It’s fair to say, there is little doubt that the beauty standards of social media are becoming more and more apparent in the real world. As we look around there seems to be a greater influence of ideas like fitness or youth amongst both younger and older generations. However, a contemporary issue which seems to be affecting the world of health is the abuse of the drug popularly known as Ozempic.
Semaglutide – popularly known as the “Ozempic drug”- is a type 2 diabetes medication which is prescribed to manage blood glucose levels. According to regulations from the NHS this medication is not to be used by people who do not have type 2 diabetes. There are many common side effects of the drug such as constipation, diarrhoea or less common effects such as altered taste. However, the most obvious side effect of taking the medication is dramatic weight loss. The drug reduces the appetite of the user by slowing down the movement of food along the gut, leaving them feeling fuller for longer. This particular effect seems to be the most appealing to a number of prominent celebrities including Kim Kardashian and even Sharon Osborne.
There are many ethical problems with using the Ozempic drug, particularly when health officials have not approved it’s use except for Type 2 diabetes. And now that there is a shortage of the drug for diabetic, many have turned the blame to media influencers for promoting an unhealthy idealistic vision of fitness.
In a recent interview with Piers Morgan, previous X-factor judge, Sharon Osborne, opened up about her past experiences with Semaglutide and expressed deep regret. “I didn’t actually want to go this thin” she explained.
Being out of control of her own body was a terrifying experience and is still what many illegible users of Semaglutide are facing today. Sharon went on to explain how she lost 42 Lb in only a short period of time. She urged viewers to “keep this stuff away from younger people.”
Since the results of taking the Ozempic drug can be seen in just a couple of weeks, many have turned to taking the drug as a “quick fix” to significantly reduce their weight in a short period of time. These unrealistic ideas of beauty have then been passed onto the younger users of social media, creating a cycle of unhealthy expectations and possibly a new wave of complicated mental health problems, including body dysmorphia, anorexia and bulimia particularly amongst young people.
The whole concept of there being a shortage of a drug which could possibly save a person’s life, raises the issue that over time people are becoming more self-indulgent, putting themselves first at the expense of others. Many people are suffering because they cannot gain access to a medication that would save their lives all because of the trends on social media which encourage false ideas of fitness and health.
The shortage of the Ozempic drug magnifies the severity of the unrealistic beauty standards of social media which impact beyond our screens in the real world.
It is extremely important to remind ourselves that many of the images we see when we are scrolling on social media platforms are not completely accurate. A good way of improving our general well-being is promoting a healthy balance, things like: going on walks when possible, eating a balanced diet, taking breaks when scrolling on our phones and even socialising with friends in -person. We need to keep in touch with reality.
Ogechi Umeadi