Katie Couric discusses "celebrity weight loss drug," Ozempic with obesity expert and Dr. Lou Aronne 

Response to Lena Wexler: thanks for your interest in my health. Update: now down 80 lbs total from all-time highest weight of 200lbs. And I am now in a size 2. I’m on the 12.5mg dose. My A1c is 5.1 so my Dr says I’m no longer diabetic but can still receive this treatment because of history of diabetes.

That is so exciting !

Any loose skin?

That’s so wonderful for you! 😊

I had a VERY SIMILAR result!

Question , if you get off the ozempic, will you re gain the weight ?

Congratulations to him 🎉

I have a very similar situation. How much of the weight loss do you attribute to the Ozempic vs. the keto diet? I started to loose just on the keto (low carb) diet before I took the Ozempic and am concerned about taking it forever or gaining the weight back when I stop taking it.

@@glennkoenig6078 my husband lost 80 pounds or more in a year with the diet and ozempic. Before the medicine he could barely lose 20 pounds. And he did not exercise.

I am happy for him and I am happy for you also continued good luck, God bless.

So very happy to hear your husband is getting results

Wait, you lost your sense of taste and smell due to Ozempic?

A low carb or carnivore diet will do the same.

You go, girl! I'm in the same place at 70. I'd tried them all. Nothing worked. have lost 35 lbs since starting, 15 pounds to go. BP, lipids, Blood sugar all down to normal. Only side effect is lot of burping.

@@user-km6op9jb4c me too….burping and heartburn AND hiccups

Well done 👏🏼 my first injection today, diabetic for 25yrs, just over 50yrs and 170lbs

That’s amazing insurance! I’m type 2 diabetes and my insurance refuses to cover it-even though I have a severe reaction to other medications like Metformin.

Wow, $20! Mine is $90 with top-notch Fed BCBS. You must have amazing ins. My sister needs it too, but they aren't starting new scripts.

Way to go!!! How long did it take to lose the 50 pounds? I'm going to be starting Trulicity very soon. (Currently, have vertigo and didn't want to start new meds until I feel better)

How long did it take you to lose the 50 pounds? Very interested to know!

@@daniellebelding7777 about 8 months🥰 I lost 40 in about 5 months then it took me 3 months to lose those last 10. I'm still losing slowly down 58lbs

I lost 65 lbs in 9 months by simply stopping all soda pop. I don't have to stay on your poison drug for the rest of my life because I have willpower. This drug is for the weak.

@@pennychaney5161 are you diabetic?

So am I. He understands the real struggle and the real inability for some of us to lose weight and how difficult it is,.

That’s a great application for these meds. A little jump start while making healthy lifestyle changes! Bravo!!

I hope everything continues well for you....though you may find you have bigger hunger urges soon. The body will want to revert to your old weight. Don't give up on it...maybe you can get by on a lower dose or a full dose less often.

That’s what I need. Aversion to food. I attend OA. Overeaters Anonymous

Have you tried taking Berberine?

@@melissamcdaniel1383 You "don't take drugs to lose weight"....Tell us you haven't paid attention to the content of this video at all. Unbelievable. It's not about WHAT you're eating, but how much. The reason people are taking this is because obesity is basically a brain disorder, making it extremely difficult, if not impossible to regulate exactly what we eat. Go from 200 to 150 and eventually your brain/gut wants to get you back to 200, so you start to become hungry again. Gaining weight and keeping it on resets your body to a new normal and the problem just continues. It's extremely difficult and Wegovy and similar medications slow how your stomach processes food and you feel full longer. You simply will not feel hunger as much at all and will not be driven to eat to get back to the old weight. Do you understand now??

Grumpy Papa don’t take what she said to heart. She is meaning people that are 10 or 20 lbs overweight and not really considered obese. Those that want just any easy fix to lose a few pounds to look better in their bikini for the summer or look better in their TiTok videos. Those are the people that are being greedy and wanting to be on the medication when they have no serious health problems.

@@melissamcdaniel1383 Well good for you but remember not everyone is like you. Not everyone can accomplish that.

