When it was reported on Wednesday morning that television personality Oprah Winfrey had collapsed and been rushed to hospital, many people assumed her health condition was linked to her use of weight-loss medications, like Ozempic. But was this assumption fair? What exactly are the health risks associated with drugs like semaglutide, which are increasingly being taken for weight loss? Oprah Winfrey has a new TV special on weight loss drugs. Credit: AP Winfrey’s close friend Gayle King confirmed that she had been hospitalised, telling CBS Mornings , “She had some kind of stomach thing – stomach flu – stuff was coming out of both ends.
I won’t get too graphic.” In December last year, Winfrey revealed she had been taking prescription medication to manage her weight, making her part of a growing cohort of Hollywood stars who are either rumoured to have, or who have admitted to, taking the class of drug. While Ozempic is not approved for weight loss in Australia, its off-label prescription is on the rise, something the TGA announced it would ban in September this year .
Gastrointestinal issues Several studies have shown a link between GLP-1 agonists, the class of drugs that include Ozempic, and gastrointestinal issues. One study from October 2023 found that semaglutide and liraglutide were associated with increased risks of pancreatitis , gastroparesis and bowel obstruction. In another US-based clinical trial , almost half of participants reported experiencing adverse .
