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Wellness
LifestyleHealth & Wellness

Diet drug used by Elon Musk helped these women lose weight – but experts warn there are drawbacks to taking it

  • Semaglutide, sold under brand names such as Ozempic and Wegovy, has helped people lose 12 per cent of their body weight, but its long-term effects are unknown
  • Studies show it works best when combined with a healthy diet and exercise. Overeating or making unhealthy food choices will lead to failure

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A diabetic patient prepares to inject Ozempic, a brand name for semaglutide, to help control his blood sugar level. The injections are now being used by people to aid weight loss. Photo: Shutterstock
Anthea Rowan

Stephanie, a Hong Kong healthcare worker, has fought for years to lower her weight. In the past 10 months, she has lost 25.4 kilograms (56 pounds).

“I’ve tried every diet under the sun,” the 38-year-old, who does not want to use her full name, says. Nothing worked for her, or nothing worked for long – until now. So what is behind her staggering weight loss?

Stephanie has been using Ozempic, a weekly injection that is taking the world by storm.

Ozempic, the brand name for a drug called semaglutide, is also marketed and sold under the name Wegovy. For more than 15 years, semaglutide has been used primarily for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.
Ozempic is a brand name for a drug called semaglutide.
Ozempic is a brand name for a drug called semaglutide.

Nutritionist Diane Tran, from Hong Kong’s Central Health clinic, says the drug mimics a hormone, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which occurs naturally in the body. GLP-1 works in several ways to regulate blood sugar, including by slowing the rise of blood glucose levels after eating.

It also slows down the digestive process by reducing the rate at which food is emptied from the stomach, making you feel fuller for longer. These effects usually result in weight loss.

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