The use of medications for weight loss has always been associated with significant side effects. However, when Ozempic, an anti-diabetic drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, was found to have a side effect of weight loss, it changed the weight loss market.

Now, a new study suggests that Ozempic may not only delay aging, but also improve heart health and reduce the risk of death from COVID-19 and other diseases. Sounds too good to be true, right?

But before we get into that, let us tell you what Ozempic is.

Miracle weight loss drug

There is a flood of drugs on the market today that claim to reduce weight, and Ozempic is one of them. But there are many big concerns associated with it that go beyond just side effects (which we’ll talk about in a little while) and its high prices.

Firstly, Ozempic is not available in India, yet that has not stopped wealthy individuals from finding ways to obtain it (from smuggling to purchasing on the dark web).

Secondly, it was never intended as a weight loss drug; it was developed to treat diabetes.

Dr. Archana Batra, a dietitian and certified diabetes educator, explains india today Ozempic is the brand name for semaglutide, a medication originally designed to manage type 2 diabetes.

• He further explained that semaglutide belongs to a class of drugs called ‘GLP-1 receptor agonists’, which control blood sugar by increasing insulin secretion, suppressing glucagon (a hormone that raises blood sugar) and slowing gastric emptying.
• This process signals the brain that the body is full, thereby promoting satiety.
• In simple words, Ozempic makes you feel less hungry, which leads to reduced food intake and resulting in weight loss.

Dr Danendra Sahu, Consultant Endocrinologist, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, Delhi, agrees and says that although Ozempic’s primary use is for diabetes, its weight loss benefits have generated widespread interest in its potential applications.

Can Ozempic defy aging? New study says yes

Science continually shows that obesity can be harmful to the body and even life-threatening, as it can lead to diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes and can also speed up the aging process.

So, when Ozempic and Wegovy (a semaglutide and a prescription injection designed to treat obesity) and other similar drugs became available for weight management, experts also believed that these drugs could help fight obesity-related diseases.

Now, a new three-year study has confirmed this, revealing that the drug’s newest benefit is anti-aging.

The study was published in several medical journals, including the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), of which Professor Krumholz is an editor.

“Semaglutide has very far-reaching benefits, far beyond what we initially thought,” he says. “It’s not just about preventing heart attacks. It’s about promoting health. I wouldn’t be surprised if improving people’s health in this way actually slows down the aging process.”

These studies, conducted as part of the SELECT trial, included more than 17,600 individuals aged 45 years or older who were given 2.4 mg of semaglutide or a placebo daily over three years.

Participants were obese or overweight and had cardiovascular disease, but not diabetes.

And the results?

• Researchers found that people who took the drug had lower mortality rates from all causes, including cardiovascular disease and COVID-19.
• While users of the weight-loss drug were equally likely to get infected with Covid, they were less likely to die from it — 2.6 percent of those taking semaglutide died, compared with 3.1 percent of those taking a placebo.
• Women had fewer adverse cardiovascular events, but the drug consistently reduced the risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes for both sexes.
• This reduced symptoms of heart attack and decreased levels of inflammation in the body despite weight loss.

Dr. Benjamin Sirica, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at Harvard Medical School and a study lead author, said the findings “reinforce that being overweight or obese increases the risk of death from a variety of causes, but this risk can be reduced by potent incretin-based therapies such as semaglutide.”

Do experts agree?

india today I spoke to various experts and all seemed to agree that since Semaglutide can help with weight loss, it could potentially slow down the aging process as well.

Dr. Malhar Ganla, obesity loss expert and co-founder of Freedom From Diabetes, says that since weight loss can improve overall health and potentially slow the progression of age-related conditions, Ozempic’s weight loss effects may, indirectly, contribute to healthy aging.

Dr. Danendra Sahu agrees and adds, “The beneficial effects of Ozempic are related to weight loss. Losing weight, particularly excess visceral fat, can lead to improved metabolic health, decreased inflammation, and decreased oxidative stress, all of which are associated with healthy aging.”

Additionally, Semaglutide drugs are helpful in reducing inflammation in multiple organs, which indirectly has other beneficial effects as well, he added.

“By improving overall health and reducing the risk of age-related diseases, Ozempic may contribute to a more youthful biological profile by aiding in weight loss. However, this is more about improving health span rather than directly delaying the ageing process,” he says.

Ground Level

While Ozempic and other similar medications may seem like an easy solution, experts warn that losing weight this way is not the healthiest option. Many people regain the weight they lost after they stop taking the medication.

Also, like any other drug, Ozempic has side-effects such as vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and constipation, as well as more serious risks such as pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, and kidney problems. So, make an informed decision.