Celebrity endorsements turn spotlight on weight-loss drugs in obesity crisis

• Published date: 04 May 2024
• Author: Vuyile Madwantsi vuyile.madwantsi@inl.co.za
• Publication title: Weekend Argus

This celeb stamp of approval has fuelled public curiosity, placing these drugs in the spotlight as top picks for losing weight, fuelling discussions across the web and driving up the demand from fans hoping to mirror the success stories of the rich and famous

Globally, being overweight is a big health problem and it’s severe in South Africa. Here, half of the adults are either overweight or obese, says the Global Obesity Observatory. Out of these, 23% are overweight, and 27% are obese.

This issue isn’t just with adults. Children and teenagers are also greatly affected. Unicef reports that about one in every three girls aged 15 to 19 is dealing with obesity or is overweight.

And the World Obesity Federation believes that by 2030, the obesity rate among South African adults might jump to 37%.

The fascination with Ozempic in weight management circles has caught widespread attention, prompting Independent Media Lifestyle to seek insights from Dr Marius Wasserfall, a diabetes specialist with Mediclinic, and Linda (not her real name), an Ozempic user.

Their perspectives provide a deeper understanding of the phenomenon.

What is Ozempic and how does it work?

Ozempic and Wegovy, based on the active ingredient semaglutide, play a pivotal role in weight management strategies.

Semaglutide is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring hormone that influences brain regions responsible for controlling appetite, Dr Wasserfall explained.

He said this interaction reduces feelings of hunger and, by extension, lowers caloric intake, contributing significantly to weight-loss efforts. Specifically designed for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, Ozempic has also gained recognition for its weight loss properties.

On the other hand, Wegovy is tailored for weight control, offered in doses higher than those found in Ozempic, underlining its specificity towards weight management.

Linda, a 33-year-old woman from KZN, shared her story. While scrolling through TikTok, she discovered Ozempic, which led her to investigate her body’s needs and confront potential undiagnosed health issues.

She opened up about her experience.

“I started my journey hoping to simply lose weight and live a healthier life, but it evolved into something much more complex,” she said.

Intrigued, she delved into research and was fortunate to connect with a health-care professional experienced with the medication. She was prescribed a generic form of Ozempic known as semaglutide GLP-1.

In South Africa, semaglutide...