I was thinking the same. She was trying her best to say this medicine is bad

Bariatric surgery I find to be better than these shots … so many have great outcomes of surgery and to tell people surgery has more risks then these shots for life I find misleading … there are way years of bariatric surgeries success results then these shots … they are very new for weight loss and no one should be on a medication for life unless it’s really life saving not to look thinner as a Beverly Hills house wife

@@marias2746 My daughter took Ozempic, which worked well for her. So well that her blood work showed normal levels of everything, so her insurance will no longer pay for it.

@@trixier6505 Oh, that’s crappy! 😮

151 pounds is not size 6

Yes. This is a game changer for those who could not afford barbaric surgery. Or have the support system to help us through it.

Oh my God…you are quoting a population pool of 1 = Chelsea Handler? Where are your journalistic skill and ethic. Really, Chelsea Handler ?!!!? (by the way - he wouldn’t take the bait and just never acknowledged whether he had heard of her… Good for you!!! Who the hell is Chelsea Handler????) 🎉She really wanted him to say that these drugs are being misused, and he just wouldn’t go there.

💯💯💯 Exactly! As if she is only looking to confirm Chelsea & everything negative.

Do they really want people to get well?

Medicaid and Medicare would rather pay for the greater costs of hypertension and diabetes than prevent it.

No, but she’s had her fair share of serious medical issues (cancer) both with herself and her late husband and late sister. She knows what it’s like to deal with a health problem that seems to have no cure all and I’m sure she’s felt frustrated, hopeful, depressed, etc. over it at certain points in her life.

@@jackieyoung3359 We all know about Katie's involvment with cancer and so has most everyone else. Most of us have had family with cancer. My mom had lung, colon, breast & ovarian cancer all at different times. My moms brothers & sisters - the whole family died of different cancers.....You are trying to compare apples and oranges. They are totally two different topics. Katie clearly is clueless about the ongoing, day to day never ending struggles & frustrations of everyday people.....the two topics can't even be compared. ....Good Lord....

@@RG-hf4et exactly. No comparison. Ugh.

@@RG-hf4et Wow. You have issues.

@@jackieyoung3359 No, honey. You are comparing 2 totally unrelated issues. It's pretty simple. 🍎🍊

Similar experience on meds now. Life changing. Without having my guts cut up via bariatric surgery. It’s going. To take time for stigma/bias to change. Just tune it out

I have PCOS too. Did your insurance cover it?

I can no longer find ozempic or mounjaro. I wish the manufacturers would make more soon.

Fantastic! Congrats! I just started because otherwise nothing will ever change for me. This stuff is truly life changing.

55 Pounds Down. And Off for Three years and Counting and No Drugs.

Mounjaro has been designed for TYPE II DIABETICS. It is not a weight loss drug.

So he consults for pharma companies? Wondering if he consults for the very aggressive pharma co Novo Nordisk which makes these drugs. These drugs may be a game changer but why are they not discussing the BLACK BOX WARNING LABEL (the most serious of drug label warnings) of these drugs for THYROID CANCER. At this time mice are getting thyroid cancer on Wegovy. Wegovy hasnt been around long enough to know true long term side effects on humans. Pancreatitis is another serious potential side effect. Once again, we are ALL guinea pigs while these companies make a fortune. He and other docs are minimizing side effects for Wegovy (much stronger than ozembic after first 2 doses) to simple gastric side effects and not discussing the potential serious side effects of high dose, long term usage as in Wegovy. Time will tell. 5-10 years?

So do you feel less hungry on it? I thought the whole idea of the drug was to help people be less hungry, hence eating less, hence losing weight? In that case, since you were already eating 800 calories to begin with, I’m assuming you are now eating roughly 400 calories a day now? I think some people are in denial with how they a truly eating and how truly active they are.

Thank you for sharing! People that have never struggled with weight think it is a moral issue, then bash others...which IS a moral issue! It is not always "stuffing your face" as the ignorants like to believe.

I propose to you you need to fast longer like six days

@@SandeepPatel-kp8ox appreciate the suggestion, but it’s not recommended as a diabetic. Blood sugar can drop too low

I don’t think fasting is a good thing either again because you constantly starve your body it will be faster to hit a nerve like the doctor mentioned I used to do this and i gained 150 pounds just for doing that I had no idea how I started gaining weight now i am w a dietitian and am reversing all of the problems i had caused my body. And like this doctor mentioned no matter what i did i lost 0 pounds and instead gained day by day and i had no idea to why. The weird thing is that they do all of these test on me and i am not diabetic, no thyroid issues no cholesterol issues. I do have water retaining issues but nothing else. They are even in shock of why i am so healthy but gain weight like nothing.

