You and your work bestie were once regulars at the local café, bonding over flaky pastries and sugary lattes like true connoisseurs.
But lately, they’ve been skipping your sweet treat rituals, brushing it off with excuses about sugar making them feel ‘puffy’ or nauseous.
Or maybe they’re turning down your offer for a happy hour cocktail on the company card.
At first, you might assume they’re just trying to be healthy, or maybe battling a mild stomach bug.
But there’s another possibility: they might be secretly taking Ozempic to shed weight.
As of 2024, more than 15 million Americans have a prescription for this blockbuster drug.
That’s one in 17 US adults, meaning your office is bound to have someone who’s using weight loss injections.
Now, experts have exclusively told the Daily Mail how to spot the subtle clues that your coworker might be on the fat jabs.
Is your co-worker’s behavior a dead giveaway that they are secretly taking Ozempic to lose weight?
Psychiatrist and author Dr Carole Lieberman
Ozempic face
Think your friend is trying to hide the sudden wrinkles on their face? Did they come in one day with a ‘hollowed out’ appearance?
They may be exhibiting Ozempic face – a term coined by Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank, a cosmetic and celebrity dermatologist.
A surprising emergence of lines, wrinkles, sagging skin and sunken eyes can all be indicators of Ozempic use.
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, makes the body feel fuller, leading to a decrease in appetite and reduced calorie intake.
Due to the illusion of being full without food consumption, the body is forced to start burning up existing fat reserves in order to have calories for energy – leading to an overall reduction in fat levels and a loss of weight.
However, this can also result in a loss of facial fat which is essential for aesthetics and elasticity as well as protecting the face from damage.
‘Although Ozempic is idolized for causing loss of fat in places like the “pot belly”, it is not appreciated when it causes loss of fat in places like the face, where it is not as attractive,’ psychiatrist and author Dr Carole Lieberman explains.
‘There, it can make some people look as gaunt as a skeleton because of loss of fat in their cheeks. Weight loss can also cause a decrease in collagen production, which is necessary for providing a framework and resilience for the skin.’
It’s not food poisoning
Your work spouse’s multiple runs to the bathroom and complaints of stomach pain may also suggest they are taking Ozempic.
The drug is known to cause numerous stomach and intestinal issues, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence and constipation.
Ozempic can slow down the movement of food through the stomach which can lengthen the digestion process and increase pressure on the organ.
This can lead to a condition known as delayed gastric emptying, which means that food stays in the stomach longer than usual. It causes digestive discomfort and could trigger nausea and vomiting.
Apart from this, the condition can also cause gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), gastroenteritis, pancreatitis and intestinal blockage or obstruction.
Dr Ehsan Ali, a board-certified internal medicine expert, says: ‘Eating smaller meals, avoiding heavy or greasy foods, staying hydrated and eating slowly can make a big difference.
‘Some patients also get relief with digestive enzymes. They don’t speed up digestion, but they can help break down food more efficiently and reduce discomfort.’
Ozempic can slow down the movement of food through the stomach which can lengthen the digestion process and increase pressure on the organ
Dr Ehsan Ali, a board-certified Internal Medicine expert
Significant hair loss
One expert suggests that a sudden and extensive loss of hair may also be a sign someone is taking Ozempic.
Extreme fat loss can put the body’s overall metabolism in stress and cause patches to appear on the scalp.
‘Hair loss can sometimes be a subtle clue that someone’s on Ozempic or a similar GLP-1 medication, especially if it’s sudden and paired with rapid weight loss,’ Dr Steven H. Dayan, a facial plastic surgeon in Chicago, tells the Daily Mail.
He says the drug isn’t directly causing hair to fall out, but it’s likely the result of the ‘major metabolic shift’ happening in someone’s body.
‘When you lose fat quickly, especially without proper nutritional support, it can stress the system.
‘For some people, that shows up in the mirror as thinner hair or even visible scalp. It’s more common in postmenopausal women, but anyone with underlying deficiencies or stress on their system is susceptible.’
One expert even suggests that a sudden and extensive loss of hair may also be a sign of someone using Ozempic
Dr Dayan warns: ‘This is a powerful medication with real medical benefits, but if you’re going to use it, I recommend consulting a team of metabolic, aesthetic and dermatologic specialists to support your body and your appearance through the changes.’
Bad breath
While you may have your eye out for Ozempic face, butt or feet, experts warn that the drug can also lead to Ozempic burps and bad breath.
When digestion slows down with the use of a GLP-1 inhibitor, sulfur compounds from food can build up in the gut which can cause burps to smell and taste like rotten eggs.
With the use of these medications, ‘food sits longer in the gut,’ Dr Ali explains.
‘Especially in the beginning, your gut is trying to adjust to this new, slower pace. That can lead to fermentation, gas buildup, and the production of sulfur compounds – hence the bad breath or ‘rotten egg’ burps.’
While not a complete fix, limiting cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower), allium vegetables (garlic, onions), dried fruits, red meat, fish and eggs can help deal with the issue.
Experts say that a particular lack of interest in baked goods and wine may be also be sign of Ozempic use
Belly bruise
Ozempic pens often leave a small bruise around the injection site.
While you’re unlikely to catching a glimpse of your co-worker’s belly on a typical workday, you might well stumble across their vacation photos while absent-mindedly scrolling through Instagram.
There they are, striking a faux casual pose on the beach in a bikini.
But what’s that small, fading bruise on their midriff?
That subtle mark is a telltale sign they’re ‘on the pen’.
Aversion from sweet treats and alcohol
While a loss of appetite is a common side effect, experts say that a particular lack of interest in baked goods and wine may also signal someone is on the medication.
‘A sudden loss of interest in sweets, especially in someone who previously indulged regularly can be a subtle yet telling sign that they’re using Ozempic,’ Dr William Haas, a board certified integrative and family medicine doctor explains.
‘GLP-1 medications work by slowing gastric emptying and affecting appetite-regulating centers in the brain, which often leads to a notable decrease in cravings and reward-seeking behavior.
‘Similarly, if someone who usually enjoys a nightly glass of wine suddenly shows no desire for it, this change could be attributed to alterations in how the brain perceives pleasure and satiety while on Ozempic.’
