TikToker warns against Ozempic trend: 'You're all gonna die'
What's the story
Social media influencer Brianna Chickenfry, whose real name is Brianna LaPaglia, has issued a stern warning to people using the diabetes drug Ozempic for weight loss. In a recent TikTok video, she said, Every single b*tch I know is on Ozempic... It's like if I did Ozempic. Could I lose a couple? Surely. Do I need Ozempic? No! "You're gonna die. You're all gonna die."
Drug details
Dangers of using Ozempic for weight loss
Ozempic, a GLP-1 injection, is primarily used to treat Type 2 diabetes. However, it has gained popularity as a weight-loss drug. Baptist Health warns that using a GLP-1 without medical necessity can lead to serious side effects such as gallbladder and kidney problems.
Personal struggle
LaPaglia's own battle with eating disorder
LaPaglia has also spoken about her own issues with disordered eating. On the Real Pod podcast, she revealed that she had an anxiety-induced eating disorder where she would throw up every time she ate something. "I would just avoid food at all costs because I knew that it would make me sick, or I was just so nauseous all the time [because of] my anxiety that I couldn't eat," she said.
Recovery process
How she got back to a healthy mindset
LaPaglia hit "rock bottom" in 2023 when she was at her lowest weight. She recalled, "I was anemic from it, I had bruises all over me, and it was really, really hard when you're in it for so long." After gaining 11.34kg back, she reached what she considered a "healthy weight." She said it took her four or five months to get back to a healthy mindset.
Celebrity users
Other celebrities who have opened up about using GLP-1 drugs
Despite LaPaglia's warning, many celebrities have openly admitted to using weight-loss medications. Amanda Bynes revealed last December that she had lost 12.7kg on the drug. Vanessa Williams told Hello! magazine in January that she's been using Mounjaro to combat menopausal weight gain for the past two years. Brooks Nader also confessed to microdosing GLP-1 on her reality show Love Thy Nader. Back home, influencer-comedian Aishwarya Mohanraj confessed to using Mounjaro, too.