Women's Health, Wisdom, and. . . WINE!
Welcome to the Women’s Health, Wisdom, and. . . WINE! podcast, a weekly conversation with practitioners, providers, patients, and healers about complex reproductive medicine and women’s health challenges, the value of an integrative approach to these challenges, many of the women’s health topics you’re already thinking about but uncomfortable talking about, and the host's personal favorite. . . WINE! Dr. Laurena White, is an integrative reproductive medicine and women’s health provider, licensed acupuncturist, clinical herbalist, and a former labor support doula in the Washington DC Metro area. Her goal is to bring women’s health-specific evidence and expertise to the forefront of daily health and wellness news through informative conversations. To learn more, visit the website at www.laurenawhite.com. As you enjoy the podcast, conversations, and wine time, please remember that this podcast is not designed to be a substitute for a bonafide relationship with a licensed or certified healthcare professional.
Women's Health, Wisdom, and. . . WINE!
#135 - NOURISH YOUR FLOURISH NUGGEST | Uh-Ohzempic!
Why is Ozempic so problematic?
The borage and seemingly unending coverage of this drug is putting more people at risk for eating disorders, and likely triggering those in recovery back into the eating disorder. It’s hard to ignore information about Ozempic because it’s so popular right now, and that’s really difficult for those in eating disorder and disordered eating recovery, and/or have a history of an eating disorder. This is because one of the foundational parts of recovery is moving toward, and eventually accepting and creating peace with one’s body. Additionally, for many people weight gain does and needs to happen in recovery from eating disorders after years of being weight suppressed and dieting, not matter what size body someone is in.
Ozempic not only encourages exactly what individuals are trying to move away from in eating disorder recovery, but it also proposes a “quick fix” to body image concerns and continues to promote the message that “thinner is better at any cost”. There is currently no screening for eating disorders when prescribing this medication and seeing that the majority of individuals with eating disorder exist in larger bodies, there is cause for great concern.
I believe that this drug is dangerous to take off-label due to its lack of long-term research and the harm that it can cause to those in eating disorder/disordered eating recovery. This is not an attack on individuals who choose to take Ozempic. The reasons that would lead to someone taking Ozempic are often complex and what matters most is that you be as informed as possible before taking a medication like this.
Those that take Ozempic off-label for weight loss are at increased risk for:
- Low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia
- Malnutrition related to undereating (“Ozempic face”)
- Hormone disruption
- Loss of menstrual cycle
- Explosive diarrhea
- Bone loss
- Developing an eating disorder
- Other side effects including:
- Gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, constipation
- Pancreatitis
- Development of thyroid cancer
The hashtag for the podcast is #nourishyourflourish. You can also find our firm, The Eudaimonia Center on the following social media outlets:
Facebook: The Eudaimonia Center
Instagram: theeudaimoniacenter
Twitter: eu_daimonism
For more integrative reproductive medicine and women's health information and other valuable resources, make sure to visit our website.
Have a question, comment, guest suggestion, or want to share your story? Email us at info@laurenawhite.com
