They're being called "miracle weight loss shots." But behind the glossy advertising and billions in profits, more and more independent scientists and doctors are sounding the alarm about Ozempic (semaglutide) and its analogue Vegovi.
Boom and backlash
Originally developed by Novo Nordisk, Ozempic was intended to treat type 2 diabetes. Soon after, Wegovy, based on the same active ingredient, was promoted as a weight loss drug. Sales have skyrocketed, with both drugs generating more than $20 billion worldwide by 2024, with individual pens costing between $900 and $1,350 per month in the U.S.
But while Hollywood stars, tech executives and opinion leaders flaunt their slim figures, independent researchers are raising serious health concerns.
What the scientists say
Recent warnings come from endocrinologists and pharmacologists in the U.S., Germany and the U.K. Critics include:
Dr. Robert Lustig (UCSF) – claims Ozempic “treats the symptoms, not the causes” of obesity and can lead to dangerous metabolic imbalances.
Professor Marion Nestle (NYU) – warns of the “pharmaceuticalization of weight management” and questions long-term safety.
Dr. Dirk Müller-Wieland (German Diabetes Association) – highlights the risks of pancreatitis and severe gastrointestinal complications.
Some studies point to a link with gallbladder disease, thyroid tumors, depression and even suicidal thoughts.
Doctors in the field
Clinicians report that patients experience severe nausea, muscle loss, dehydration and rapid weight regain after stopping the injections.
“There is simply no long-term data,” says Dr. Deborah Cohen, a medical journalist and physician from the UK. “We are conducting a large-scale, real-time experiment on human health.”
Organizations taking a stand
World Health Organization (WHO): urges caution and calls for more long-term trials.
European Medicines Agency (EMA): Launches safety reviews after reports of psychiatric side effects.
FDA (US): Adds warning but continues to approve wider use under pressure from pharmaceutical giants.
Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly (maker of Mounjaro, a rival drug) are racing to the plate, investing billions in marketing while lobbying regulators.
The price of profit
Critics say the companies are selling the illusion of easy weight loss while the real solutions — diet, exercise, lifestyle and access to fresh produce — are left by the wayside. The average US patient spends more than $12,000 a year on semaglutide injections, often without insurance coverage.
So what’s next?
The debate is heating up. While some patients report life-changing results, others face serious health risks and financial ruin. Independent experts insist:
Long-term safety studies are urgently needed.
Doctors should honestly inform patients about risks and alternatives.
Governments should regulate pricing and advertising more strictly.
As Dr. Lustig puts it bluntly:
“The industry is profiting from people’s insecurities. The question is: At what cost to our health?”
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