The quest for the “Ozenpic Budget” led to this harmful TikTok diet trend

Social media is obsessed with the type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic. But Ozempic’s ability to control blood sugar isn’t why it’s so popular online. Instead, the drug is trendy because it has been shown in clinical trials to cause weight loss in diabetic patients who took it.

This has led to an increase in people trying to get their hands on Ozempic in hopes of losing weight – even though Ozempic is not recommended for weight loss. The drug’s growing popularity online has not only contributed to shortages and pirated versions of the drug, but it has also led to an influx of harmful diet trends.

One of these food trends circulating on social media is what some have dubbed “Budget Ozempic.” In fact, Budget Ozempic is not related to Ozempic at all and also does not contain semaglutide – the drug component that is the active ingredient in Ozempic. In most cases, what people call “Economic Ozempic” actually refers to laxatives and stool softeners.

There are many reasons why you should avoid using ‘Ozempic Economic’ if you are trying to lose weight – not the least of which is that they only have a small, short-term effect on weight loss. weight. Laxatives and stool softeners are not designed for long-term use, nor are they indicated for weight loss. Improper use can be harmful for many reasons.

Dehydration

Some types of laxatives work by bringing water from elsewhere in the body into the intestines to soften the stool and make it easier to pass. However, overuse of laxatives and stool softeners can lead to water loss and dehydration. This can lead to short-term symptoms such as feeling more tired or thirsty than usual, as well as feeling dizzy and dizzy.

Water loss can also trigger the body’s renin-angiotensin response. The key function of this response is to maintain fluid and blood pressure balance. If too much water is lost in a short period of time, it will eventually cause water retention. This temporary water retention is because your body is overcompensating for dehydration. Chronic dehydration can lead to hypertension and other cardiovascular problems.

But even though using laxatives causes water loss, it does not cause fat loss. This means that any weight a person loses while using laxatives is only temporary – and any water lost will be regained.

An electrolyte imbalance

Irresponsible use of laxatives can also lead to electrolyte loss.

Electrolytes (such as sodium, potassium and chloride) are essential for the body to function. They help balance your fluid levels and keep your muscles and nervous system functioning. But when our body loses water or we are dehydrated, our body’s electrolyte balance is thrown out of balance.

In the short term, an electrolyte imbalance can cause muscle cramps and spasms, nausea, fatigue, headaches, and even numbness in the limbs. But chronic, long-term electrolyte imbalance can be more dangerous, increasing the risk of heart problems.

Poor nutrient intake

Our bodies need many nutrients to function properly, including vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and proteins. These nutrients come from the foods we eat and are primarily absorbed in the small intestine.

Laxative use and purging (as sometimes seen in bulimia nervosa) can lead to poor-quality nutritional intake. One study even found that using laxatives resulted in 12% lower absorption of essential nutrients.

Gastrointestinal problems

The use of laxatives affects the gastrointestinal system. If you use them for a long time, they may cause diarrhea.

The reason this causes diarrhea is because laxatives quickly move waste through the intestine and secrete water into the intestine. It can also lead to an imbalance in mineral and salt levels in your body.

Health Considerations

Although the use of laxatives and stool softeners may cause temporary weight loss, this is only due to loss of water weight; The harmful effects of improper laxative use far outweigh any temporary weight loss you might achieve. Laxative abuse could also increase the risk of eating disorders, such as bulimia nervosa.

Anyone wanting to lose weight should try following a structured weight loss program that includes a healthy, balanced diet combined with exercise. Laxatives should only be used to treat constipation if other methods have not worked and after speaking with your GP.

This article was originally published on The conversation by Swarajit Sarkar has University of London. Read the original article here.