People who've lost weight while taking diabetes medication Ozempic have shared one major change they've noticed.
Ozempic has become synonymous with weight loss in recent years, despite the fact the injection is only approved for people with type 2 diabetes.
Its main ingredient - GLP-1 agonist, semaglutide - works by helping the body produce more insulin when needed, reducing the amount of glucose produced by the liver, thus helping to stabilize blood sugar levels.
It also slows down how quickly food is digested, making people feel fuller for longer and leading to weight loss.
Advert
Ozempic manufacturer Novo Nordisk has repeatedly emphasized that the medication should only be used to manage diabetes.
Alternatives, such as Mounjaro and Wegovy, are on the market for weight loss purposes.
One study by Mounjaro manufacturer Eli Lilly found, after 72 weeks, people on Mounjaro lost about 20 percent of their body weight, while people on WeGovy lost 14 percent. It involved 750 obese participants with an average weight of 113 kilogram (18 stone).
Advert
No matter the medication or reasons for taking it, people who've shifted the pounds regardless have noticed a difference in how they're treated day-to-day.
Taking to the r/Ozempic community on Reddit, one person's post prompted a discussion about 'pretty privilege'.
This is defined as 'an unearned and mostly unacknowledged societal advantage that a person has by fitting into the beauty standards of their culture'.
The original poster asked: "Anyone else getting treated *very* differently in public?"
Advert
They continued: "I've lost over 70 pounds now... and I'm getting offered free stuff at restaurants, gas stations, fast food joints... where I've never been offered things free stuff before.
"I thought the people holding the door for me would be the weirdest but WHY am I receiving free stuff... I'm trying not to sound ungrateful but the whiplash of it all is kinda pissing me off."
One man who has lost 40 kilogram also recognized the shift in attitudes.
Advert
"It basically affirmed that pretty privilege is real," he said. "I could get away with just 'sorry' more often than not these days. I am very conscientious and considerate, but during times I need more leeway or have a selfish reason, I tend to get my way."
He framed it positively, though, adding: "I think about this as one of the 'rewards' for hitting my goals. You deserve it!"
Not everyone saw this 'privilege' in quite the same way, though.
Another woman, who went from a 'chubby size 12 'to a 'very toned and curvy size 8' in her 20s shared: "It was unbelievable how differently I was treated when I was thinner. It is really hurtful and messed with my brain for a while.
Advert
"The worst part was that people I knew for years treated me better when I was thin."
Another weighed in: "I used to feel like I needed to show people that I was smart, after a conversation they could see I was a put together person and would usually be a little warmer to me.
"Now it’s like I get that warmth right away. People assume competence, rather than me needing to prove it.
"I love it, it’s so nice to feel like I’m perceived without judgement, but it hurts my heart for my older self."
Topics: Ozempic, Reddit, Health, Social Media, Beauty
Ellie Kemp