In news today, tennis champion and Hollywood royalty Serena Williams has shared the news that she's started taking the divisive fat-loss medication GLP-1, otherwise known as Ozempic.
In a paid video ad on her Instagram page, where she has 18.2 million followers, she posted: "Just like I always have, I'm making informed choices for my health and my body."
Her announcement comes as part of a new campaign and partnership with Ro, a GLP-1 telehealth prescription service of which her husband, Alexis Ohanian, is an investor and sits on the board of.
Speaking to Today about the decision, the mum of two shared that she struggled to lose weight and see aesthetic results after the birth of her two daughters - despite eating healthily and working out regularly. That was, until she started administering the jab. “As an athlete and as someone who has done everything, I just couldn’t get my weight to where I needed to be at a healthy place. Believe me, I don’t take shortcuts. I do everything but shortcuts,” Williams shared.
Williams also touched on her family history of diabetes as an influencing factor, which African American adults are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with it.
From an athletic perspective, she suffered from injuries that she felt could be alleviated if she lost weight. “I had a lot of issues with my knees, especially after I had my kids,” she said. “That definitely had an effect on maybe some wins that I could have had in my career.”
Williams now joins a growing list of celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, Amy Schumer, and Rebel Wilson, who have publicly shared their use of the drug, which was originally prescribed for diabetes sufferers. Rumours have circulated for years that use of the drug specifically for drastic weight loss is one of "Hollywood's best kept secrets."
Case in point - Kim Kardashian is rumoured to have taken the medication to fit into the archival Marilyn Monroe dress that she donned for the 2022 Met Gala Awards. At the time, she dominated headlines for weeks, partly because many questioned whether she may have damaged the historically significant dress, but also because she spoke candidly about having lost 16 pounds to fit into the piece.
Many qualified medical experts remain on the fence about the drug - there have been numerous studies and stories about the long-term side effects, the lack of aftercare programmes currently available in the UK, and the necessity to stay on the drug long term to maintain fat loss. Unregulated and dangerous black market alternatives have also sharply risen in recent years, as those who qualify for a prescription in the UK have to be obese (have a body mass index of 35 kg/m²) and have obesity-related health problems.
For those of you who are yet to read up on Ozempic, it's the brand name for semaglutide, a drug that aids those with diabetes in stimulating insulin and regulating blood sugar.
There are billions of views on TikTok posts under the hashtag #Ozempic, and on Instagram, multiple accounts come up with handles like “My Ozempic weight loss journey”. Search for the drug has been steadily rising since Kim wore the dress in 2022, and it's remained a breakout term in the UK since, meaning more people than ever are searching for it.
Since we originally published this article in 2022, a variation of the drug called Wegovy has been rolled out on the NHS with the aim of tackling the obesity epidemic. Once you get a prescription from your doctor, you can collect it over the counter in the UK, with alternatives also being heavily marketed in pharmacies, retail outlets, and online. That said, the NHS waitlist is currently rumoured to sit at two years after nationwide interest.
Diet fads and quick-fix weight loss scams have circulated for years - thankfully, in recent times, largely debunked by qualified experts who reassure that healthy living doesn't need to be about pills, shakes, or restricting what you eat.
But with many reported to be spending between $1000 to $1500 a month on the drug to maintain a slimmer physique, we ask: when is too far? And when will we stop glorifying potentially health-risking procedures in order to look a certain way aesthetically?
Below, Marie Claire UK spoke to three qualified experts to get their take. For more expert-led Ozempic content, don't miss our extensive explainers on the risks of securing black market Ozempic, the key difference between Ozempic and WeGovy, and doctors' takes on whether Ozempic can delay ageing or cause hair loss, here.
Ozempic for weight loss is 2025's biggest problem - here's why
According to registered nutritionist Uta Boellinger and as above, the drug was designed for use by patients with type 2 diabetes. "If you have type 2 diabetes, your body is no longer able to adequately regulate blood sugar levels due to lack of insulin sensitivity," she shares.
This is where Ozempic comes in, as Doctor Louisa Beckford, Consultant Psychiatrist at Orri eating disorder centre explains, a drug manufactured by the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk.
"It's normally injected once per week by those with type 2 diabetes to improve blood sugar and lower the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as stroke, heart attack or death in adults with heart disease," she details.
