By now, most people have heard about Ozempic, a medication formulated for diabetes patients that has become famous for its use as a weight loss aide. Can a drink going viral on social media have the same effects?
Let’s find out.
“Oatzempic” has been trending on social media recently, with content creators taking part in a challenge to lose 40 pounds in two months while drinking it. As of Friday, the #oatzempic hashtag had more than 56 million views on TikTok. To be clear, “oatzempic” does not contain any Ozempic.
According to Health, the most common recipe for the drink circulating online includes one cup of water, one half of a cup of oats and the juice from half of a lime. It’s a bit similar to the recipe for an oat juice drink from the Dominican Republic (as referenced here on Cocina Dominicana), but without sugar and milk.
“What’s the deal with ‘oatzempic?’” asked Ilana Muhlstein, the registered dietician behind the NutritionBabe TikTok account in a recent video. “I’m not sure this is anything more than a great play on words and a basic recipe for oat milk.”
Muhlstein said it is always good to have water first thing in the morning since it has benefits for energy, appetite and weight loss. She also said the lime is a source of Vitamin C.
As for the oats, she explained that they have a soluble form of fiber that expands in water and can keep people who consume it full. It “creates a gel-like structure that may help slow down digestion,” said Muhlstein.
That’s likely where the comparison to Ozempic comes in. That medication, and other GLP-1 agonists, make people who take them feel fuller and therefore not as hungry as they would typically be.
“It is gaining in popularity owing to its nutritional composition and multifunctional benefits of select bioactive compounds,” said a study published in the Foods journal in 2021 about oats. “Beta-glucan is an important component of dietary fiber found in oat grains. It is the major active compound in oats with proven cholesterol-lowering and antidiabetic effects.”
Health also noted that studies have linked oats to retaining a healthy Body Mass Index. In Muhlstein’s video she also added protein powder to her “oatzempic” to help feel fuller longer and balance blood sugar levels.
While oats have health benefits and can make people feel full, they are not a replacement for GLP-1 agonists such as Ozempic, said experts cited by Health.
“It’s certainly not going to hurt anyone,” said Rudolph Bedford, MD, a gastroenterologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif. However, he said that people who try it should drink a lot of water to prevent bloating.
Without other lifestyle changes, adding a glass of “oatzempic” to one’s daily routine won’t likely result in significant weight loss, said the experts. Still, it is easier to get than the medication, and doesn’t have the same potential side effects – which for women could include an increased risk of getting pregnant, per recent reports.