From Diabetes to Weight Loss: The Problems with Semaglutide's Expanded Use
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18192/uojm.v15iS2.7533Keywords:
semaglutide, diabetes, weight lossReferences
1. Government of Canada. (2024). Summary Basis of Decision for Ozempic. Drug and Health Product Portal. https://dhpp.hpfb-dgpsa.ca/review-documents/resource/SBD00388#:~:text=On%20January%204%2C%202018%2C%20Health,%2C%20and%20effectiveness
2. Dhillon, S. (2018). Semaglutide: First Global Approval. Drugs, 78(2), 275–284. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-018-0871-0
3. Han, S. H., Safeek, R., Ockerman, K., Trieu, N., Mars, P., Klenke, A., Furnas, H., & Sorice-Virk, S. (2023). Public interest in the off-label use of glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists (ozempic) for cosmetic weight loss: A google trends analysis. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 44(1), 60–67. https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjad211
4. Münzberg, H., & Heymsfield, S. B. (2014). Leptin, obesity, and leptin resistance. Leptin, 67–78. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09915-6_6
5. Wilding, J. P., Batterham, R. L., Davies, M., Van Gaal, L. F., Kandler, K., Konakli, K., Lingvay, I., McGowan, B. M., Oral, T. K., Rosenstock, J., Wadden, T. A., Wharton, S., Yokote, K., & Kushner, R. F. (2022). Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: The step 1 trial extension. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 24(8), 1553–1564. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.14725
6. Patel, F., Gan, A., Chang, K., & Vega, K. J. (2023). Acute pancreatitis in a patient taking semaglutide. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.43773
7. Ishver, A. (2024). Ozempic (semaglutide): Uses, side effects, interactions, pictures, warnings & dosing. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-174491/ozempic-subcutaneous/details
8. US Food and Drug Administration. (2017). OZEMPIC (semaglutide) injection, for subcutaneous use. Access Data. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/209637lbl.pdf
9. Previl, S. (2023). As ozempic use grows, Poison Centre calls in Canada jump for injectable weight-loss drugs - national. Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/10177555/semaglutide-liraglutide-canada-poison-control-calls/
10. Allen, B. (2024, June 12). Sask. sees astronomical spike in Ozempic claims, many for weight loss | CBC News. CBCnews. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-sees-astronomical-spike-in-ozempic-claims-many-for-weight-loss-1.7231516
11. Jabakhanji, S. (2024, January 31). Ontario limiting access to ozempic to conserve supply for those with diabetes | CBC News. CBCnews. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ozempic-ontario-drug-access-changes-1.7100352#:~:text=The%20Ontario%20government%20is%20taking,the%20drug%20for%20weight%20loss
12. Choi, A., & Vu, H. (2023, March 17). Ozempic prescriptions can be easy to get online. its popularity for weight loss is hurting those who need it most. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/17/health/ozempic-shortage-tiktok-telehealth/index.html
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Rawan Othman

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
- Authors publishing in the UOJM retain copyright of their articles, including all the drafts and the final published version in the journal.
- While UOJM does not retain any rights to the articles submitted, by agreeing to publish in UOJM, authors are granting the journal right of first publication and distribution rights of their articles.
- Authors are free to submit their works to other publications, including journals, institutional repositories or books, with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in UOJM.
- Copies of UOJM are distributed both in print and online, and all materials will be publicly available online. The journal holds no legal responsibility as to how these materials will be used by the public.
- Please ensure that all authors, co-authors and investigators have read and agree to these terms.
- Works are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.