Ozempic for Weight Loss: Benefits, Risks, and Mental Health Considerations
The Rise of Ozempic: A Game-Changer or a Complex Choice?
Ozempic, a medication originally developed to treat Type 2 diabetes, has taken over the weight loss and beauty industries. With its ability to suppress appetite and promote significant weight loss, it has become a highly sought-after "miracle drug." Celebrities, influencers, and everyday individuals alike are either taking it, considering it, or debating its implications.
For some, Ozempic represents hope—a chance to improve health markers like diabetes, heart health, and metabolic function. For others, it feels like yet another weight loss "hack," a shortcut that undermines body acceptance, intuitive eating, and long-term well-being.
As an eating disorder therapist, I see the complexities of this conversation firsthand. Clients who have struggled with a difficult relationship to food and their body image for years are now facing a new dilemma: should they take Ozempic as a way to finally "escape" fat stigma, or will it simply reinforce the same internal and external pressures that have long tormented them?
The Promise of Ozempic: Improved Health and Relief from Oppression
From a medical standpoint, Ozempic has shown promise in improving key health metrics, particularly for individuals with insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular concerns. Research suggests that weight loss resulting from GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic can reduce risks of heart disease, lower blood sugar levels, and improve overall metabolic function.
But beyond physical health, there is an undeniable psychosocial relief that comes with weight loss in a society that prioritizes thinness. Clients who have spent years in larger bodies—experiencing weight stigma in medical settings, discrimination in the workplace, and even self-inflicted shame—see Ozempic as a way to finally be treated with respect.
For many, it’s not just about health—it’s about being seen as worthy in a culture that has long marginalized larger bodies. The ability to move through the world without constant judgment, to shop for clothes without frustration, to receive unbiased medical care—these are profound shifts that can feel liberating.
How Ozempic Works for Weight Loss
Ozempic is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, which means it mimics a natural hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite. By slowing digestion and reducing hunger, many users experience significant weight loss over time. However, the degree of weight loss varies, and individuals should be mindful of potential Ozempic side effects, such as nausea, digestive issues, and changes in energy levels.
Additionally, how long it takes for Ozempic to work can vary by individual. Some people notice changes within a few weeks, while others take longer to see results. Understanding what foods to avoid on Ozempic can also play a role in minimizing side effects and optimizing its benefits.
The Risks: A Compassionate and Nuanced Approach
Despite its potential benefits, Ozempic is not without considerations—both physical and psychological. Many individuals seeking weight loss have a long history of dieting, restriction, and internalized fatphobia, and a medication that dramatically alters appetite can introduce complexities that are worth exploring with self-compassion.
1. Navigating Appetite and Hunger Cues
One aspect to be mindful of is how Ozempic affects hunger cues and natural body regulation. Many people report a significant reduction in appetite, which can feel like a relief, especially for those who have struggled with binge eating or emotional eating. However, for some, this shift may create a sense of disconnection from their body’s natural hunger signals, making it challenging to engage in intuitive eating practices.
This doesn’t mean Ozempic is inherently harmful, but it’s something to approach thoughtfully. If a person has a history of chronic dieting or disordered eating, it may be beneficial to work with a therapist or dietitian to ensure that they maintain a balanced and sustainable relationship with food.
2. Understanding the Systemic Pressures Around Weight Loss
It is undeniable that we live in a society that privileges thinness and marginalizes fat bodies. Choosing to take Ozempic can feel like a rational and even necessary response to a world where thin people receive better treatment, increased access to healthcare, and greater social acceptance.
Rather than questioning why someone would want to lose weight, it may be more useful to explore how they feel about their decision. Are they making this choice from a place of self-care, or is it driven solely by external pressure and fear? Can they hold compassion for themselves no matter what path they choose? These questions allow for a more balanced and affirming exploration of the decision-making process.