Is she asking his expert opinion? Or forcing her viewpoint and concerns on him?

@@dranandame this is a deflection from my comment. Some so-called expert opinions while “practicing medicine” are often trial and error and tend to limit prognosis on just weight symptoms alone, without doing due diligence to determine underlying issues.

How much have you lost so far?

I'm insulin resistant as well. Also PCOS, post menopause. My body isn't responding to eating healthy, being active. I talk to my doc about Wegovy in 2 weeks. I'm very nervous, but anxious to get this fat/weight off me.

me too

I have lost 50 lbs on Ozempic but only with a complete change in diet as well. I follow a renal diet for kidney disease it is mainly plant based little dairy low sodium low protein and more. I have stopped taking Lantus and NovoRapid, my blood pressure has gone down, I have stopped 2 blood pressure meds, my a1c is 6.1, and my eGFR has improved from 33 to 50 (my kidney disease has improved). This is what Ozempic was made for treating diabetes.

melatonin can increase estrogen levels - never use it if you are trying to loose weight!

I hear you! I do not have diabetes, but all of my life I was tiny. Never had to watch my weight. Then I went through menopause! UGH! I have gained 40 pounds over the last 10 years and CANNOT LOSE IT! The only way I can lose it is if I walk two miles every day, which I was able to do during Covid because I was working from home, and eat nothing but lettuce. At my last doctor visit my doctor wrote me a prescription for Wegovy. She told me you will never lose weight no matter how hard you try. You've gone through menopause and it is very difficult to lose weight once you no longer produce estrogen, etc. I have several friends on Mounjaro (neither one is diabetic) and they've both lost between 30 and 40 lbs! My doctor would not put me on Mounjaro because I am not diabetic, but did write me a prescription for Wegovy which is for obesity. I totally agree with this doctor. Once you lose the weight, the high blood pressure goes away and the cholesterol resolves as well. But my insurance doesn't cover Wegovy. I'm so sad.

I haven't started on steroidal shots, yet, but am prescribed them every several months, starting next week. Not a pill but administration by needle, and I'm wondering does it increase your appetite? If it does, I will go back to just doing physical therapy, and not the shot - my new doctor did not tell me about those weight gain side effects of the shots, if that is what happens....

Eat

Omg u jus described me i have all the things u have a now and as a result im morbidly obese and i cant exercise due to RA & lupus..My doctor just prescribed ozempic bcuz of my weight and im pre diabetic..

@@robnarie You don't need to exercise to lose weight (in fact, it's nearly useless). Eat two meals a day (no snacking), less than 20g total carbs/day in a 6 hour window and you will quickly lose weight and find your ailments disappearing.

Please research the side effects of the type steroids you use. I was prescribed Prednisone for RA. I gained weight quickly. I also fractured three ribs by merely bending over. I was shocked to learn brittle bones & weight gain are common side effects of Prednisone. After reading a very informative book “Wheat Belly” by Dr. William Davis, I immediately decided to remove flour & sugar from my diet. Turned out to be the best thing I could do for my health. I lost the extra weight & no longer need medication for RA. I feel wonderful & have even more energy following the implementation of intermittent fasting.🙏🏽

I'm on dose #2 and am hoping for back pain relief.

Are there side effects?

All medications have side effects! When you stop taking diet medications you may regain your lost weight and then some...!

@@oneitalia2312 it makes me tired and there's a lot of vomiting until you learn how much and when to eat. I hardly eat but I take vitamins. I can get by with one small nutritional meal a day. Protein is important. It becomes about diet and portion size.

My doctor told me health insurance won't cover this for non-diabetics, so they are paying cash, full price. Of course the drug companies are going to prioritize and ship to the cash-paying population!

The drug companies are offering a coupon to sell for $25 for everyone who goes to their website, except if you are on Medicare and need it most. I am totally disgusted with those taking this to shed a few pounds. I cannot get my proper dosage currently and have not been able to get it for more than 30 days now. the under the table doctors and selfish people who are taking this for a quick fix are hurting those who really need it.

