Survey: 25% of Overweight New Yorkers Said They Would Try Diabetes Drug for Shedding Pounds

Survey: 25% of Overweight New Yorkers Said They Would Try Diabetes Drug for Shedding Pounds

Edited by: TJVNews.com

Like many Americans, New Yorkers are also engaged in the perennial battle of the fork and as such one third of New York City residents consider themselves to be overweight. According to a recently published article in the New York Post, a new survey has indicated that one quarter of these New Yorkers who are carrying around a few extra pounds would be willing to take a prescription drug for diabetics that has an added benefit of helping people lose weight.

According to the Post report, ten percent of respondents to the survey who live in New York City are  already taking, or know someone using, the drugs Ozempic, Mounjaro, or Wegovy to lose weight, according to the Mount Sinai South Nassau Truth in Medicine Poll.

When these drugs came on the market several years ago and it was discovered that they assist in helping people shed extra poundage they became an instant fave among the rich and famous set, according to the Post.

The Post reported that there were 600 people who responded to the survey and most of those who said that they are already taking the diabetic drug or know someone who does are women under the age of 50 or black residents.

The issue that arises is that these drugs were developed to help diabetics keep their blood sugar under control and one of the benefits is that it also helps them lose weight. Obesity is a major cause of Type 2 Diabetes.   The idea of non-diabetics using such medication to lose poundage is troubling to health professionals and in particular to doctors at Mount Sinai South Nassau, the Post reported.

As a result of people who are not obese and do not have diabetes asking their doctors to write prescriptions for such drugs as Ozempic has created a serious supply shortage, the report indicated.

Speaking to the Jewish Voice on the condition of anonymity, an overweight 68-year old woman who was diagnosed with diabetes and has an A1C of 8.4 was recently prescribed Ozempic by her doctor. She told the Jewish Voice that it was basically impossible to find the drug at any pharmacy.

Speaking to the New York Post, Aaron Glatt of Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Department of Medicine said,  “These treatments were not intended to serve as an alternative to regular exercise and healthy eating to lose a few extra pounds quickly. He added that, “They were created to manage type 2 diabetes and obesity.”

While all three drugs can generate weight loss, only Wegovy is approved by the Federal Drug Administration for weight control in obese or overweight teens and adults, the Post reported.

Ozempic, the most popular brand name, and Mounjaro are only approved for patients with type-2 diabetes to control blood glucose levels, according to the report.

The Post reported that according to a study published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism magazine, participants regained two-thirds of the weight lost after withdrawal from a once-weekly 2.4 mg injection of Ozempic.

The history of this relatively new drug dates back to June 4, 2021 when the FDA approved the semaglutide Wegovy as the first new drug for chronic obesity since 2014.  Normally used for the treatment of diabetes Wegovy mimics a hormone called glucagon-like-peptide that regulates the portion of the brain that modulates appetite and food intake. By releasing insulin into the pancreas as well as slowing down food exiting the stomach participants notice a dramatic decrease in hunger.

In a 68-week medical study of 1,961 obese adults taking Wegovy the average weight loss was 35 lbs or 15% of body weight as compared to a placebo group that lost 6 pounds or 2.5% body weight.  Moreover, there was a significant reduction in waist circumference along with an improvement in cardiovascular health. These astounding numbers have caused ripples throughout the medical community as gastric bypass surgery risks becoming obsolete.

The once a week subcutaneous injection into the stomach arm or thigh costs from $170 to $342 per week without insurance-a price well worth paying when considering the cost of liposuction, fad diets or health bills related to obesity.  Along with the injections, Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk has also made available an oral semaglutide Rybelsus which when ingested once daily similarly produces dramatic weight loss.  Any celebrity who has recently dropped significant poundage after trying unsuccessfully for years including Kim Kardashian, Mindy Kaling, Oprah Winfrey, and Rebel Wilson most probably did so through the help of these antidotes.

While Wegovy is specifically indicated for dietary purposes due to a shortage many have turned to Type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic with both being equally effective although Wegovy contains a higher dose of semaglutide. Ozempic doses begin at .25 mg and are increased over 16-20 weeks to 2.4 mg the level considered most effective for weight loss.  Ozempic and Wegovy work immediately after the injection and remain in the body 5 to 7 weeks after the last dose.

Another weight loss panacea on the horizon is Eli Lilly’s revolutionary new injection, Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, which was approved by the FDA in May 2022 and is expected to generate more than $4.9 billion in sales in the next 4 years. Proven to be a more effective weight loss device than Ozempic, Mounjaro produces an average whopping weight loss of 22.5% of body weight as compared to the 15% of Wegovy.

Side effects of these three drugs range from the most common and less severe of fatigue, nausea, increased heart rate and low blood sugar along with the less often but more serious: swelling of the pancreas, thyroid cancer, kidney failure, gallbladder problems, changes in vision and allergic reactions. Some more bad news includes their rebound effect with researchers finding that within one year participants “relatively rapidly” gained back two-thirds of what they lost despite continued lifestyle changes-as well as a reversal of most positive cardiovascular effects.  As these drugs gain momentum with over 320 million views on Ozempic’s effects on TikTok we risk a society comprised of rail thin mannequins after a long hard battle waged in the past decade to normalize plus size beauty.

The Post also reported that Adhi Sharma, president of Mount Sinai South Nassau said, “I strongly encourage all adults and parents of children who are struggling with overweight to talk about it with their health care providers and to develop a short- and long-term.”

Other findings of the survey, according to the Post report indicate that those most likely to say they binge eat are black respondents, those who are overweight, those committed to weight loss resolutions, men under 50, and those who take Ozempic or are familiar with the drug.

Nearly one-third say the thought of gaining weight causes them stress and anxiety.

Nearly one-half of women under 50 agree with that statement.

The Post also reported that meanwhile, 60% of city and Long Island residents said soaring prices caused by record inflation has impacted their food-buying habits.