Meghan McCain says she is “urged” to take Ozempic to “melt the baby weight off” after giving birth to her second child, she wrote in a Chron comment published on Monday.
The media personality and daughter of the late Senator John McCain gave birth on January 19 and says she was “amazed” by how many people, including “casual friends” and “industry acquaintances,” shared with her about the injectable diabetes drug that has become popular for its off-label weight loss.
“I’ve been told ‘everyone does it’ as if that was ever a compelling case,” she writes, adding that someone with “extra shots at home” offered her a dose. “Let me be very clear about one thing,” she continues. “I do not take it. I refuse.”
McCain is one of the few famous people who has spoken openly about the drug. Chelsea Handler said her doctor put her on it without her knowledge. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ Kyle Richards and Khloe Kardashian have both denied using the drug, and The Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Jackie Goldschneider claimed that “many” of her castmates use drugs.
McCain says she understands that some people struggling with obesity need the drug, but she’s not one of them. “There is a clear moral issue here,” she writes. “It’s hard to take a drug because bathing season is upon us when others need it to stay alive.”
Despite side effects such as vomiting, nausea and dizziness, off-label use of Ozempic for weight loss has become widespread in recent months, leading to a shortage that has left diabetic patients who actually need the drug embarrassed.
“I was just 9 months pregnant,” McCain writes about the side effects. “I’ll take care of that.”
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