Social media is obsessive about the type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic. But Ozempic’s ability to manage blood sugar isn’t the explanation it’s so popular online. Instead, the drug is trending since it has been shown in clinical trials to cause weight reduction in diabetic patients taking it.
This has led to an uptick within the number of individuals attempting to get their hands on Ozempic within the hopes of reducing weight – regardless that the Ozempic is not beneficial for weight reduction. The drug’s soaring popularity online has not only contributed to shortages and bootleg versions of the drug, it’s also led to an influx of harmful weight loss program trends.
One of those weight loss program trends circulating on social media is what some have dubbed “Budget Ozempic”. Budget Ozempic is in reality by no means related to Ozempic, nor does it contain semaglutide – the drug component which is the energetic ingredient in Ozempic. In most cases, what people online are calling “budget Ozempic”, actually refers to laxatives and stool softeners.
There are many the explanation why you need to avoid using “budget Ozempic” if you happen to’re attempting to drop pounds – least of which is because they only have a small, short-term effect on weight reduction. Laxatives and stool softeners should not designed for use long-term, nor are they indicated for weight reduction. Using them improperly may be harmful for a lot of reasons.
Dehydration
Some sorts of laxatives work by bringing water from elsewhere within the body into the intestines with the intention to soften the stool and make it easier to pass. But abuse of laxatives and stool softeners can result in water loss and dehydration. This may result in short-term symptoms akin to feeling more drained or thirsty than usual, in addition to dizziness and lightheadedness.
Water loss may also trigger the body’s renin-angiotensen response. The key function of this response is to maintain fluids and blood pressure balanced. If an excessive amount of water is lost in a brief time period, it should eventually cause fluid retention. This temporary fluid retention happens resulting from your body overcompensating for the dehydration. Chronic dehydration may result in hypertension and other cardiovascular problems.
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But while laxative use causes water loss, it doesn’t result in fat loss. This signifies that any weight an individual loses from using laxatives is just temporary – and any water lost can be regained.
Electrolyte imbalance
Using laxatives irresponsibly may cause you to lose electrolytes.
Electrolytes (akin to sodium, potassium and chloride) are essential for the body to operate. They help to balance your fluid levels and keep your muscles and nervous system working. But when our body loses water or we grow to be dehydrated, our body’s electrolyte balance is thrown out of whack.
In the short-term, electrolyte imbalance could cause muscle cramps and spasm, nausea, fatigue, headaches and even numbness within the limbs. But chronic, long-term electrolyte imbalance may be more dangerous – increasing risk of heart problems.
Poor nutrient intake
Our body requires many nutrients with the intention to function properly – including vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and protein. These nutrients come from the foods we eat, and are mainly absorbed within the small intestine.
Using laxatives and purging (as is typically seen in cases of bulimia nervosa) can result in poor quality nutrient intake. One study even found that the usage of laxatives led to 12% less absorption of essential nutrients.
Gastrointestinal issues
Laxative use affects the gastrointestinal system. If you utilize them for a protracted time period, it might cause diarrhoea.
The reason this causes diarrhoea is because laxatives work to maneuver waste quickly through the intestine and secrete water into the bowel. This may also, in turn, result in an imbalance in mineral and salt levels in your body.
Health considerations
Although use of laxatives and stool softeners could temporarily result in weight reduction, this is just resulting from a lack of water weight, the detrimental effects of laxative misuse far outweigh any temporary weight reduction you might achieve. Misuse of laxatives could also increase risk of eating disorders, akin to bulimia nervosa.
Anyone who desires to drop pounds should attempt to follow a structured weight reduction programme that features a healthy, balanced weight loss program paired with exercise. Laxatives should only be used to treat constipation if other methods haven’t worked and after speaking together with your GP.