What Is Ozempic?
Ozempic is known to many as the current hottest trend in weight loss, but to those in the health community, it is well known that it was established to help those struggling with Type 2 Diabetes. The weekly insulin shot that helps lower blood sugar for those who suffer from Type 2 Diabetes is now alternatively being prescribed by doctors for overweight individuals to lose mass. Health practitioners often believe that weight correlates with health. This creates a dilemma between the two parties being prescribed Ozempic.
How is it being Used?
Often in the health community weight loss is strongly emphasized throughout one's lifetime. To your doctor, weight determines your physical condition. Am I too fat? Do I need to lose weight? These are the questions that are asked every day by people because society pushes the narrative that people a few pounds away from their goal weight are inherently unhealthy. At the same time, there are individuals with a life-threatening disease who are suffering because of the excessive Ozempic prescriptions that are being handed out. Type 2 Diabetes patients aren’t able to get their prescriptions filled since there is an increased demand because of the weight loss trend associated with Ozempic.
The equity in healthcare is disproportionate towards those with Type 2 diabetes because of the portrayal of health for those who are overweight or obese. It is unreasonable that healthcare professionals deem those who are overweight by a small margin as essentially unhealthy regardless of any other physical conditions they may be battling. The belief that heavier individuals require Ozempic because of how they look to the general public is damaging to both the body positivity movement, and those suffering from Type 2 Diabetes.
The Effects of Diabetes
According to the CDC, by age 50 people diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes are expected to live 6 years less than someone who is not diagnosed. Typically this disease is diagnosed in older people, however cases being identified in younger demographics are becoming more common. Some effects of Type 2 diabetes include, but are not limited to:
- Loss of eyesight
- Kidney failure
- Amputation
According to the American Diabetes Association:
"Diabetes was the eighth leading cause of death in the United States in 2021 based on the 103,294 death certificates in which diabetes was listed as the underlying cause of death. In 2021, diabetes was mentioned as a cause of death in a total of 399,401 certificates."
Compellingly, it is generally those who are obese who tend to develop Type 2 Diabetes. It makes sense why these people who are suffering from the effects of this dissease are the ones who were originally being prescribed Ozempic by providers every day to save their lives. When people are diagnosed with Diabetes, Ozempic can reverse the effects of their Pancreas not being able to produce insulin to lower blood sugar, which when unmaintained can cause various ailments, sometimes life threatening.
Bias Against Those Overweight
It is understandable why healthcare providers need this drug given to people whose lives are in jeopardy. But, it also makes sense as to why providers would want to prescribe the drug to those who are obese as obesity does correlate with the illness. The problem lies with those who are simply overweight and are being prescribed medication that they don’t need. It becomes more of a cosmetic benefit than anything else, which is contradictory to the body positivity movement that's been put at the forefront of the media for the last decade.
It has been reiterated relentlessly in the minds of doctors and nurses in modern times that just because someone is slightly overweight, any health issues they may have most likely are due to their weight, even if they had previously been healthy while still struggling with weight loss. This often leads to hesitation for people who vary in size to approach health professionals about their current physical state. Many do not want to be shamed for their size and have health providers ignore symptoms of potentially more serious conditions. The stigmatization of patients coming into the doctor’s office who are not at the ideal BMI isn’t something that American culture should embrace.
The study of Body Mass Index (BMI) is what could be the root cause of this type of commentary. According to the Centers for Disease Control:
“BMI does not distinguish between excess fat, muscle, or bone mass, nor does it provide any indication of the distribution of fat among individuals”
Unfortunately, this measurement is the basis of what providers believe to be the best way to measure fatness and correlate it to health. This relates to why their mindsets are so focused on weight. Ultimately, it has to do with the system and how health professionals are being taught to approach these matters concerning weight and their patient’s well-being.
Although healthcare practitioners oftentimes do not purposely single out the obese or overweight, this does perpetuate the belief that those who are overweight inherently will become ill due to their size. This reinforces the stereotypes that are common in our society today of fat people. The beliefs are that fat or slightly overweight individuals are lazy, have no willpower, are seen as unattractive, and are unable to participate in self-care. This has major effects on the mental health of this respective group. Pushing society’s narratives in healthcare is harming body positivity, and the ability for those who are suffering from Type 2 Diabetes to receive their life-saving prescriptions, and essentially causes inequity in our country’s medical systems for both sides of the Ozempic debate.
Moreover, this conversation does not always start in the doctor's office. With Ozempic being used by more people to reduce their weight it is becoming far more common culturally for friends and family members to recommend this product for others trying to lose weight. This sparks the conversation from the patient's side when they are looking for a quick and easy way to lose weight and look better in the eyes of others. However, this shortcut also leads to adverse health effects that many are not aware of.
A Lack of Supply
Sooner or later, there has to be a change made for there to be more body-neutral approaches in society so that healthcare professionals are put more into a position of prescribing Ozempic. With the body positivity movement becoming more mainstream today, people need to take it more seriously because it is evident that what is common practice now is not working. We’ve come to a standstill in the Ozempic discussion. Supply is struggling to keep up with demand for those who need it, and those who want it. With those suffering from a serious illness such as Type 2 Diabetes and those who are shamed for simply being a different size than the average person in terms of BMI, both sides have arguments for the utilization of the drug. What can we do to adapt to modern times and leave behind the stigma of being overweight that is affecting both parties?
- Change the mindset that people of different sizes than average are perceived as “lazy”
- Stop shaming individuals who are overweight
- Encourage exercise and healthy eating for individuals as a health benefit for themselves versus for society
What can be Done?
The debate surrounding the prescription of Ozempic highlights the complications caused by both the healthcare system and social norms. Using Ozempic as a cure-all for weight loss has created a shortage for individuals who need it for life-altering conditions like Type 2 Diabetes. While there are many ways to lose weight, people suffering from Type 2 Diabetes have fewer options. Using Ozempic strictly for weight loss and cosmetic reasons may have adverse health effects since the drug was not originally intended for that purpose. Shifting away from body shaming and towards healthier weight loss methods benefits those who genuinely need the medication and is also safer for individuals who are looking to lose weight.
Will we able to shift away from the need for prescriptions like Ozempic to effect how we look? To do so the health care community and society as a whole will have to start promoting more healthy activities and limit body shaming which points people in the direction of medicine which can fulfill there current needs in a potentially dangerous manner and limit who can get the medicine.
