Doctor explains 'weight-loss jab smell' as new side effect for Ozempic is revealed
Topics: Food and Drink, Health, Ozempic, Science
Britt Jones
Featured Image Credit: Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
Topics: Food and Drink, Health, Ozempic, Science
Have you noticed something strange after taking Ozempic or maybe someone you know has been complaining about this one thing?
When it comes to taking weight-loss injections such as Ozempic and Wegovy, there are some things that come alongside it that aren’t generally known about.
Of course, we’ve all heard about ‘Ozempic face’, the fact that maybe your bottom will disappear and more, but smell? That’s a new thing we’re hearing about.
Now, if you don’t know already - Ozempic is a GLP-1 medication that is primarily used to help to treat diabetes.
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However, in recent years, people have been opting to use it to aid in weight loss, specifically because of its appetite suppressant qualities.
While it’s not approved for this use, that doesn’t stop it from being marketed that way, or for people to use it to drop a few pounds.
Along with the increase in people using the GLP-1 medications, a side-effect has emerged as being one of the strangest - smells.
No, we’re not saying that people who use Ozempic smell a certain way. It’s more so that their sense of smell changes.
According to MarkWide Research, ‘Gourmand’ fragrances have seen a huge surge in popularity, which they say is down to their indulgent scent.
Similarly, New Beauty believe that those smells will see a surge in consumers buying them by 33.9 per cent this year, with caramel taking the top spot.
Obviously, you can’t eat these perfumes, so why are these things linked to Ozempic?
It’s because experts are beginning to think that there is a connection between GLP-1 drugs and sensory changes - namely, smell and taste.
With 12 per cent of the US population taking weight-loss medication, it’s no surprise that this could be attributed to the recent shift in buying more and more fragrances that smell like desserts.
Why? Because GLP-1 drugs reduce appetite by mimicking a hormone that helps to regulate blood sugar.
However, the same hormone also has receptors in parts of the brain that process smell and taste, which can either decrease or increase the intensity for some users.
Dr Priya Verma, an aesthetic doctor told the Financial Express that it could be part of a broader neurochemical shift.
Dr Verma said: “Your appetite for certain foods or tastes is very likely to change. If patients who are using Ozempic (or any other weight-loss injection) are having a lower oral sugar intake, it may be that they are looking to satiate the appetite receptors for those sweeter scents through a different means.”
Essentially, if you can’t eat it, you might want to smell it.
According to those within the industry, people are shifting towards ‘indulgent, addictive notes'.
Jonnie Swarbrick, the creative director at Fragrance Du Bois said: “The rise of gourmand fragrances has been undeniable. We have seen increased demand for scents that smell edible – sweet, warm, and nostalgic.”
Some of the most popular options right now include Sabrina Carpenter’s Sweet Tooth, (chocolate and marshmallow) and Sol de Janeiro’s Cheirosa 71 (pistachio, caramelised vanilla, and white chocolate).