Sunday, May 11, 2025 - Ozempic has become a buzzword in Kenya's weight loss circles, with some local celebrities flaunting jaw-dropping transformations on social media.
Originally developed to manage type 2 diabetes, the
medication is now being embraced for its rapid fat-burning results.
However, behind the glossy before-and-after photos lies a
growing wave of concern from medical professionals.
Doctors are sounding the alarm over Ozempic's hidden risks,
particularly for people with type 1 diabetes.
While the drug works by helping the pancreas produce
insulin, type 1 diabetics have a pancreas that can’t do this naturally.
Using Ozempic in such cases can trigger dangerously low
blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which, if unmanaged, may lead to life-threatening
complications.
Even more worrying is the emerging link between GLP-1
medications like Ozempic and mental health.
A new international study published in Current
Neuropharmacology found that the drug may disrupt dopamine-related pathways
in the brain - potentially triggering depression or suicidal thoughts in those
genetically predisposed to low dopamine levels.
Researchers pinpointed interactions between GLP-1 drugs and
genes responsible for mood regulation, including DRD3, BDNF, and CREB1.
According to Dr. Kenneth Blum, senior author of the mental
health study and a professor at Western University Health Sciences and Ariel
University, these findings have prompted call for more cautious prescribing
practices.
“Despite the positive buzz, these are powerful medications
that come with serious risks,” Dr. Blum warns.
“We can’t afford another wave of people dying to lose
weight.”
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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