So, why the sudden spike in celebrities using it for weight loss? Well, while its goal is to lower the health risks associated with type 2 diabetes, a side effect of the drug is weight loss - and quite significant weight loss, at that.
A bit of background. "When Ozempic was first used, doctors and scientists noticed that patients who had been prescribed the drug appeared to be losing significant amounts of weight," Boellinger continues. "Studies confirmed this phenomenon - one of the drug's side-effects is that it helps people feel fuller for longer, reducing cravings and appetite."
Case in point - a 2021 clinical trial monitored 1961 adults with a BMI of over 30 for 68 weeks. "It found that the group of patients taking semaglutite had a 14.9% loss in body weight when combined with a healthy diet and exercise, compared with 2.4% loss in those prescribed a placebo," shares Beckford.
It's suddenly in the headlines partly because another brand of semaglutide, called Wegovy, was approved to treat obesity in the US in 2021 and the UK in 2022. "After a stock shortage in Wegovy, doctors started prescribing Ozempic for weight loss, causing a sudden increase in sales," she continues.
In short, a variation of the drug is being prescribed by US and UK doctors to help those who are classified as obese lose weight and reduce risk factors associated with being overweight.
A moral conundrum
As the drug was first rolled out as a treatment for weight management for people whose obesity puts them at risk of weight-related comorbidities such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and so on, there wasn't as much media attention - yet, gradually since then, the drug has garnered widespread interest and coverage.
Why? Simply because, while many of the accounts online seem to be overweight individuals documenting their journey with the drug after being prescribed it by a qualified medical professional, others seem to be using it to lose weight from an already "healthy" starting point.
Even if we do believe that weight loss drugs can help obese individuals lose weight - which, by their move to prescribe the drug, it's clear the NHS does - what happens when those who fall within a "normal" weight start taking it?
Many appear to be forking out for the drug themselves, with reports showing they're spending anything from $1000 to $1500 a month. Some Tiktok users are even claiming to be making their own at home concoctions of the drug to see quick fix results without the price tag.
It's important to note, too, that all of the celebrities reported to be using the drug for its weight loss benefits have what would be considered a healthy BMI, and appear to be using it to supplement even further weight loss - in Kim's case, reportedly to fit into a dress for a red carpet appearance.
Aesthetic motivations over long term health
It's hard to ignore the obvious with Williams' announcement - that the move comes as part of a paid partnership and advertorial, and from a company of which her husband sits on the board of. There is a financial incentive at play here - the more users this ad reaches and incentivises to shop at his firm, the more they both benefit financially.
Comments on her post have been mixed, with one user sharing: "This isn’t about transparency, it’s about making money. Transparency from Serena is the narrative that is selling the product. The question that needs to be asked (esp as someone from outside the US, where it isn’t normal to market meds) is why these drugs are being marketed so hard, featuring some of the most respected, well-loved celebs?".
Another adds: "As an athlete and an influencer, it's a shame that you're reiterating the narrative that you need to take medication to be healthy and achieve an acceptable standard of beauty. This video made me really sad and disappointed."
Others pointed out how discouraging it is to see a professional athlete, who certainly would not qualify as overweight or obese, frame the move as "essential" for her health. One user shared: "The messaging here is so wrong coming from an athlete like her and very dangerous for society."
Risk vs reward
It's scarily easy to purchase Ozempic online without a prescription - in the UK, you can purchase it from Boots, where it's advertised as a “weight loss drug” primarily, but it goes without saying that doing so may pose a whole heap of risks.
"The manufacturers themselves warn of mild symptoms, such as nausea and stomach pain, to more serious issues spanning inflammation of the pancreas, thyroid tumours and even cancer," shares Boellinger. One immediate risk could also be hypoglycaemia (otherwise known as low blood sugar) if the drug is misused or administered incorrectly, she adds. Here at MC UK, we've reported on Ozempic causing hair loss, with other reports online detailing everything from vision loss to muscle loss, with the term "Ozempic face" trending on TikTok and referring to the often gaunt and lacking in muscle appearance of those who have been taking the drug.
Beckford agrees, adding that you could also experience kidney failure, gallbladder problems, and changes in vision. "The fame surrounding Ozempic is concerning. It suggests a normalisation of a drastic measure to lose weight, which may encourage other pharmaceutical companies to want their slice," she shares.
