THREE years ago injecting yourself skinny seemed positively futuristic – now everyone from Oprah Winfrey to your local hairdresser is cashing in on “miracle” weight-loss drugs.
Ozempic is the standout leader of the get-thin pack – and it’s reaping major dividends for the producers.
Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical who manufactures the drug, reported a quarterly net profit of €3,35 billion (R67bn) – up from €1,65bn (R32,4bn) a year ago – as the demand skyrocketed.
In South Africa it’s only approved for diabetes treatment but it’s being widely prescribed to people looking to shed a few kilos. At the heart of the craze is a drug called semaglutide, which was originally known only to the diabetic community because it controls blood-glucose levels by helping your body to make more insulin. But semaglutide has soared in popularity thanks to its weight-loss properties – and with this came an increase in myths about its effects.
Dr Ralph Abraham, a London-based consultant in diabetes, has been prescribing these drugs for over a decade and has worked extensively with both diabetic patients and those with obesity.
Here he shares what is scientific fact
