'I'm an Obesity Medicine Specialist, and Here's What I Want Everyone to Know About the New Oatzempic Weight Loss Drink'
Step by step recipe. Cooking oat vegetable milk. Step 2 pour oatmeal with water in blender. Homemade food concept. Plant based organic veggie milk, lactose free.
"Oatzempic" has been trending as a significantly more affordable alternative to the popular weight loss drug Ozempic—but is this weight loss drink all TikTok has it cracked up to be?
Some TikTokers swear that the concoction can help you lose a whopping 40 pounds in just two months, which, generally speaking, is sort of insane and probably not healthy.
"Claiming to lose 40 pounds in two months is quite extreme," Dina Peralta-Reich, MD, tells Parade.com. "I always recommend aiming for a healthy weight loss of one to two pounds per week to ensure that you lose fat while retaining muscle. While you may not see a 40-pound difference that quickly, consistently following this trend along with a balanced diet and exercise can lead to weight loss."
You've probably heard it before, but the best thing to do to lose weight is to speak to your physician about your concerns and develop a plan that works specifically for you. But if you're still curious about the Oatzempic trend, here's everything you need to know about it.
Related: What It's Like To Take Ozempic, Week by Week
What Is 'Oatzempic?'
Individual recipes for Oatzempic can vary, but in general, it consists of a combination of rolled oats, water and lime juice. Some TikTokers rework recipes to include other ingredients, like peanut butter and/or fruit, but the one constant is putting oats into a blender.
Related: Celebrities on Ozempic and Other Weight Loss Drugs
Does Oatzempic Work?
Experts generally agree that Oatzempic isn't a permanent get-skinny-quick solution, but that in theory, it could help some people lose weight: If you're subbing it in for, say, a high-calorie breakfast (think a stack of syrup-soaked pancakes or sausage biscuit sandwich), you may see a difference, but it's not because Oatzempic is magical. It's because you're reducing your caloric intake.
"Oatzempic can help you lose weight if it is used as a meal replacement," Dr. Mir B. Ali, MD, bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, says. That said, don't expect to keep that weight off.
"Most people may find it boring or tedious so it may not be sustainable for long periods of time," Dr. Ali notes. "It is no substitute for actual Ozempic. Ozempic affects the brain and GI tract to help a patient feel less hungry and full for a longer period and the effects can last up to a week; while oats can make you feel full and less hungry, the effects typically will only last a few hours."
"This Oatzempic meal is high in protein and fiber, which can help you feel fuller for longer, just like regular oatmeal. It's a good alternative to something that might be very high in calories with less nutritional value for breakfast," Dr. Peralta-Reich says. "However, if someone is trying to replace all meals with this, then no, it can be harmful as the person could be deficient in nutritional value. Like all diet fad trends, it shouldn’t be taken to the extreme, and anyone who has struggled with an eating disorder should avoid it."
Dr. Sue Decotiis, MD, a New York City weight loss doctor, says that Oatzempic has basically no benefits, especially when compared with actual Ozempic and other weight loss medications. "There are no medicinal components to it. It's very similar to other fad diets," she explains. "When you're limiting your body to a certain type of food, you're losing water weight and muscle, so it's not effective. When you use GLP-1 drugs effectively, you're losing fat and resetting the appetite regulatory system. Oatzempic is just another fad diet where people are grasping at straws and looking for a quick fix."
Related: Why Women Are Getting Pregnant With 'Ozempic Babies'
What Are the Risks and Downsides of Oatzempic?
If you're subsisting on just Oatzempic, that's not good at all.
Most bodies thrive on a varied diet with lots of nutrients and protein, and eating the same carbs over and over deprives your body of a lot of what it needs.
"It's not that safe regarding the muscle mass you'll lose," Dr. Decotiis warns. "I wouldn't do this too much because you can lose a lot of muscle, and you're likely to gain all the weight back. It's not sustainable or healthy. It would have to be combined with a good diet with protein."
Related: What to Know About Costco's New Weight Loss Program
Can You Lose Weight From Just Eating Oatmeal?
That depends: Oatmeal comes in a lot of forms, and depending on what type you eat and what you add to it, it may or may not work for you in terms of a weight loss solution.
Whole oats have other benefits, according to Katherine Basbaum, RD with MyFitnessPal: "Whole grain oats keep you fuller for longer, but they can also regulate blood sugar, improve digestion and lower cholesterol."
She adds, "Oatzempic is very similar to just eating a bowl of plain oatmeal, but cooked oats actually score a little higher. When oats are cooked, more nutrients are released that your body cannot absorb from eating raw oats. How you choose to cook your oatmeal mainly determines how healthy it is."
According to Dr. Decotiis, eating oatmeal is likely healthier, but that has its caveats. "The problem here is the lack of protein," Dr. Decotiis explains. "A little bit of it is okay. If you're overweight and you're just having carbs all the time, this will drastically spike your insulin. Oatmeal in moderation is okay, but oatmeal is not the solution for long-term weight loss."
Next, What Happens When You Stop Taking Ozempic
