I realized I'd woken up and I wasn't hungry - I don't remember that ever happening to me before... I was literally 80% less hungry than I normally am and it basically stayed that way from then on."

Hari went on to outline several risks associated with the new drug - including a potential rise in your risk of thyroid cancer. Referencing a study by Jean-Luc Faillie, a professor of medical pharmacology and toxicology at the University Hospital of Montpellier, Hari added: "Whatever your thyroid cancer risk was at the start, it will go up by between 50 to 75%, if this research is correct."

The most common side effects of drugs like Ozempic include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and constipation. However, there are other side effects that go beyond that.

These range from developing a deflated look, which is often otherwise known as “Ozempic Face” or “Ozempic Butt”. There is also a risk of pancreatitis, a loss of muscle mass and malnutrition.

"Ozempic face" as a side effect

"Ozempic face" is a term often associated with being a side effect of the drug. But it is important to remember this can be a side effect of any GLP-1 drug (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor) or any other cause of rapid weight loss.

According to Harvard Health, the rapid loss of fat in the face can cause:

• a hollowed look to the face

• changes in the size of the lips, cheeks, and chin

• wrinkles on the face

• sunken eyes

• sagging jowls around the jaw and neck.

If weight is lost in a more gradual way, these changes may not be as noticeable. It's the faster pace of weight loss that occurs with GLP-1 drugs that can make facial changes more obvious. If "Ozempic face" side effects are significant, they can be treated with plastic surgery.

Other side effects

Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and constipation are the most common side effects of GLP-1 drugs. Nausea can be managed by avoiding strong smells and eating crackers, mint, or ginger-based food or drinks about a half hour after taking a GLP-1 drug.

Vomiting can be managed by staying well hydrated and having more frequent meals in smaller amounts. Diarrhoea can be managed by drinking plenty of water and avoiding dairy products and high-fibre foods until symptoms go away. Constipation can be managed by getting enough fibre in your diet and drinking plenty of water.

To help avoid gastrointestinal side effects of GLP-1 drugs:

• Eat slowly and stop when full.

• Have smaller portions.

• Avoid being too active immediately after eating.

Less common but more serious side effects of GLP-1 agonists include:

• pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas that causes abdominal pain

• gastroparesis, in which movement of food out of the stomach is slowed or stopped

• bowel obstruction, a blockage that keeps food from passing through the intestines

• gallstone attacks and bile duct blockage.

When to see a doctor

Most side effects of GLP-1 drugs are not serious. You should immediately seek medical attention if you have: severe vomiting and diarrhoea, severe pain or tenderness in your belly, inability to pass gas or move your bowels or jaundice (yellow skin colour).