The Potential Side Effects of Quick-Weight Loss Solutions: The ‘Ozempic Face’
Recently, injectable prescription medications intended for type 2 diabetes and clinical obesity have become increasingly popular as a quick-weight loss solution.[0] Ozempic, Wegovy, and Tirzepatide (marketed as Mounjaro) have been touted by Hollywood’s elite and others seeking to shed pounds quickly, leading to shortages of these medications.[1] However, patients should be aware of the potential side effects, including the ‘Ozempic face’, which refers to the facial changes that can occur when someone loses a significant amount of weight quickly, resulting in a skinny and gaunt appearance.[2]
Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank, a New York-based dermatologist, is credited with coining the term ‘Ozempic face’ and has seen this phenomenon in his office every day.[3] He explained to The New York Times that fat in the face helps maintain a naturally youthful appearance, and when it is lost, the face can appear significantly older.[4] Similarly, Dr. Joshua Zeichner, director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, explained that weight loss from any source, whether from diet, exercise, surgery or medication, can take a toll on the face, making it appear gaunt and skeletonized.[0]
The drug Ozempic is FDA-approved as a treatment for type 2 diabetes to improve blood sugar, along with diet and exercise, and reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease. The Food and Drug Administration approved Ozempic for weight loss in adults with obesity or those who are overweight and have least one weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure or cholesterol, in 2021. Although Ozempic has not been approved for weight loss, some doctors may still prescribe it off-label for this purpose.
A study of more than 1,000 people with type 2 diabetes found that semaglutide (the same molecule as Ozempic) was more effective than insulin at lowering blood sugar.[5] A study involving almost 2,000 overweight or obese adults without diabetes showed that those taking semaglutide lost an average of 34 pounds within a period of less than 16 weeks, whereas those given a placebo only lost 6 pounds.[5]
However, patients should be aware that when the medication is stopped, they may regain the weight they lost.[6]
0. “Doctors warn about ‘Ozempic face’ side effect of medications” The Independent, 27 Jan. 2023, https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/ozempic-face-before-and-after-photos-weight-loss-b2270262.html
1. “”Ozempic Face”: The Latest Side Effect From Taking Weight Loss DrugsHelloGiggles” HelloGiggles, 25 Jan. 2023, https://hellogiggles.com/ozempic-face-strange-side-effect
2. “What is Ozempic Face? Doctors Explain” TODAY, 27 Jan. 2023, https://www.today.com/health/ozempic-face-rcna67737
3. “What Is Ozempic Face? Some Using Diabetes Drug for Weight Loss Report This Side Effect” NBC New York, 26 Jan. 2023, https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/health/what-is-ozempic-face-some-using-diabetes-drug-for-weight-loss-report-this-side-effect/4069059/
4. “‘Ozempic Face’ Has Doctors Urging Caution Around The Weight-Loss Drug & Here’s Why It Happens” Narcity Canada, 27 Jan. 2023, https://www.narcity.com/ozempic-face-has-doctors-urging-caution-around-the-weight-loss-drug-heres-why-it-happens
5. “What it’s like to take Ozempic and Wegovy, from severe side effects to 50-pound losses” AOL, 29 Jan. 2023, https://www.aol.com/news/ozempic-wegovy-severe-side-effects-120000994.html
6. “What to Know About ‘Ozempic Face'” Healthline, 27 Jan. 2023, https://www.healthline.com/health-news/ozempic-face-what-is-it-and-what-can-you-do-about-it
