Ozempic has taken the celebrity world by storm thanks to its weight-loss side effects, but it and other medications like it aren’t as glamorous as they seem.
While weight loss is the goal for many, achieving it via medication can actually cause much more harm in the short term.
5 Reasons to Avoid Taking Anti-Obesity Drugs
In this article, we’ll look at why it’s a bad idea for most people to take anti-obesity drugs, especially if the drugs of choice (i.e., Ozempic and Adderall) aren’t intended for weight loss.
1. Weight Loss Drugs Have a Shotty FDA-Approval Process
FDA approval does carry around a lot of weight. However, the vast majority of medication is FDA-approved well before long-term side effects come to light. Not only that but depending on the medication, the FDA may not even get involved at all (i.e., for supplements or vitamins).
For many people, weight loss drugs aren’t a necessity, so taking a risk on a new anti-obesity treatment isn’t worth the rewards. Depending on the options available, taking a new medication could be worth the risk, but that’s a discussion better left between them and their doctor.
2. Weight Loss Drugs are Routinely Taken Off the Market
When diet culture was all the rage in the 80s, companies filled the market with anti-obesity pills that contained phenylpropanolamine. This drug was found to cause sudden heart attacks and very high blood pressure in young adults. It was also proven to be ineffective for weight loss.
Not only were these drugs FDA-approved, but many weight loss companies upped the dose of phenylpropanolamine in their products past what the FDA stated was okay. Diet supplements are taken off the market daily for shady reasons, and companies don’t often face repercussions.
3. Weight Loss Drugs Cause Gastrointestinal Side Effects
Anti-obesity drugs work by decreasing appetite and slowing down the emptying of the stomach, which makes people feel less hungry and less inclined to eat. This effect has caused multiple gastrointestinal side effects, including but not limited to inflammation and gastroparesis.
Recently, the emergence of the Ozempic stomach paralysis lawsuits has shed light on potential complications associated with using this anti-obesity drug. Users of Ozempic medication have reported experiencing stomach paralysis alongside other side effects like nausea and vomiting.
4. Weight Loss is a Side-Effect of Drugs You Don’t Need
Weight loss is associated with multiple drugs, including diabetes and ADHD medication. Ozempic and Adderall are commonly used by people who don’t have diabetes or ADHD to induce weight loss, but that can cause serious problems for everyone in our community.
When you take a drug you don’t need, there’s a chance you could cause the disorder the medication treats. Not only that, but you also limit the supply for the people who actually need it. If you’re going to take medication for weight loss, get an actual anti-obesity medication.
5. Weight Loss Drugs are Prescribed as a Quick Fix
If you’re severely struggling with your weight, then a weight loss drug may help you get back on track. However, anti-obesity drugs are intended for short-term use because they often come with side effects that will require you to get off of them at some point in your weight loss journey.
It’s common for people to use weight loss drugs as a crutch, meaning they won’t build healthy habits while they’re taking them. Once they get off the drug, there’s a high chance that they’ll gain all that weight back, which could lead to self-esteem issues and physical problems.
In Conclusion
There isn’t a quick fix to losing weight. Many of the drugs on the market come with horrible side effects or consequences, and it’s important that you weigh the positives and negatives before using any medication. Otherwise, you could cause more problems than you’ve fixed.
