Sorority rush gets Ozempic makeover as some college women resort to weight-loss injections
College-aged women already tend to have “high body-image sensitivity,” he noted, which is heightened in the age of “a full-scale social contagion.”
OZEMPIC USERS MAY BE MAKING A MAJOR WEIGHT-LOSS MISTAKE, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS
“Many of these young women grew up already fighting disordered relationships with food and their physical bodies, and [now] you have a medication that can play on their insecurities.”
That’s not to say GLP-1s don’t benefit many patients. In clinical studies of people taking the medications for obesity, fat mass generally accounts for more of the lost weight than lean mass, Campbell pointed out.
College-aged women already tend to have “high body-image sensitivity,” a longevity expert noted, which is heightened in the age of “a full-scale social contagion.” (iStock)
“The peptide isn’t catabolic by itself – the real risk is that a healthy 20-year-old who isn’t obese has far less metabolic and muscular reserve to lose from in the first place.”
When a young woman loses weight rapidly without consuming enough protein or doing resistance training, she may lose a greater proportion of lean mass, Campbell warned. Rapid weight loss can also contribute to the facial or body changes sometimes referred to as “Ozempic face” and “Ozempic body.”
5 steps college students should take before starting a GLP-1
For college students considering a weight-loss medication, Campbell recommends taking the following five steps before beginning treatment.
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No. 1: Know whether the medication is medically appropriate
“If you’re not obese or metabolically compromised, ask yourself honestly why you’re taking a medication designed for a disease you don’t have,” Campbell suggested.
No. 2: Protect muscle during weight loss
While muscle loss is preventable, it requires work that most people using these drugs for cosmetic reasons aren’t doing, Campbell said.
While the FDA has found no increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior from GLP-1 medications, patients should tell their prescriber about any new or worsening mood symptoms. (iStock)
“That means real protein intake, not a protein bar as an afterthought, and resistance training,” he advised. “Skip both, and you will absolutely lose muscle tissue that you cannot easily get back at 20 years old.”
While adequate protein intake and resistance training may help reduce muscle loss, the amount of lean mass lost varies from person to person.
No. 3: Understand fertility considerations
“Fertility matters here in a way most college students never think about,” Campbell said.
GLP-1 medications should not be used for weight loss during pregnancy, experts agree. Semaglutide labeling advises stopping Wegovy at least two months before a planned pregnancy.
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Tirzepatide has been shown to reduce the effectiveness of oral hormonal contraceptives during treatment initiation and dose increases, so the FDA advises using an alternate method for four weeks during those periods.
No. 4: Discuss mental health and eating behaviors
Mental health still deserves attention, particularly for young adults with depression, anxiety, eating disorders or a history of using food to cope emotionally.
While the FDA has found no increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior from GLP-1 medications, patients should tell their prescriber about any new or worsening mood symptoms.
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No. 5: Recognize the limits of long-term data
“Nobody knows what 10 or 20 years of GLP-1 use looks like in a woman who started at 20 with a normal body weight, because that population barely existed in the clinical trials,” Campbell cautioned.
“Consider this a reminder to stop treating a powerful metabolic medication like a lifestyle accessory.”
While GLP-1 medications can suppress appetite, an expert said, “they will not fix a broken metabolic foundation or whatever underlying reason a 20-year-old feels she needs to lose weight in the first place.” (iStock)
While GLP-1 medications can suppress appetite, Campbell added, “they will not fix a broken metabolic foundation or whatever underlying reason a 20-year-old feels she needs to lose weight in the first place.”
“We’ve built a pharmaceutical shortcut that used to require months of behavior change, and young women in high-visibility social environments are early adopters of anything that changes how they look, fast.”
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Campbell stressed that treatment should involve a qualified prescriber who evaluates the patient’s medical history and goals, provides appropriate monitoring, adjusts the dose as needed and helps manage potential side effects.
Fox News Digital reached out to the National Panhellenic Conference and to GLP-1 manufacturers requesting comment.
Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@fox.com.
Article source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/sorority-rush-gets-ozempic-makeover-college-women-resort-weight-loss-injections