My life with Ozempic – a weight-loss diary

Last weekend, I attended a party. I wore a pencil skirt by Alexander McQueen in leopard print with a black jumper. My waist was covered with a belt. The skirt was purchased in the middle of the 1990s. I had worn it for many years before I realized it wasn't comfortable anymore. It was returned to me in its original size. It fit perfectly. For the first time in many years, I felt comfortable in my clothes.

I'm on

Ozempic

The'miracle drug' for type-2 diabetes,. It is controversially popular among people who want to lose weight quickly and dramatically. It mimics the action of GLP-1 (glucagonlike peptide 1) to delay digestion and manage hunger.

I have lost enough weight, but I am afraid to stop

Although I don't have diabetes I do have high cholesterol. Ozempic may be beneficial in managing these conditions. However, it is, if you'll forgive me the food analogy, just the frosting. My weight has been a problem for a long time. (Obesity runs in my family. I have five to six kilos less than I should given my age and build. Since my 40s, I have been experiencing more menopause symptoms than ever before. I have spent a lot of time thinking about food, and talking about it. Or overeating and feeling guilty. My relationship with food and weight has been difficult despite all the talk about body positivity (hard for someone my age of 60 to embrace),

Ozempic is a game changer. It was rumbles that I first heard about. People from Los Angeles. It may have been used by celebrities. Friends claimed that 'everyone' in NYC had taken it before the winter holidays. It's a mandatory drug for the wealthy leisure class.

The FDA approved Ozempic for diabetes control in the USA in 2017. Ozempic has not been approved by the FDA for weight loss.

Ozempic can only be prescribed in the UK and administered once weekly.

Ozempic, a trade name for the medication semaglutide, is also known as Ozempic. It increases insulin release, lowers blood sugar, and slows down stomach emptying. The FDA approved semaglutide for general use under the trade name Wegovy, which was manufactured by Novo Nordisk in Denmark. Clinical studies showed that patients lost an average of 15% of their bodyweight.

Wegovy was approved by the NHS for use in March 2023 for patients with a BMI close to the obese range. The prescription is limited to two years.

A study from August 2022 found that patients who have taken semaglutide in the past year have lost an average of two-thirds their weight.

Side effects that could be serious include pancreatitis and changes in vision, kidney disease, and possible thyroid cancers.

The European Medicines Agency reported that there was an increase in demand for Ozempic in October 2022. This has caused intermittent shortages which are expected to continue into 2023.

After meeting Claire Mellon, a brilliantly intelligent gynaecologist, I began to consider using it. She had lost a lot of weight but looked amazing. She was an Ozempic enthusiast and thought it was great for women struggling with weight gain. She also described how the experience helped boost their self-esteem.

Is she going to prescribe it? But she did refer me Dr Tamsin Lewis to the founder of

Wellgevity

To learn more, contact, who specializes in neuroscience and the biology and ageing. Ozempic is a popular choice for her, but she emphasizes that it must be administered under medical supervision. It is very effective in changing your relationship to food (and alcohol), as it has an impact on ghrelin. This hormone regulates hunger so people feel fuller faster. Also, it discourages mindless eating which many of us do. Lewis believes that it can improve many aspects of your health. "When people lose their belly fat, it can help reduce cholesterol as well as inflammation and arthritic discomfort. I was sold.

An aesthetic doctor recommended a three-month course to me because he understood my struggle with weight after menopause. Friends were skeptical. Friends were skeptical. It has been called 'an eating disorder in a injection' by detractors. However, I was just too curious to let this stop me. My three-month supply cost PS450.

The course began in December. I began by injecting the pen into my stomach once per week, following the instructions. Over the next few months, the dose increased slowly. At first, I was only taking 0.25mg, but gradually increased to 1mg. I was aware of the most common side effects, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, and the potential health risks. Sometimes I felt a bit sick, more like mild car sickness. It would disappear in a matter of minutes. I lost my appetite and ate smaller amounts of the same foods. I stopped thinking about food.

The NHS has approved Semaglutide (the drug's medical name) for weight loss. LINK

Ozempic has helped me lose weight steadily, about five to six kilos per month. I no longer look fat (or want to), and I'm back to pre-menopausal weight. I eat only when I feel hungry, and I stop eating when I'm satisfied. After eating, I don't feel guilty.

What is the best time to stop taking Ozempic. This is more difficult. Although I am aware that I have lost enough weight, I fear losing it all. Ozempic users who stop using the drug are more likely to gain weight. Lewis warns that it is important to not stop taking the drug. People gain weight when they stop exercising. It doesn't have any lasting effects. Your appetite will return, but hopefully people's relationship to food will change.

Recommendation

It was nerve-wracking to write about Ozempic. Despite this,

semaglutide

The NHS has approved the use of (the drug's medical name) for weight loss. I worry about people's judgments of me for wanting to lose weight in an age of body positivity. It is also seen as a lack of discipline and a quick fix that won't last long. A third concern is that the drug's makers were suspended by an industry association due to their violation of the code of conduct. My doctor is monitoring me through regular blood tests. However, I worry about the long-term consequences. The truth is that I feel better than I have in years and I feel more confident. My GP said that this was a holistic process and that I should exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet. Not just rely on the drug. I have.

My hope is to swap Ozempic with more sophisticated, relaxed and less punishing eating habits. This will allow me to have a healthier relationship with food as well as my body. While Ozempic is not a long-term solution for me, it has helped me to see that it is possible have a healthy approach to food. It is worth it. Right?