@@subellekazooti9589 i can't even imagine paying out of pocket for this medication! I'm a pharmacy tech, I see so many people who need this for their diabetes go without because of the cost. Now these pharmaceutical companies are going to quadruple profits but never alter the price of the medication. It makes me sick

I’ve had the same experience with Trulicity. It’s lowered my A1c from 10 to now 5.7…Recently mine was on back order. My doctor called in a different mg and I was able to get it. So maybe ask your pharmacy about that?

I agree with you. The doctors enabling their patients to use this medication for cosmetics are taking it away from those of you requiring this medication for your health. Good luck!

Hello what is MJ Mounjaro? How many milligrams?

@@kathyhanzal1017 I am on 12.5. Heading to 15 soon. I have taken all the Mgs (5 mg for three months) I should be able to do maintenance on 15 and titrate to every other week eventually.

The problem is doctors are giving it to people who are not obese but just want to lose a few pounds. So it is not a medical use by them but cosmetic. The shortages will not stop, and are almost world wide now until they crack down on doctors using it for cosmetic use.

If you believe drugs are the answer then you aren't a great dietitian

Dietitian here too - I agree, it was brilliant! Providers who do not get on board are going to be left behind, ultimately harming their patients.

@@happyviking3781 and you don't have enough education to be making this claim. The medications being discussed are to replace hormones by a physician who understands that hormone replacement can help in situations where even those folks who are eating all the right things, not eating all the wrong things are stuck and unable to lose. Our bodies operate via hormones in addition to muscles such as the heart. This isn't about the drug to lose weight, its about obtaining the glp and gip access.. A required hormone.

@@memphisstreetdoc3936 First off you don't have any idea of my level of education. Second, the issue is what is believed to be the right and wrong foods. We have been lied to for many years about the standard required American diet, which has led to the obese counrty we have become. You can believe what you wish.

I'm a Nurse Practitioner and I have no problem prescribing it for my patients who are obese with risk factors like HTN, hyperlipidemia, CAD. It's a great tool when used appropriately.

How about teaching people to stop buying crappy food. If it's not in the house you won't eat it. Eat 3 balanced meals every day. Snack on popcorn. Why is this so difficult?

@@bernadettehurst6541 Popcorn is also garbage, specially with all the artificial flavors and bad oils added in. How about snacking on carrots?

@@cosmlayla Good point and I love carrots. I make my own popcorn in a pan on the stove with coconut oil but carrots are still better.🙂

More regulations by nanny government?? Parents need to be responsible care givers of their children

@@bernadettehurst6541 Fast food nation and people find it too difficult to actually cook healthy balanced meals. I was raised thus way and all of us never had weight issues We raised our children the same way and they are raising healthy children. It's taking time to plan .

Most of the more severe illnesses happen to people by having a traumatic event take them by surprise, unexpectantly, impacting first in the brain, then in the corresponding organ which that part of the brain controls. The end of WWI had absolutely everything to do with the Flu and lung TB outbreak that occurred killing millions. In nature, the biological conflict linked with a territorial fear (just what it means-a fear in your territory, your home, your community, etc.) is a widening of the bronchia (tissue loss). Your body attempts to widen your bronchia in order to allow more air into your lungs to give you more strength and energy to fight to keep your territory safe. Stay with me.......The biological conflict linked with a death fright impacts the lungs. The lungs attempt to grow larger in order to allow more air in because breath equals life, as we all know. No breath equals death. While you are in the fear or death fright conflict, you notice no symptoms of “disease”, except you have cold hands, cold feet, you can’t sleep, you awaken at 3 AM every night, you have little appetite. During the war, millions of people were in fear of the bombing of their homes and cities where the war was most active. Fearing for their lives, their loved ones in the war, their ability to survive. The food in the stores was sparse due to shortages. This lasted for 4 long years! The longer the conflict, the worse the healing phase. Within 2 weeks of the German Chancellor announcing the end of WWI, these millions of people ALL went into the healing phase all at the same time. It is during the healing phase that you experience symptoms of illness! What is the healing phase of the bronchia widening? Severe bronchitis, pneumonia. The body attempts to refill this lost tissue and you experience inflammation, fever, coughing, body aches, fatigue, etc. What is the healing phase of the extra lung tissue that grew? Decomposing of the tissue by TB bacteria and fungi. The symptoms of this healing phase are: severe coughing up of blood and tissue, fever, inflammation, severe mucous, body aches, fatigue. During this decomposing of the extra tissue (tumor), the body expels a lot of protein, and without replenishment, severe protein loss can result in death. Antibiotics did not exist yet. If TB bacteria does not exist in a person or they have been vaccinated against TB (big mistake), then the tumor will simply encapsulate and become dormant and not harm you. Who died during the Spanish Flu? Mainly the poor who could not afford to buy meat and proper nourishment, and the people who were directly impacted by the bombings and destruction of their homes. Millions of people suffered fear and death frights during the fighting of WWI, and millions of people all went into healing at the end of it. Not everyone was affected because not everyone suffered the same way. It’s not a “flu”, it’s not something you “catch”. It’s biological, meaningful, and unavoidable. One hundred years later, a Fear Campaign begins, using the media to spread it......

