Have you heard of the Ozempic Epidemic taking over Hollywood and the World? You probably have if you spend any time on social media. Your feeds are probably flooded with celebrities and influencers telling you to buy these peptides for tan skin and to lose weight to prepare for summer through the link in their bio. You probably have also noticed all the photos and videos of celebrities and influencers looking completely different from the way they did months or even just weeks ago. And it makes you wonder what is going on to cause that transformation, maybe eating less or eating some new thing that magically makes you lose weight, or a new type of workout. So many people wonder because they want to do it themselves, too. Lots of people look up to celebrities as role models and someone they should be like. However, people forget that they are just people like us too, and most of the photos and videos you see of them are edited, staged, and they have professional hair, makeup, stylists, personal trainers, dietitians, and more, and in these cases, doctors or online providers selling them their peptides.

There has been a lot of talk about all the different peptides, but the one that has taken over is Ozempic. Ozempic is a type of peptide that is FDA-approved for people with Type 2 Diabetes. But recently, people have been using the drug for weight loss because it reduces appetite, which can result in weight loss. I interviewed Nurse Paula, the Ipswich High School nurse. I asked her what her take is on people taking Ozempic if they have Type 2 Diabetes, and then also people taking it who don’t have Type 2 Diabetes, and this is what she told me. “For people with Type 2 Diabetes, medications like Ozempic (a GLP-1 receptor agonist) are well-studied and appropriate. They help lower blood sugar, reduce appetite, support weight loss (which improves diabetes control), and lower the risk of certain complications (like heart disease).” And then I asked her to take on people who don’t have Type 2 Diabetes. “People using Ozempic for weight loss without diabetes are more complicated cases than those with the condition. There are FDA-approved versions of the same medication specifically for weight loss, like Wegovy. Therefore, using it under a doctor’s supervision for obesity or being overweight with health risks is medically appropriate; however, using it casually for cosmetic weight loss is more controversial. The main issue isn’t whether someone has diabetes or not; it’s whether there’s a legitimate medical reason and proper supervision.” My takeaways from what she told me are that if someone has Type 2 Diabetes and they want to take Ozempic and know the side effects and have proper supervision it can be helpful and safe but people who don’t have Type 2 Diabetes and don’t have proper medical supervision and are using it for cosmetic weight loss that is where it’s not okay or safe. Proper medical supervision is important for anyone taking any type of peptides, regardless of whether they need it for a medical or cosmetic reason, as buying peptides from online sellers can be really dangerous. I asked Nurse Paula to get her take on this, and she told me, “This is where I’d strongly urge caution. “Peptides” sold online are often: Not FDA-regulated, sometimes labeled “for research use only, potentially contaminated, or incorrectly dosed. These are not the same as prescription medications, even if they claim to be. Risks include: unknown ingredients, infection (if injectable), and no medical oversight. “If you want to take peptides, do it the safe way, even if it costs more, and results in a doctor telling you that you don’t need them to lose weight, as the risks are not worth the reward. You might be able to get peptides online that are cheaper than a doctor and that you don’t need a doctor to get for you, but they could be contaminated, not work, or be laced with something else that could get you no results, bad results, or could result in harm or even death. Ozempic is right for some people with Type 2 Diabetes, and there are also weight loss drugs made for weight loss for cosmetic reasons that people should consult with their doctor about taking. Or for some people, they can lose weight naturally through healthy eating and exercise, and avoid the costs and risks of peptides. 

I interviewed Darcy Welch, a senior at Ipswich High School, on her thoughts of peptides, specifically Ozempic, taking over Hollywood and the world, to get a student’s take. As there aren’t just dangerous physical side effects, there are also dangerous mental side effects, especially for younger people and of all ages. She told me, “So basically it sets an unrealistic representation of what people should look like and how they represent themselves because obviously people in Hollywood have more access to resources to Ozempic for their image. “Which is so true because when people compare themselves to famous people, it’s not a fair comparison. They have a lot more access to things to aid them in looking their best, like professional makeup artists, hair stylists, personal trainers, dietitians, plastic surgeons, med spas, and peptides. Everyone else can pay for any of these things or get them done, but most don’t have as much money or locations they can go to. Seeing famous people looking good 24/7 can be draining for anyone, as no one looks good 24/7, not even famous people. They just show us what they want us to see, and they look and do their best, but we don’t see them in their everyday life. A lot of people are influenced by what celebrities and influencers have done and promote, as they believe that if they do something or get something done, then they will look just like them and be like them. This can be very draining, as people sometimes will keep trying to look like someone they would never look like. People need to be careful because most things they see online are not real, as they are just a highlight reel of all the good things, and things can be edited and could be fake. I asked Darcy, “Would you be persuaded, and do you think others would be persuaded to take Peptides like Ozempic if their favorite celebrities were promoting it?” And her response was, “I think it’s very dangerous for people to take this much medical advice from people who aren’t medical professionals. Best to avoid them trying to sell it to you and listen to medical professionals.” Which is a very important thing for everyone to remember with medical advice, and also everything that people online and celebrities say too. Remember that they could be getting paid to promote this time and might not even use it or like it, and are just doing it for the money, even if they know that the side effects could be dangerous. 

Celebrities are torn some are very in support of peptides like Ozempic and their fellow celebrities and others taking Ozempic for cosmetic weight loss, some are very against it and think that it’s so dangerous and is taking away the Ozempic from people who actually need it for medical reasons, and some are in the middle and wouldn’t do it themselves but don’t hate and support others wanting to use it. One of the celebrities who is neutral on the topic is Ashley Tisdale, who wrote about it on her website, “To be clear: I have absolutely ZERO judgment toward anyone using Ozempic or other similar medications. Zero … But when I see people who are already thin signing up for it, I can’t help but think of how body trends keep shifting. In the 2000s, it was big boobs, then suddenly flat chests were in. The 2010s brought body positivity, and now it’s like we’re back to chasing ultra-slim everything. We keep moving the goalposts, and it’s exhausting.” — on her website, ByAshleyFrench. She is not hating or judging people for taking them, but she is seeing how sad it is that body trends keep changing. How this might be super popular now, and everyone wants to do it, but then in a couple of years, the body trends can be completely different, and then everyone does something different. She points out how it is exhausting as a celebrity and in the spotlight, and she is known for being in High School Musical and other films. I think this should bring awareness to how body trends are always constantly going to be changing and how looking a certain way, even if it is what the trend is glorifying, will never be enough because they are unrealistic goals for anyone to reach. Also, how you might get close to that current goal, but then the next day, the beauty trends could completely shift to a completely different body type than you have. Overall, if you are interested in peptides like Ozempic, do your research first and go to a trusted medical doctor who has your health in mind and who will help you reach your goals safely and legally.