‘I Find Myself Asking…Is It Worth It?’: TikTok’s Weight Loss ‘Miracle’

Gone are the days of green juice and lemon water: TikTok has a new weight loss craze. Instead of round-the-clock willpower and self-control, this fat-melting “miracle” suppresses your cravings and reframes the way you think about food.

People cannot get enough of this “wonder drug.” The hashtag has amassed over 260 million views on TikTok, and it has been endorsed widely by celebrities and influencers alike. But is it safe?

How Does Ozempic Work?

Ozempic is an injectable prescription drug that is used to manage blood sugar levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes. It is based on a naturally occurring human hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), which plays an important role in regulating appetite and blood sugar levels.

The active ingredient in Ozempic is a molecule called semaglutide, which acts as a GLP-1 agonist. In other words, it mimics the structure of GLP-1 and activates its receptors.

“GLP-1 receptor agonists induce satiety and delay gastric emptying,” Dr. Andres Acosta, founder of Phenomix Sciences and an assistant professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic, told Newsweek. “Both are essential to decrease food intake. Basically, they make you eat less.”

Studies have shown that people with obesity are often less sensitive to the hormones that make us feel full. But by slowing gastric emptying, drugs like Ozempic can restore feelings of…