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The truth about weight loss drug Ozempic
New study finds that weight loss drugs reduce COVID-19 deaths
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The various benefits and dangers of weight loss drugs like Ozempic have been widely discussed in the media, but a surprising new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shines a new light on the medication. The study found that those treated with a 2.4 mg dose of semaglutide, the active ingredient in drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, had a 33% lower chance of dying if they contract COVID-19. While they were still susceptible to catching the virus, their risks of adverse side effects and death were greatly reduced. The large study began before the pandemic and included 17,600 people, all of whom were overweight and suffered from heart illnesses but did not have diabetes (the illness the drug was originally intended to treat).
The study also suggested that semaglutide has other health benefits, with one of the authors describing a 29% reduction in deaths from non-heart-related causes. It was previously found in other studies that the drug may reduce the risk of serious heart-related events such as heart attacks and strokes.
It's been hailed as a "miracle drug" by high-profile celebrities, users that include tech tycoon Elon Musk. But Ozempic, whose weight-loss effects have gone viral on social media, was originally prescribed to help combat type 2 diabetes.
To learn more about Ozempic, who does and doesn't admit to using it, and whether it's the slim-down fix everybody makes it out to be, click through the gallery.
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