Not to mention the fact that, if you're prescribed Ozempic for weight loss, you may lose the weight and then put it back on when you come off the drug, stresses Boellinger. "It isn't a long-term solution," she shares. "One Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism study published last year found that once you stop using Wegovy, you are likely to see a speedy return of the weight you have lost."
Shortages are affecting those who rely on the drug
We all face pressure to maintain a certain body image, but the Ozempic craze is about so much more than that, already seriously impacting those with diabetes who rely on the drug via prescription.
Novo Nordisk, the supplier of Ozempic, first warned of "supply constraints due to an unprecedented demand" in August 202, shares Boellinger. "This is extremely concerning for those who depend on the drug to manage their blood sugar levels for medical reasons," she shares. "Type 2 diabetes, if not managed properly, can have severe consequences, including blindness or loss of limbs due to nerve damage - long term, it can result in death. GPs were even advised to proactively contact patients relying on Ozempic and, where possible, prescribe alternatives."
Beckford agrees, stressing that there have been "significant shortages" in the UK, causing those with type 2 diabetes to struggle to access the drug from their pharmacies.
If you're prescribed it for weight loss, it's after a consultation with a medical professional who deems your weight such a risk factor, and it's vital for you to lose weight to stay alive. "There are strict guidelines for its use and clinical criteria need to be met before it can be prescribed," she stresses. "Shortages of Ozempic could also affect this group of people who can struggle to access treatments for obesity."
Why as a society are we constantly striving for the next quick fix?
Good question - and one that Rhiannon Lambert, a nutritionist and eating disorders specialist, is passionate about.
"Unfortunately, the science isn’t sexy and sustainable weight loss takes time, which is why many choose to take more extreme routes such as diet pills or injections," she explains.
She goes on to explain that these products are often unregulated and that, at current, we simply don’t know what the longer-term health impacts of taking them for weight loss.
So, why is the Ozempic craze so worrying? And will the hype around Ozempic influence a new wave of diet pills and quick fixes? Short answer: most likely.
It's a wider issue, and once more highlights that all genders, but women in particular, are hugely pressured to look and act in a certain way to "fit in." "Drugs like Ozempic prey on people’s vulnerabilities, exacerbating the expectations within society to look an “ideal” shape or size," shares Lambert.
Boellinger agrees, adding that as a nutritionist she finds it "seriously worrying."
"We're working so hard to move away from diet culture and educate people on how to actually improve their health - skinny does not equal healthy, and using or promoting drugs like Ozempic, which only focus on weight loss regardless of the effects on health, really sends the wrong message," she adds.
As a Health Editor, I find it so disheartening. When will the obsession with being skinny stop? And when will we accept that self-love and acceptance are far more important than looking a certain way, or reaching a certain number on the scales?
Actress and presenter Jameela Jamil agrees, adding in a passionate statement on her Instagram that she "fears for everyone." "Rich people are buying this stuff off prescription for upwards of $1,000. Actual diabetes patients are seeing shortages. It's now a mainstream craze in Hollywood."
"I'm deeply concerned, but I can't change any of your minds because fatphobia has our generation in a chokehold," she added.
Beckford adds that the drug capitalises on a deep-seated sense of insecurity that many of us have in who we are and how we understand our place in the world. " Our physical body is a scapegoat for more fundamental or existential difficulties we may come up against in day-to-day life," she explains.
The main problem with trends such as these, she adds, is that they are "inconsistent, transient, and arbitrary" - you'll all remember the clean eating cut-everything-out trend of 2016, which led to thousands, if not millions, of eating disorders globally, and the Special K diet and Atkins diet before that. "Trends suggest a global "buy-in", meaning that those who don’t see themselves fitting in may turn the blame inwards," details the psychiatrist.
This, in turn, can lead to unhealthy and dangerous behaviours in order to fit the narrative – for instance, restricting your diet or compensating for your food through exercise or purging. "Research has demonstrated the strong link between social media use, negative body image and eating disorder symptoms," she adds.
For now, know this - you don't need to lose weight, change the way you look, or spend excessive amounts on drugs to fit in. You are perfect as you are. Let's hope the worrying craze goes away as quickly as it came about.