She's probably a size 6 and thinks all of us fat ladies don't try hard enough -- which is part of the problem!

She’s a conceited elitist. She could not care less about anyone struggling with weight challenges or the accompanying problems.

I thought she was simply asking logical questions based on fact she, and her viewer questioners as well, know they are not educated in the lab on how these drugs work and if long term they are safe. It was logical to ask if it is appropriate for doctors to give to people who don't need for health reasons to lose 15 pounds. Logical to ask if when going off meds the old urge to keep overeating comes back. She did not sound remotely judgmental, just curious and trying to understand by learning what she and viewers might think is true but is not.

You are spot on. I wasn't sure if it was old school journalism when you could play dumb. These days interviewers are much more educated and come with facts.

40 lbs. in about 2 to 2-1/2 months! Wow!! Congratulations. I'd like to try it, but I don't want to be on something for the rest of my life. I tried the Wellbutrin-Naltrexone combo about 3 years ago but had to stop because of awful pains I would have in my stomach.

Don't listen to these drug pushers. Try a carnivore diet for 30 days and you won't need any of these drugs. SUGAR is what is keeping you fat and causing you any chronic illnesses.

Well done you!

when it gets available in all EU countries it will be too late for me i guess. I have severe heart problems and loosing some of my BMI 37 weight would be helpful for that as well, but noooo it s theme you can t discuss with doctors, they mark you as lazy.

@@NN-qk7wn huh???

Mia, I believe you're right, question, how long are you on it ? This is a life saver 🙌

You are so right. People who have never had a weight loss problem would have a problem understanding. Sorry Katie, you are predjudice about this. Weight is the last bastion of prejudice.

@Dafne CCMoran it's been three pens so three months? I started at .25, went to .50 and with no side effects, will be going to 1.0 but it's on backorder. And I understand I may have to be on it for life, but apparently I'm insulin resistant & years of medical (and maybe not-so-healthy) ways of trying to control obesity have messed with my body's ability to lose weight through caloric intake and exercise. A BMI of over 39 was terrifying at 5'3"

@Susan Yakus yes. SUCH prejudice. When you sit in front of doctors trying to explain you don't overeat, you DO exercise. I have always had Body Dysmorphia and that comes with its own set of issues.

@mia johnson I see, i hope it s gets to be available when you need and no backorder. My good friend is on it but she is looking for another job, and although she is approved for a year, the changing of insurance might affect her. Wonder how this works. Thanks for your answer and good luck.

I think she was speaking from a concern that people are getting put on a drug they will have to take for life, especially with its current cost in the us. There should be caution flags given due to this given the demand.

Taste n smell.

Amen!

Totally. Such bias and stigma.

I agree, also this medication can make you feel pretty terrible at times - most wouldn't want to cope with the side effects if they hadn't battled with food and weight for years. I 'only' have 31 pounds to lose to be at the very high end of a so called healthy bmi, but that is a huge amount for me at 5 ft 3 and with an aging metabolism. Been on OZ for four weeks and it is slow going but I am finally not ruled by thoughts of eating/not eating.

Good points, well stated.

Amén!!!

Absolutely. For us regular ladies who work 7 am to 7 pm it is not possible to work out and plan every single meal. I'm fairly certain that Katie has a personal trainer and someone to make healthy, low calorie meals for her.

He’s a strong advocate for his industry but I appreciate the caution some have for a drug that will need to be used for the rest of your life and may have side effects that aren’t currently known. I considered it but decided I will have to lose weight slow and steady instead. I don’t want to take a $900 month medication for the rest of my life.

