I’m a male celebrity on Ozempic. I didn’t even need it, but losing weight easily was too tempting to resist. Now I’m left with the terrible side effects

Ozempic: Just a few years ago it was a niche medical term, unknown to most outside the healthcare world. Today, it’s the buzzword on everyone’s lips, dominating conversations at dinner parties, fitness studios and workplaces.

Initially developed as a breakthrough treatment for type 2 diabetes Ozempic is known today for an entirely different reason: its amazing ability to help patients to fall off – and stick it out.

Now it seems like not a week goes by without a celebrity admitting to using it or fending off speculation about their rumored reliance on the so-called ‘skinny jabs’.

From Hollywood celebrities to social media influencers, Ozempic has become the not-so-secret weapon of choice in the quest for rapid weight loss – sparking admiration, controversy and fierce public debate.

Recently, an anonymous female celebrity spoke courageously about why she turned to Ozempic after a lifetime of struggling with her weight. Her story has inspired another public figure – this time a man – to share his reasons for pursuing medically assisted weight loss.

For this person, who has been in the spotlight for years, the appeal of Ozempic was undeniable. He never considered himself lazy, but the idea of ​​losing pounds quickly and without too much effort and willpower was just too tempting to resist.

Recently, an anonymous female celebrity shared why she turned to Ozempic after a lifetime of struggling with her weight. Her story has inspired another public figure – this time a man – to share his reasons for following the same path (stock photo taken by a model)

But this is not a glowing testimony. Yes, Ozempic did for him what everyone knows it does: he lost a lot of weight, but it also gave him serious side effects.

He wants his story to be a warning to anyone considering Ozempic for weight loss. For some it may be the right option – if their GP says so – but for others it is sometimes better to do things the ‘old fashioned way’…

If I’m honest, the idea of ​​a quick fix has always appealed to me – even before I was in the public eye. So when I heard about Ozempic last year, I couldn’t ignore it. Everyone around me was trying, so I thought, ‘Why not?’

Now I know what you’re thinking: that’s it? Well, I wish there was more to say about my journey that led me to Ozempic, but really it’s as simple as that: I wanted to lose weight, I wanted it fast, and I saw an opportunity.

From past experiences I know that I can lose weight naturally whenever I want. In fact, I was able to do this a few years ago while rehearsing for a reality TV show (you’ve probably heard of it: it involves a shiny floor and a lot of dancing). By the end of the race I was 10kg lighter. Not bad for a month’s work.

Looking back on that period of my life, I felt absolutely incredible – more confident, lighter on my feet and more energetic than I had felt in years.

People started to notice it, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t enjoying it. They said things like, ‘You look great! What’s your secret?’ I’ve never been the kind of guy who craves compliments, but it gave me a real kick.

Fast forward a few years and life got a lot busier. I was no longer the thin, lithe dancer of your TV screens – and I started to feel it.

‘I met people who were ‘on it’ and the weight fell off them like magic. I thought: what’s the harm if I try it myself?’ says our anonymous celebrity (stock image)

When I met my girlfriend in 2022, we decided together to focus on our health. I trained more, ate better, and finally felt as good as I did at my physical peak. But I wanted more.

By then, it seemed like everyone was talking about Ozempic – no longer just as a treatment for people with diabetes, but as a so-called “miracle drug” for weight loss.

I met people who were ‘on it’ and the weight fell off them like magic. I thought, what’s the harm in trying it myself? After all, I’m taller than most, well over 6 feet tall, and I thought losing a few extra pounds would do me some good.

I started with a weekly injection of 0.25 mg, gradually increasing to 0.5 mg. Like I said, I was making progress naturally before I started, but with Ozempic everything was supercharged.

The results were immediate. I actually couldn’t believe how quickly I started seeing changes. If I combined Ozempic with exercise, I would lose between two and five pounds every few weeks.

I cut back on carbs, limited myself to eating fruit during the day, and had just one healthy meal in the evening. My go-to meal was a poke bowl packed with fresh veggies, salmon and colorful toppings like edamame and radish.

It may not sound like much, but I’ve never been hungry on Ozempic. Not once.

I was ecstatic, I looked great and the compliments just kept coming. But even as the pounds disappeared, I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was wrong.

Here’s the bad part: Ozempic’s side effects hit me hard. I’m not exaggerating when I say that every day felt like a struggle.

I still have a notepad at work where I scribbled, “I woke up feeling like I was going to die.” It sounds dramatic, but that’s how I felt more often than not.

My body ached – constantly. I felt constantly exhausted, as if I had run a marathon. Some days the mere thought of eating made me feel nauseous.

At first the Ozempic suppressed my appetite – which was fine – but over time I started to lose my ability to enjoy food at all. I knew I would want to eat less, but no one told me this would happen.

There were times when I couldn’t even manage a single slice of pizza. I used to like to eat a whole box to myself while hanging out with friends.

And then there is alcohol.

I had heard rumors online that Ozempic reduces your enjoyment of booze, but this side effect hit me like a steamroller almost immediately.

I enjoyed drinking socially with friends and my girlfriend. Attending celebrity events and bar and restaurant openings was a big part of my life. But that’s over now – e.gEven one glass of wine makes me nauseous and restless.

I started to wonder if it was all worth it.

When I decided to take the plunge and try Ozempic, the main thing on my mind was that I wanted to stop snacking. Eating between meals was a bad habit that I just couldn’t break.

The most famous man to talk about his Ozempic use is billionaire Elon Musk, who lost 30 pounds (13 kg) on ​​the drug. His weight loss journey was sparked by an unflattering photo taken on a yacht

And I have to admit that the medicine did what it promised: I immediately stopped snacking. But there’s a dark side to it: my previous fixation on snacks became an obsession with the drugs. Yes, I stopped thinking about food, but I did obsessed about Ozempic. I knew I was leaning on it too heavily.

I don’t know how long I will continue taking Ozempic, but I am certain that my relationship with food and medicine has changed irreversibly. I wish someone had told me that earlier.

Don’t get me wrong: I love my new body. But deep down I miss being able to eat what I want, having normal portions and not having to think about those damn injections for a day.

Ozempic also sparked an obsession with medically assisted weight loss, which, I’m ashamed to say, led me to experiment with illegal drugs to further suppress my appetite.

Despite looking ‘healthier’ than ever, taking Ozempic has in many ways ruined my old lifestyle of exercising outdoors and spending time at the beach.

I live in a part of Australia where most people you meet enjoy swimming, surfing and running. They are healthy without really trying because physical activity is ingrained in their lifestyle. That’s how I used to live, but Ozempic has changed my whole view of health. Now I only see numbers on a scale.

Another thing no one tells you about “the jabs” is the judgment you’ll face. I’ve been accused of taking the “easy way out” and not working hard enough in the gym. I don’t tell many people about Ozempic, but they can always tell: you lose weight too quickly, especially around your face.

I would urge anyone considering Ozempic or similar medications to think carefully before seeing your doctor. It’s not the “miracle” it’s made out to be: the weight loss may be rapid, but the physical and emotional toll is far greater than I ever expected.

As I write this, I’m trying to regain control of my health in a way that feels sustainable.

I have scaled back the injections and hope my appetite returns. With a little willpower I should be able to keep my weight down.

Maybe I should have done that all along.

A disclaimer: Ozempic is only approved for the treatment of diabetes in Australia. Although some doctors may prescribe it for weight loss after a thorough assessment of their patient’s needs, Daily Mail Australia does not endorse its use for this purpose. You should always seek advice from a medical professional.