Ozempic: a revolution against obesity?

In his book Miracle pillBritish journalist Johann Hari recounts his personal journey with Ozempic, from his decision to seek treatment to his physical transformation. But his work goes well beyond a simple personal story. Through an in-depth survey of scientists and patients, he dissects this recent and complex phenomenon, offering a perspective that is both comprehensive and nuanced.

New drugs against obesity: what are GLP-1 agonists?

Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, are all GLP-1 agonist molecules (glucagon-like peptide-1), a molecule that the body produces after a meal. Ozempic and Wegovy contain semaglutide, an antidiabetic drug used to control blood sugar levels. These medications allow the body to digest food more slowly, to reach satiety more quickly and therefore to eat less. Mounjaro contains tirzepatide. All of these medications come in the form of an injectable pen.

Read: Wegovy, Mounjaro: these drugs that could eradicate obesity (subscribers)

Terrific efficiency

The Ozempic certainly owes its success to its great effectiveness. In a study of more than 1,200 diabetic patients, semaglutide allowed a weight loss of 4.6 kg after 30 weeks on average (1). Johann Hari experienced it. He describes his first sensations after two days under Ozempic. In the morning, he wakes up and says: “I opened my eyes and immediately felt something was wrong. » What is happening? “I felt very slightly nauseous, but nothing serious. If I had felt this way on any other day, it would not have held me back from my activities. So that wasn’t it. It took me a while to understand where this feeling was coming from. I always wake up hungry as hell, but this morning, no feeling of cravings. My appetite had completely disappeared. » And these sensations continue in the days that follow: “At the end of that first week, it felt like the doors to my stomach had closed, allowing only a tiny gap of light to pass through. »

As he eats less (but not necessarily better at first…), the results are quickly reflected on the scale: he loses around ten kilos in the first six months. It’s a real life change for him who has long been overweight and was even obese when he started taking the drug.

Read also: Johann Hari, slayer of pharmaceutical illusions and junk food

“This was the fastest and most dramatic weight loss of my lifehe said. I felt lighter, I was quicker on my feet, which boosted my self-confidence to the point that I started to show off a little. » But he also wonders about the side effects that he may have felt and especially that other people have experienced much more seriously.

Real side effects

Nausea and dizziness are effects reported by many users, even pushing some to abandon treatment. “My nausea, rather mild at first, came on suddenly and gave me the impression of being on board a trawler in the middle of a storm”testifies Johann Hari.

Other consequences are worrying, in particular the increased risk of thyroid cancer, highlighted by a French researcher, Jean-Luc Faillie, professor of medical pharmacology at Montpellier University Hospital (2). Pancreatitis has also been reported among users.

The brain is also a target of GLP-1 agonist drugs and mood disorders, depression and even suicidal thoughts are possible. Johann Hari also noticed changes in his morale, six months after starting Ozempic: “I felt fitter, more attractive and more confident. But I also felt something else: my mood was strangely darkened. I wasn’t feeling as excited as usual to start my day. I felt a little listless. Without falling into a depressive state, I often felt gloomy. »

My mood was strangely darkened

The book also discusses the risk of an increase in eating disorders, particularly affecting young women. The journalist becomes aware of this when his 18-year-old niece, who is not overweight, asks him to help her obtain Ozempic.

A delicate balance between promises and questions

The health benefits of these medications are undeniable: by returning to a normal weight, people suffering from obesity see their diabetes regress and their risk of chronic pathologies plummet. However, the journalist wonders: is it reasonable to depend on a molecule – potentially for life – to maintain a healthy figure? Shouldn’t a balanced diet and physical activity be enough?

He talks about his experiences with diets and shows how difficult it can be to successfully lose weight when you have been overweight or obese for a long time. He also explains that sport does not necessarily help you lose weight. He comes to the conclusion that Ozempic can also be seen as an emergency solution, to put out a fire. This is what a friend who had cancer explains to him, while Johann wonders about stopping Ozempic. Just as we know that cancer has environmental causes that must be fought against in the long term, the fact remains that, when the disease appears, it must be treated. “It’s like if there was a fire in my house, and I said, ‘We should really think about using less flammable building materials and installing more efficient fire sprinkler systems.’ » These are certainly excellent ideas, her friend told her. But for now, the house is on fire! The emergency is to call the firefighters so that they can bring out the fire hose. »

Taking an anti-obesity medication allows you to open a window of several months where new, healthier habits can be put in place. Johann Hari became aware of this over time, and decided to learn to cook. This is also what Dr. Èvelyne Bourdua-Roy explained to us in our article published in December 2024 in Le Monde de Nutrition because she sometimes prescribes anti-obesity medications: “I find injectables very useful in patients who have an addiction to junk food, sugar and ultra-processed products. I tell my patients that these medications are a double-edged sword: used well, they can give a boost. Used incorrectly, they will be the equivalent of temporary injectable bariatric surgery. It is absolutely essential that people who use them take advantage of the product’s window of effectiveness (for some, the product will be effective for a few months, for others for a few years) to improve their lifestyle habits, change their diet, reduce their stress, sleep well, and, above all, do bodybuilding while consuming enough protein. »

Weights that come back quickly after stopping medication

A study from the University of Oxford shows that stopping anti-obesity drugs is accompanied by rapid weight regain and a loss of cardiovascular benefits (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia). On average, patients regain 0.4 kg per month and could return to their initial weight in less than two years (3). This recovery is almost four times faster than after a program based on diet and physical activity. Despite their initial effectiveness, GLP-1 agonists are therefore not a lasting solution without lifestyle changes.

To find out more: Miracle pill

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