Ozempic, a drug sold on social networks as a weight loss miracle drug, is a real scourge and shows that we are unable to treat obesity, says a lipidologist and pediatrician specializing in obesity and cardiovascular diseases.
This drug is used to treat people with type 2 diabetes. It is also possible to use it to treat obesity, but under close medical supervision.
“The miracle injection goes hand in hand with professional follow-up examinations,” said Dr. Julie St-Pierre on Alexandre Dubé’s microphone QUB radio. Unless you have people around to support you with lifestyle changes, you will notice weight gain after you stop taking the medication, and even more weight gain than before you started the medication. »
According to the pediatrician, those who choose to take Ozempic without follow-up care are at very high risk of ending up in the emergency room due to side effects and improperly adjusted dosage.
“There are so many requests for Ozempic that insurers no longer want to pay,” explains Dr. St Pierre. We deprive people who really need it. »
- Listen to journalist Florence Lamoureux’s column as she explains what Ozempic is. followed from an interview with There dr Julie St-Pierre, lipidologist and pediatrician specializing in obesity and cardiovascular diseases, at the microphone of Alexandre Dubé via QUB radio :
Obesity and our ability to treat it
dr Julie St-Pierre has worked with children suffering from obesity for years. Even in 2023, this condition, “which is not a question of will”, is still heavily stigmatized. In her opinion, the Quebec government could do more.
” I’m angry! It’s been 10 years now since I go home with my little fundraiser year after year. I’ll be knocking on government doors to find out if the budget for aftercare for children suffering from obesity , is renewed,” said Dr. St-Pierre.
And every time it’s the same scenario, even if obesity is on the rise in Quebec.
“I had to wait months for an answer,” she laments. My employees don’t know if they will keep their jobs. “Parents and children worry about keeping their doctor and their follow-up care,” the pediatrician said.
The latter states that 80% of chronic diseases, such as a heart attack, are due to obesity. Likewise, 30 types of cancer are associated with obesity.
“It is disastrous to see how our society fails to treat people. We’re ostriches in Quebec and we can’t stick our heads out of the sand. We have to do something and take it seriously,” she said.