World Obesity Day: Why 'budget Ozempic' is raising concerns among doctors

It’s World Obesity Day and all eyes have turned towards anti-obesity drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy. In fact, social media and the world is obsessed with Ozempic, the type 2 diabetes drug, that has proven to be a miracle remedy for weight loss too. And because of its popularity, it’s also become something of a hot commodity.

However, Ozempic isn’t easy to come by — it’s expensive, costing around $1,029 (Rs 85,331) for a supply of 1.5 millilitres. Also because of its high demand, manufacturers have also struggled to keep up with demand.

And such a situation has led some to look closer to home for weight loss fixes, giving birth to a trend on social media, namely TikTok, called ‘budget Ozempic’. But what exactly is this? And why are medical experts expressing concern about this?

What is ‘budget Ozempic’?

There is no specific drug that is called ‘budget Ozempic’. However, influencers and people on social media are using the term — ‘budget Ozempic’ — to refer to using laxatives to try to lose weight. What this trend implies is that laxatives will give you the same weight-loss impact you may experience if you take a medication like Wegovy, Ozempic , or Mounjaro.

In most cases, influencers recommend the use of stool softeners like Miralax, Dulcolx, Ex-Lax, and Glycolax as health measures that have benefits such as “flushing you out,” “detoxing your body” or “improving your gut health.”

How popular is ‘budget Ozempic’?

And it seems that ‘budget Ozempic’ is very popular among netizens. In fact, if you search for #GutTok on TikTok, there are over one billion views and counting. Many of these videos have made claims about consuming polyethylene glycol 3350—which is the generic name for Miralax — on a regular basis.

And more shockingly, this trend has also caused a laxative shortage in the US. In September last year, the Wall Street Journal reported that searches for laxative pills on Amazon had more than tripled. And manufacturers of fibre supplements Metamucil and Benefiber, meanwhile, reported double-digit sales growth in recent years.

A spokesperson for the pharmaceutical company Sanofi had told NBC News that the company was seeing “unprecedented demand” for its Dulcolax products to the point “some retailers temporarily may not have certain Dulcolax products on their shelves.”

Even a new study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that there’s been a spike in the abuse of laxatives for weight loss. The study revealed that nearly one in 10 adolescents globally have used non-prescription weight loss products in their lifetime, with laxatives, diuretics and diet pills being the most commonly used.

But does ‘budget Ozempic help with weight loss?

Using laxatives as a weight loss aid has long been practised by people across the globe. But the question is, does it help to lose weight?

Jamie Alan, PhD, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University, explained to Prevention.com that most laxatives use PEG3350, which works as an osmotic laxative. “This means it draws extra water into the colon and makes motions easier.”

As a result, you may lose weight — but it’s not what you think. Most people will swear that they have lost weight when they have pooped, but that’s essentially stool and water weight, which is not real weight loss.

Dr Lin Chang, vice-chief of the division of digestive diseases at UCLA, told Today.com, “Maybe their belly will feel flatter, but it’s temporary and the weight will come back in a few days as the person rehydrates.”

Dr Roshini Raj, a gastroenterologist and clinical associate professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, echoed the same hypothesis. “The only thing you’re losing is water and electrolytes, and those are both very important things. Abusing laxatives in this way is potentially quite harmful and doesn’t give you any benefit of true weight loss.”

Are there any risks of ‘budget Ozempic’?

Laxatives or ‘budget Ozempic’ are not without its health hazards. Experts stress that using laxatives in this way is a really bad idea. Medical experts have said that laxative abuse can lead to severe dehydration, colon and kidney damage, colon infection, irritable bowel syndrome, liver damage and a lack of ample electrolytes and minerals.

Doctors have also noted that laxative abuse affects the gastrointestinal system. If you use them for a long period of time, it can cause diarrhoea. The reason this causes diarrhoea is because laxatives work to move waste quickly through the intestine and secrete water into the bowel. This can also, in turn, lead to an imbalance in mineral and salt levels in your body.

‘Budget Ozempic’ can also lead to incorrect levels of electrolytes, which can cause serious problems, affecting your heart and muscles. It can also lead to seizures, confusion, and coma.

Dr William Chey, chief of the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Michigan was quoted as telling Today.com that this trend can also lead to malnourishment. That’s because a person who takes many laxatives would no longer be absorbing nutrients from the food.

Doctors have said that those who want to lose weight should adhere to a balanced diet along with exercise. Laxatives should only be used to constipation if other methods haven’t worked.

With inputs from agencies