Ozempic might be all the rage among celebrities and social media users trying to slim down fast — but a viral simulation has revealed what the weight-loss drug really does to your body, and it has raised some eyebrows.
Originally designed for people with Type-2 diabetes, Ozempic (semaglutide) has exploded in popularity thanks to its unexpected weight-loss benefits.
But what was meant to be a prescription-only treatment to help regulate blood sugar is now being used off-label by people desperate to shed pounds — despite the long list of side effects.
What actually happens to your body on Ozempic?
YouTuber Zack D. Films recently broke down the process in a now-viral simulation video, and let’s just say the final scene is not for the faint-hearted.
“Once Ozempic is in your bloodstream, it activates the parts of the brain that make you feel full, reducing your appetite,” he explains in the clip. “It also stabilises your blood sugar, stopping sudden cravings. Then it slows down how fast your stomach empties food, which keeps you feeling full for longer after a meal. This causes you to lose weight as you eat less.
"But it can make some people feel sick and even give them diarrhoea.”
In fact, the simulation ends with a disturbingly realistic image of an Ozempic user soiling themselves — sparking horror across the comment section.
“Last scene was NOT NEEDED Zack,” one person wrote. Another added: “Watching Zack’s animations make me lose my appetite more than Ozempic.” And a third said: “Zack’s never ending love for poop or diarrhea never ends.”
It’s not a weight loss drug — officially
Despite its cult following as a miracle slimming shot, the Ozempic website is very clear: it “is not a weight loss drug.”
Instead, it’s an injectable prescription medication for adults with Type-2 diabetes, meant to be used “along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose).”
It’s also used to “reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes with known heart disease,” and to help lower the risk of kidney disease and cardiovascular-related death in people with chronic conditions.
So what are the actual side effects?
While Ozempic might make you lose weight, it can also have an unexpected impact on your body in several ways, per Healthline. The most common side effects include:
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach pain
- Vomiting
- Constipation
Other milder — but still unpleasant — symptoms may include:
- Burping
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Indigestion or acid reflux
- Gassiness
- A change in how things taste
- Injection site reactions like discoloration or discomfort
- A slight rise in heart rate
And then there are the more serious risks: thyroid tumors, pancreatitis, changes in vision, severe stomach issues, dehydration-related kidney problems, allergic reactions, low blood sugar, and gallbladder problems such as gallstones or cholecystitis.
Celebs speak out: “I was like, vomiting”
While many stars have jumped on the Ozempic bandwagon, some have spoken candidly about how bad the side effects got.
Amy Schumer didn’t hold back: “I was like, vomiting — and then you have no energy,” she revealed, saying the drug left her “bedridden.” While others she knew had no issues, she personally switched to Mounjaro and called it “great.”
Jeremy Clarkson compared the experience to “living a minibar existence.”
“My body lost the ability to deal with gluttony but once the initial enthusiasm had worn off, my mind still wanted to breakfast on Cadbury Fruit & Nut,” he wrote in The Times. “This meant I was sick a lot.”
Stephen Fry said the drug initially made him “not want to eat” — but that quickly turned. “And I started feeling sicker and sicker and sicker,” he said on the River Café Table 4 podcast. “I was literally throwing up four, five times a day and I thought, 'I can't do this'. So that's it.”
On The Howard Stern Show, Amy Schumer admitted to trying the drug, but said it left her in rough shape.
“I tried Ozempic almost three years ago and I was like, bedridden,” she said. “I was like, vomiting — and then you have no energy. But other people take it and they’re all good.”
Undeterred, Schumer gave similar drugs another shot and recently revealed in an Instagram video that she’s having a better experience this time around with Mounjaro.
“Three years ago, I tried Wegovy,” she shared. “I was puking, I couldn’t handle it. I don’t know if they’ve changed the formula, whatever.”
She went on to describe her virtual health referral through the online midlife clinic Midi Health, and revealed she’s also been prescribed estrogen and progesterone to manage perimenopause symptoms.
“So that’s been great and Mounjaro’s been great,” she said.
Though she acknowledged that Mounjaro isn’t fully covered by insurance in the U.S. unless you have diabetes or severe obesity, she joked: “Which most of the internet thinks I have, but I’m having a really good experience with it."
How it compares to Mounjaro
In the UK, Ozempic isn’t even available for weight-loss use.
The NHS currently only prescribes it for diabetes treatment. Brits looking for weight loss support are instead turning to Mounjaro, which contains a different active ingredient, tirzepatide.
Mounjaro is approved for weight loss, while Ozempic is not. And there are key differences. Ozempic has a maximum dosage of 2mg, whereas Mounjaro can go up to 15mg. Both drugs help regulate blood sugar and reduce appetite, but Mounjaro follows a different dosage schedule and is officially backed for slimming down.
At the end of the day, if you're hoping to lose weight by using one of these options, make sure you're fully aware of the risks and potential side effects.