Because you don’t fall in the guidelines. You are just overweight not obese. It sucks because healthcare guidelines are out dated

Wegovy is prescribed for weight loss. Things are changing. More drugs to help people who have struggled for decades are in the pipeline

@@fawnpate9223 If you are 30 to 50 pounds overweight, that is considered obese.

She keeps criticizing. Who hands out like that

Have you checked your thyroid?

You have to INCREASE your water intake!!!! 💦

And, the covid vaccine did not/does not work because it does not prevent infection or transmission. The whole Keeps you out of the hospital propaganda was made up at the last minute and not substantiated just a lie.

22 years for me. Congratulations!

Wow, who forced her? That's outrageous

Maybe she should stop eating carbs instead of taking these drugs.

@@happyviking3781 I think this is the video where it pretty much stated the reasons behind why everyone can’t lose weight the same way as every other person. Everyone’s different.

it has been so popular that Nova Nordisk ran out and stopped the marketing for a while!

If she was not diabetic she should not have started it.

Skills??? It shows she’s not that intelligent.

Not necessarily. I lost 50 lbs over the past six years, using Optifast twice to jumpstart a loss. Everyone said I’d gain it all back in three months. If you work to change your diet while doing this, it can allow you the time needed to adjust your eating and what your body craves.

I had bariatric bypass 22 years ago, and I am still doing well. It's a mental thing to get rid of your mental addiction. Not everyone can do it.

Happy for you! Mounjaro’s been a miracle for me too.

Been on Oz since May and while I still get hungry I’m not binge eating and have that crazy hunger in the middle of the night. The media needs to stop calling it the celebrity weight loss drug because we are all normal people that are using it. And where do they think the celebs heard about it?

I am soo soo happy for you and grateful for your speaking so frankly in your comment! 10 months post bariatric surgery and I echo the things you have said 100%! Bless you and congrats!

Thank You for sharing your encouraging story. ❤️

@@torineace8715 exactly. Need to get rid of the sensationalistic headlines regarding celebrity use. Who cares? Also…no binging at all! Life changing.

You did not need it to lose that little weight. You took life saving medication from someone else because you did not want to do the work to lose weight. I hope you get some of the worst side effects like looking much older and haggard. Possibly get retinal detachment. You were not severely obese or diabetic. You did not qualify for treatment.

Any update?

Congrats. I will start on a compound product in a couple of weeks-after my Doc reviews ❤all of my blood work..his medicine also include B vitamins.

She almost caught the point when he said it's a hormonal change. Somehow we can understand that people can change genders but obesity is a voluntary choice.

I'm so glad you are looking into other ways to help your self. I know several people who had some form of gastric surgery and there are soooo many side effects. All the best to you in your health journey.

Had gastric 8 years ago..put back on the weight.

Everyone I know who had the gastric surgery has returned to their higher weight.

@Carol Williams If you look up statistics for outcomes you will find the sad likelihood that cruelly mutilating the organs that make life sustained, does not result in long term weightloss for almost 50%, 1 in 50 die. 10% need repair surgery. How can it still be legal?!

Just be aware that the "experts" in medicine frequently turn out to be very wrong. These medications are not just appetite suppressants but affect a lot of biochemistry in the body. There is mounting evidence that the muscle atrophy side effect is real and real dangerous and not simply a normal side effect of calorie restriction and rapid weight loss especially since the weight loss people are experiencing is not rapid but steady and at about a pound or two a week similar to the rate of old fashioned methods of will power. It is a fact that there was never a Weight Watcher face loss of facial muscle noticed or a Jenny Craig face or butt. Don't believe any doctor who continues to say that the muscle atrophy also happens with un-medicated calorie restriction. Just be careful is what I am warning.

I also do intermittent fasting along with keto and I have lost over 50.

@@ginajennings1664 This has become a lifestyle for me and I find it fits in every way. Good to hear it works for you too. It just makes perfect sense.

I tried intermittent fasting and it didn't work for my body at all

@@lucilleepling4410 Sorry to hear that. Guess it’s not for everybody. There is something that will work for you. Just keep looking.

@maureen McKenna how do u do intermittent fasting? I’ve never done this.