Nutrition Center warns against slimming products such as Ozempic, gives different advice

Slimming products such as Ozempic and Wegovy are extremely popular. In a short time, they have become commonplace: people use them not only for medical reasons, but mainly to lose weight quickly. The Nutrition Centre now warns that this is not a structural solution for overweight. People are too quick to think that this is the solution.

Ozempic was originally developed as a drug for people with type 2 diabetes. But now it is increasingly used as a weight-loss drug. The active ingredient, semaglutide, reduces appetite and slows down gastric emptying, which helps users eat less and lose weight.

The demand for the drug grew explosively, especially via social media. Celebrities and influencers shared their success stories. There are now even calls to include the reimbursement of Ozempic in the basic package , even if this would lead to a higher health insurance premium. This is evident from a study commissioned by the Ministry of Health. 90 percent of respondents are said to support this. Nevertheless, the use of Ozempic and other weight-loss medicines without medical necessity is very controversial.

Doctors warn of side effects such as nausea, even muscle loss and gallstones. In addition, the kilos often return as soon as you stop taking this drug. Moreover, the large-scale off-label use leads to shortages for people who really need the drug to treat diabetes.

The Nutrition Centre now warns that waste products such as Ozempic are not suitable for treating obesity. "The danger is that people become overweight, with the idea that there is a remedy for it," says Petra Verhoef, director of the Nutrition Centre, to the NOS . She emphasises that people should be aware of the consequences and advocates prevention to prevent overweight. For example, by eating healthier and exercising more.

Moreover, using Ozempic without medical supervision can be dangerous. Earlier this week, news broke that the number of people with poisoning symptoms due to incorrect use of medication has increased significantly. In Nieuwsuur, an obesity surgeon warned that using Ozempic not only causes you to lose fat, but also muscle mass.

The Nutrition Centre, which developed the well-known Schijf van Vijf, emphasises that healthy food (sufficient fruit, vegetables, wholemeal bread) is part of a healthy lifestyle. But in our society there is a major obesity epidemic, says Verhoef. "There is an abundance of food that is too fatty and too salty and does not nourish you well, but is offered everywhere." Instead of reaching for drastic measures such as slimming products, we would be better off eating healthier.

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