- rhonj star Dolores Catania recently opened up about her use of Ozempic and Mounjaro for weight loss.
- In the interview, he revealed that these drugs are not an easy fix and can be expensive.
- Experts say it is important to make lifestyle changes along with the use of the drug to achieve long-lasting results.
- They also point out that insurance companies are reluctant to cover drugs, making it difficult for those who need them to get them.
- They note that it’s important to speak to an accredited expert rather than relying on celebrities for advice.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dolores Catania recently spoke to The US Sun, revealing that she’s lost 20 pounds so far while using the type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic, which she’s been on for two years.
Earlier in April, she told Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live that she recently switched to Mounjaro, another brand of medication containing the same active ingredient, semaglutide. She told Cohen that she switched to Mounjaro after taking a break from Ozempic because of how expensive it was.
The Bravo star further noted that she started the treatment because I was gaining weight every month, coming in at 163 pounds. She has since reached a weight of 137 pounds, but she has a goal of reaching the low 130s.
While many use the off-label diabetes drug to lose weight, Catania said her need went beyond just weight loss.
I was doctor prescribed for both because I’m insulin resistant/pre-diabetic and have a thyroid problem, she said.
Catania added, however, that semaglutide hasn’t been an easy fix, telling the outlet, I exercise regularly and need to be careful about what I eat.
Dr. Amy Lee, chief medical officer at Lindora Clinic, a weight management and metabolic health company located in Southern California, said that when you take medications like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy (a brand of semaglutide approved by the FDA to help treat obesity), you are using them as tools to help you lose weight.
They’re meant to get you to ideal, healthy, and manageable weight loss faster, she explained.
He went on to say: These meds are not the magic bullet and once you stop, you will acquire the symptoms of hunger and cravings that you had before starting the drug. Your body will come back to baseline.’
Unfortunately, people often start using these drugs with unrealistic expectations due to the way they are marketed. Rhyan Geiger, RDN, owner of Phoenix Vegan Dietitian, explained: Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic are marketed to make people feel like their lives are going to change for the better.
However, Geiger added that many people don’t consider the negative side effects like vomiting, diarrhea, and changes in social settings around food that some people may experience while taking these drugs, which can greatly impact quality of life.
In addition to having unrealistic expectations, some weight-loss patients, including Catania, are finding that drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro can be quite expensive because insurance companies refuse to pay for them.
Geiger said this can hurt people who don’t have the money to pay out of pocket.
Without insurance, this drug can cost over $900, depending on the dose, he said. The changes in coverage will put underprivileged groups especially at risk of losing access to medicines.
According to Lee, one reason for the lack of coverage is that insurance companies are for-profit businesses.
The payment required each month for this class of specialty drugs often forces people to carefully consider the potential ROI and cost-effectiveness for treatment, he said. Also, will people just use this drug, lose weight, and be cured? Or does their weight come back when not taken long-term or consistently?
Lee further noted that the risk of regaining weight after stopping the drug is actually what causes most insurance companies to refuse to pay for the drug without trying cheaper options first.
He said, however, that the insurance industry is starting to accept coverage for these drugs more as more data is collected and obesity advocates speak up.
However, we are still far from covering the majority of the needy population, he concluded.
Geiger said that regardless of your weight loss goals, she always recommends working with a registered dietitian.
One program doesn’t work for every person, he added, because they’re all individuals.
She also pointed out that working with a professional who can provide personalized nutrition guidance can help some people form healthier eating habits beyond just weight loss.
Additionally, Geiger cautioned against turning to celebrities for weight loss advice since they are not accredited professionals and live in a different reality.
It’s never a good idea to take advice from someone on the big screen regarding personal health, she advised.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dolores Catania recently opened up about her use of Ozempic and Mounjaro to help with weight loss.
In the interview, he revealed that these drugs are not an easy fix and can be expensive.
Experts say it is important to make lifestyle changes along with the use of the drug to achieve long-lasting results.
They also point out that insurance companies are reluctant to cover drugs, making it difficult for those who need them to get them.
They note that it’s important to speak to an accredited expert rather than relying on celebrities for advice.
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