I have a friend who started taking Ozempic a few months ago just to lose weight and she's getting amazing results. She's not diabetic, she just asked her doctor for it. Is this safe? I'm not considering doing it myself, but I'm curious if a lot of people are doing this in Portugal.
I don't have personal experience with this, but I see this conversation popping up a lot. Ozempic was created for diabetes, and using it for weight loss without the disease is kind of a gray area. Technically, doctors can prescribe off-label, so yes, some people manage to get it, but that doesn't mean it's safe for everyone. The side effects can be serious - nausea, digestive issues, and there are reports of people ending up deficient in certain nutrients. Plus, when someone stops taking it, they can gain the weight back fast if they don't change their habits.
About Portugal specifically, I don't have exact data, but in several countries it's become a real trend, especially among people with easier access to private consultations. The problem is that demand has exploded so much that there's a shortage of Ozempic for people who actually need it, diabetics. Because of that, some governments and health systems started restricting it. Your friend maybe got lucky finding a doctor who prescribed it, but it's not a guarantee that it'll be kept up, or that it's the best option for her long-term. If she's getting incredible results but neglecting actual eating habits, problems could come down the line.
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