Ozempic Epidemic: How TikTok Fueled a Healthcare Crisis

Authored by: Srijita Kommaraju

Art by: Amber Briscoe

“What I Eat in a Day: Down 46 Pounds on Semaglutide.” “My Miracle Drug - Ozempic.” “How I lost 160 pounds on Ozempic.” TikTok videos with titles like these are trending, and all for the wrong reasons. 

The phenomenon “Ozempic” has been circulating the Internet for the past year now, with thousands of people admitting to losing hundreds of pounds on this drug. But what is it, and why is there so much controversy surrounding this drug that has shown to have such transformative results?

To understand the rise of the popularity of a drug like Ozempic, we have to take a step back. Ozempic isn’t a drug that just spawned in the market; it has been around since 2017, originally approved by the FDA to treat type 2 diabetes [1] However, in June 2021, Ozempic was approved by the FDA for weight loss for adults who have general obesity or are severely overweight. But how did it get so popular? 

Well, we have social media to blame. Celebrity endorsements on TikTok have turned Ozempic into a household name. Take the Super Bowl ad for Hims & Hers, for instance. This ad promoted weight-loss medications similar to but less pricey than popular name brands like Ozempic and Wegovy by showing montages of body fat, statistics about obesity, and offering these medications as a solution. However, this brand of drug is not FDA-approved. Additionally, this ad failed to address "any side effect disclosure, risk, or safety information as would be typically required in a pharmaceutical advertisement." [2] 

A cross-sectional study by Basch et al. analyzed the content of the first 100 videos on TikTok with #Ozempic, and found that these videos were viewed approximately 70 million times. Less than half of these videos mentioned the potential side effects, with most videos being uploaded by consumers and non-medical professionals, and tending to leave out negative side effects or long-term health consequences of this drug [3]. This increased surge in public interest of Ozempic and weight loss is concerning, especially as this popularity is recently stemming from not those who are morbidly obese, but people who are of healthy weight and want to lose a few pounds. Especially for those who already may reduce their food intake, the misuse of semaglutide medications can lead to debilitating health conditions such as reduced muscle and kidney functions, GI issues, and even mental health problems ranging from depression to anxiety [4]. 

Even more concerning is the shortage of semaglutide for people with diabetes. Tammie Rachell Largent-Phillips, a type 2 diabetic, has managed her diabetes with Ozempic for the last four years. However, the rising popularity of Ozempic has led to shortages of the drug in her pharmacy, restricting her access to vital medications for her health [5]. Patients who cannot find their prescription at their local pharmacies are being forced to switch brands or doses, resulting in fluctuating blood levels and the drug being ineffective as a whole. This raises questions about prioritizing these medications for patients with diabetes, or restricting access of the drug to those who have certain health conditions. 

However, one of the most essential steps is to first mitigate the spread of false information surrounding Ozempic and weight-loss drugs in general. “The high costs of anti-obesity drugs and the need for lifelong use pose significant financial challenges, which could worsen health disparities,” said Dr. Klitzman, a professor of psychiatry and director of the Master of Science in Bioethics Program at Columbia University [6].  

Although it is difficult to censor information spread through the Internet and social media, healthcare providers and the public should be more aware of the potential impact of social media platforms to ensure that Internet trends do not promote irresponsible usage of prescription weight-loss medications.   

References:

1. Commissioner, O. of the. (2021, June 21). Fda approves new drug treatment for chronic weight management, first since 2014. FDA. 

2. News, A. B. C. (n.d.). Super Bowl ad for Hims & Hers’ weight loss drug sparks backlash. ABC News. Retrieved March 6, 2025, from https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Wellness/super-bowl-ad-hims-weight-loss-drug-sparks/story?id=118695064

3. Dangers of taking ozempic for weight loss | what you need to know. (n.d.). Retrieved March 6, 2025, from https://withinhealth.com/learn/articles/semaglutide-ozempic-weight-loss-risks

4. Basch, C. H., Narayanan, S., Tang, H., Fera, J., & Basch, C. E. (2023). Descriptive analysis of TikTok videos posted under the hashtag #Ozempic. Journal of Medicine, Surgery, and Public Health, 1, 100013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glmedi.2023.100013

5. Cohen, J. P. (n.d.). Ozempic shortages raise questions about priority access for diabetics. Forbes. Retrieved March 6, 2025, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuacohen/2024/07/19/glp-1-shortages-raise-questions-about-prioritizing-access-for-diabetics/

6. The rise of ozempic for weight loss sparks ethical concerns. (2024, October 15). Columbia University Department of Psychiatry. https://www.columbiapsychiatry.org/news/rise-ozempic-sparks-ethical-concerns