Irish woman constantly 'on a diet' tells us how Ozempic has impacted her life

Ozempic, a prescription medication primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes has shot up in popularity in Ireland in recent years due to it's extremely effective weight-loss properties.

The active ingredient semaglutide, belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists, which help the pancreas release the right amount of insulin when blood sugars are high, slows down digestion and reduces appetite and overall lowers blood sugar levels.

However, after a sharp rise in use in the US in particular, the drug is seemingly widely used by many without any medical conditions as a weight loss treatment and appetite suppressant. 

There is a quiet stigma that surrounds the drug where some people feel the cons outweigh the pros, that it's just a "quick fix" and that side effects can be dangerous.

To open the conversation on Ozempic, and why people feel it is the right path for them, I spoke to one woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, on her experience of why she wanted it and how, after just three doses, it has already altered her mentality around food.

"My entire life, I've been on a diet", says the 38-year-old woman from the south east.

"From as early as I can remember, I've always been curbing my eating to stay a certain weight and size and I just got fed up of it...fed up over the space it takes over in my brain and in my life.

"Everyday is organised around how much or how little I have to eat...when I can eat when I can't.

"I'm two years away from 40 and I said to myself 'this is ridiculous.' I'm a grown woman and if there is a medical solution to this, the same way as women get botox everyday or hair extensions, eyebrows tattooed on, I even get chemical peels on my face, so why wouldn't I do it if there's something there that can help me?"

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By her own admission, she is not overweight by any means and doesn't have any medical condition that would affect her weight, but it's because she has been so strict with herself over the years, denying herself food when she's hungry and counting calories to keep on top of her weight. 

Speaking on her experience with the doctor to get the drug she said: "The experience with the doctor was all overwhelmingly positive as the doctor had had a similar experience throughout her life regarding food and dieting and constantly trying to keep weight down.

"She spent over half an hour talking through the logistics and everything involved with taking the drug, she was great and explained to me how to inject it, what it will do to my body and what the benefits are along with the possible downsides and side effects.

"When I was finished with the doctor, she wrote up the prescription for the pharmacy located next to her office.

"The prescription was ready in no time and I went home, took my time to read through all the neccesary leaflets that came with it. I had also looked online to see how it was done, and made sure I followed everything to the letter."

Ozempic comes in the form of on EpiPen, and has to be injected once a week, either in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm.

"It's not painful at all and the needle is tiny, smaller than a sewing needle, similar to the needle used for botox. It has to be stored in the fridge and it's advised you do it on the same day every week, regardless of time. 

"The pen lasts for 4 weeks and I was instructed to contact her when I took the last dose to book back in for a check-up to see how I was getting on with how I was feeling etc. depending on how it was going she would either up the dose or lower it to suit my needs."

This is now her third week of taking the drug, and things are already on the up.

"I've lost about 2lbs a week, but to be honest I don't care about the weight loss as I have quite a slim build as it is.

"For me it's the mindset. The pressure of food and eating was a massive thing for me and now the noise is gone out of my head...I can eat when I want to eat and as it suppresses my appetite, it takes away that desire to grab unhealthy foods and snacks throughout the day.

"Everything I'm eating now is super healthy and nutritional, there's no ache for food and drink which I would have had before.

Speaking about food now, I was interested to know does she still enjoy food, or is she just eating because she has to.

"100% I still love food and enjoy it.

"I'll give you an example, myself and my partner ordered a takeout last week and normally for me I'll order a pizza to myself with chips and nuggets and a drink but after 3 slices of pizza I had reached my limit, full and happy...whereas before I would always have that compulsion to eat it all, clear my plate...eating till I'm uncomfortably full.

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Speaking honestly and openly about side effects and some downsides of the drug, she said: "I am on anti-depressants and the doctor did tell me about many of her patients eventually coming off those as a side effect.

"Reduction in inflammation is another positive effect, digestive issues have also been halved and my overall mood has improved.

"I really have had absolutely no negative side-effect whatsoever and it was instantaneous; my hunger was gone straight away. 

"The only side effect that I have noticed is that I can forget to eat, so I have to be quite diligent about that because there is no natural hunger cues, but I do find I am very thirsty and the doctor did mention that could happen. I have always been great to get my two to two litres of water a day so it has been no problem for me to keep doing that

"Friends of mine that are also on it have said they have felt bouts of nausea, but I haven't experienced this thankfully.

"The doctor said to me that once you're on Ozempic you'll be on it for life or you will put the weight back on. As soon as you stop the injections, your appetite will come back...so it is a big commitment.

"But if it was a toss up of either dieting for life and constantly worrying about my weight, calorie counting and stressing about food, or taking an injection once a week...I know what I would rather do."

Conversations of weight and weight loss are a constant for women; growing up reading magazines and seeing beautiful celebrities being shamed for "piling on the pounds" is something that sticks with every young girl.

Constantly made to feel like you're not thin enough, or you're too thin, or that you're not the same size as your peers can absolutely destroy your self-confidence and you can carry it with you for your entire life.

Widespread use of Ozempic has definitely opened the conversation around weight, certainly in Ireland which has one of the highest levels of obesity in Europe, according to the HSE, with 60% of adults and over one in five children and young people living with overweight and obesity.

There are multiple drivers that influence obesity including genetics, environmental and socioeconomic factors and still remains a highly stigmatised condition.

Conversations around weight can still be somewhat taboo but they aren't going away, whether it's surrounding body-shaming or body-positivity.

The woman's doctor frankly told her "people are afraid of what they don't know", and in today's world, where there seems to be a solution for everything, why should this conversation be taboo when it has brought so much positivity and turned off the mental anguish and "noise" in her head that has plagued her for most of her life.