3. Considering Emotional and Psychological Factors
Weight struggles are rarely just about weight—they are deeply intertwined with emotional distress, past traumas, and societal conditioning. Often the roots of weight and body image issues are planted in unrealistic and dangerous beauty standards in pop culture and media as well as bullying from classmates, siblings, and even parents and grandparents in childhood. Overtime, the individual becomes hyper-fixated on thinness and weight loss, associating those things with being adored, cherished, accepted, approved of, respected, desired, happy, and so much more.
I call this the “thin fantasy,” and society’s patriarchal and capitalistic values and systems do everything in their power to perpetuate and uphold this fantasy. For many people though, they may meet their desired outcome of having a smaller body only to still feel undesirable, disrespected, unhappy, or that it simply does’nt solve all of their problems. If an individual believes weight loss will solve all of their problems, it may be valuable to explore what else might be contributing to those feelings of distress or inadequacy. Drugs like Ozempic can absolutely help someone lose weight and therefore reduce a person’s negative experience practically and socially. However, it is useful for a person who has long battled with their body image, and is now taking Ozempic to go gently into the process, staying curious about how it’s affecting their mental health.
Some people may also wonder, can Ozempic cause depression or panic attacks? While research is still emerging, some users have reported mood changes, making it important to monitor mental health alongside physical changes. This is a reasonable question to ask when taking a new medication. Research studying the long term effects for new drugs obviously takes years to be conclusive. Moreover, individuals who already struggle with anxiety and depression may worry that any new medication could tip their symptoms in the wrong direction. What I can recommend for now is for individuals to closely monitor their symptoms as they take Ozempic, and to reach out to a mental health professional if they feel it could be helpful.
I have also recommended to my clients who are taking Ozempic to keep a journal where they can record any daily thoughts, symptoms, insights, and more. The notes they take may include any physical symptoms as well as any mental health notes. This can allow the person to mindfully use Ozempic and really see if it is an attuned choice for their body and emotional well-being.
What Happens When You Stop Taking Ozempic?
Another key concern is what happens when you stop taking Ozempic. Some users experience weight regain and increased appetite, which can be distressing if they were relying on the medication to suppress hunger. Having a plan for long-term weight maintenance, balanced nutrition, and emotional support is crucial. Individuals may want to consider what this long term plan can look like before or during their use of Ozempic.
Additionally, individuals considering Ozempic may consider learning more about alternative interventions and treatments if they haven’t already, including lifestyle interventions, other medications, or therapies that align with their personal health goals. That said, it is common for many folks seeking or taking Ozempic already to have already exhausted these interventions. That is of course understandable and as a fat-positive and disordered eating specialist, I see you, and your choice to take Ozempic in a fat-oppressive society is valid.
Finding a Middle Ground: Body Autonomy & Informed Choices
At the end of the day, people deserve body autonomy. If taking Ozempic is a well-informed decision that enhances an individual’s health, confidence, and quality of life, then that choice should be respected. However, we must also hold space for deeper exploration:
How do I feel about this decision beyond societal expectations?
Am I choosing this from a place of care for myself, or from fear and pressure?
How can I support my mental and emotional well-being throughout this process?
What are the long-term implications—physically, emotionally, and psychologically—of using Ozempic?
For some, Ozempic may be a tool within a broader journey toward well-being. For others, it may be a distraction from the real work of self-acceptance and healing from diet culture’s grasp. Ultimately, the decision is up to the individual and as a mental health professional who has struggled with an ED and body image issues myself, I simply strive to empower you to make an informed and attuned choice for YOU.
Final Thoughts
Ozempic is changing the conversation around weight loss, health, and body politics in profound ways. As an eating disorder therapist, I believe in holding space for nuance—acknowledging the real struggles people face in larger bodies while also challenging harmful societal norms that equate thinness with value.
If you are considering Ozempic, or struggling with body image and disordered eating, therapy can be a powerful space to explore your relationship with food, weight, and self-worth. You deserve to make informed, compassionate choices about your body—without shame, pressure, or fear.
If you are curious to learn more about how I may provide you with mental health guidance during your exploration of Ozempic and body image issues, feel free to reach out and schedule a FREE 15 minute phone consultation. You are not alone and help is only an email away.