TikTok stars tout diabetes drugs as miracle weight loss aid, QAnon successes at US midterms, and greenwashing at COP27

DIABETES DRUGS ARE A TIKTOK WEIGHT LOSS TREND, AND NOW MY GRANDMOTHER CAN'T GET HER MEDS

Scrolling through the #ozempic on Tiktok, hundreds of videos with tens of thousands of views document the dramatic physical transformations of users who are not diabetic but taking a drug approved for managing type 2 diabetes to catalyze their weight loss. 

It's even been rumored that Kim Kardashian, who reportedly lost over 15 pounds in three weeks, took the drug to fit into her infamous Marilyn Monroe dress. Ozempic is not currently FDA-approved for chronic weight management, but the compound semaglutide, which can also be found in the brand name drug Wegovy, was approved last year to treat adults with obesity.  

Growing up, I became used to the pharmaceutical advertisements that seemed to fill every commercial break on cable television. The jingle that accompanied an advertisement for Ozempic sticks out in my head because it used the refrain “oh, ho, ho it’s magic” from the 1974 hit song by Pilot. But I also remember that the commercial was specific about Ozemipic not being a weight loss drug. 

But the drug is being promoted like a miracle solution for weight loss amongst Hollywood's elite, shared with users worldwide through TikTok, and even backed by billionaire Elon Musk. Its popularity, however, has made it increasingly difficult to access, making it especially challenging for people looking to manage their diabetes.