Skinny jabs have taken the world by storm over the past few years, but a lot of people keep their decision to use them a secret from loved ones
While there’s no denying that weight loss injections are growing in popularity in the UK and beyond, many people, whether they are famous or not, are not open about taking them. The jab started as a diabetes drug, and it was later found that when the dosage was upped, it reduced users’ appetite and helped them lose weight.
Celebrities who have spoken publically about taking jabs include Oprah Winfrey, Sharon Osbourne, Elon Musk and James Corden. Some have praised the injections in interviews, whereas others, like Sharon, 72, have blasted them. She previously told The Daily Mail: “You can lose so much weight, and it’s easy to become addicted to that, which is very dangerous.”
With no sign of skinny jab usage slowing down anytime soon, here are six tell-tale signs your friend is secretly using them to shed the pounds.
Your pal looks noticeably thinner
If your friend, who is looking different, hasn’t come forward to tell you they are injecting themselves directly, don’t ask them outright, as it might offend them. Weight is a sensitive subject, and some women fear they are being judged for ‘cheating’ if they have not lost weight through diet and exercise.
Loss of muscle
According to Professor Alex Mira, a consultant endocrinologist at Ulster University, muscle loss is often regarded as an unwanted side effect of weight loss injections.
He told The Daily Mail: “One school of thought is that any form of muscle loss is bad. That’s because muscle is a metabolically active organ that burns energy. So, the less muscle you have, the less your energy expenditure, and that’s not good for weight loss or for the absorption of sugar from the blood.”
Personal trainer and midlife health advocate Edwina Jenner told The Mirror: “There is a narrative emerging that these drugs signal the end of the weight loss industry. We need to reframe this and see it as the end of fad diets, which is no bad thing.
“Looking after your muscle health and bone density is still vital in midlife, with or without weight loss injections. There is no shortcut when it comes to muscle and bone health. Both significantly influence your long-term health outcomes and your ability to maintain independence.”
Sagging skin
Skinny jab users can suffer with an unwelcome consequence known as ‘Ozempic butt’. The bottom is one of the main areas where fat directly behind the skin accumulates – so it is some of the first to shed off your body during weight loss.
The backside also contains three large muscles, named the glutes, which can also shrink if someone takes skinny jabs without exercising and eating a healthy – high in protein – diet.
Edwina tells us: “Weight loss injections may reduce body weight, but they cannot build strength and maintaining and improving muscle mass requires consistent effort.”
Smaller breasts
Weight loss jab users have also reported their breasts reducing in size while taking the medication. According to Healthline, ‘Ozempic breasts’ is a term to describe the changes in their size and shape which can happen while taking Ozempic or similar injections. The changes can include tenderness, sagging, loss of volume and tenderness.
Doctor Andrew Peredo, a plastic surgeon in New York City, told The Mail: “They will lose the weight everywhere, the breast will be totally deflated, the butt totally deflated, and they will lose weight in the face as well.”
Sunken eyes
Some people who take skinny jabs can look gaunt as the injections also remove fat from the face. It can leave users with hollow cheeks, sunken eyes and saggy skin. Losing fat rapidly in our faces can make people look much older.
Dr Paul Jarrod Frank, a dermatologist in New York who spoke to The New York Times, said: “We are seeing more and more patients on the medications coming in. Generally, it’s people in their 40s and 50s who are losing significant amounts of weight and are concerned about facial ageing and sagging that occurs as a result.”
Loss of appetite
Weight loss jabs are controversial because they trigger a chemical repugnance to food, putting people off even the most tempting treats. In addition, both Ozempic and Wegovy users name nausea and vomiting as among their most common side effects.
A source using the jabs told The Guardian: “It started off making me nauseous, and after eating or drinking a very small amount, I felt full.”
She added: “If I tried to eat a few more bites, it felt like everything was backing up my oesophagus.” Even drinking water felt daunting and made her feel constantly dehydrated.
