Public Interest in the Off-Label Use of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Agonists (Ozempic) for Cosmetic Weight Loss: A Google Trends Analysis.
As the use of GLP-1 agonists for weight loss becomes more prevalent, plastic surgeons must be prepared for the downstream implications and increased awareness, understanding, and further scientific studies led by plastic surgeons will help deliver the safest possible patient outcomes.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists are a drug class used for the treatment of diabetes that have recently gained FDA approval for medical management of obesity. Particularly, the off-label use of Ozempic, brand name of GLP-1 agonist semaglutide, for cosmetic weight loss has been popularized by social media and celebrity influence. OBJECTIVES Analyze the recent search popularity of the drug and related GLP-1 agonists using Google Trends. METHODS The term "Ozempic" was analyzed using Google Trends. Search popularity was assessed in terms of relative search volume (RSV) over a 5-year period. Changes in RSV were further compared with other GLP-1 agonists, "Wegovy" and "Mounjaro." RESULTS Between March 2018 to February 2023, overall RSV in "Ozempic" grew exponentially in the United States. Simple linear regression analysis showed significantly increased RSV over time with R2 of 0.915 and regression coefficient of 0.957 (p < 0.001). When comparing "Ozempic," "Wegovy," and "Mounjaro" since June 2021 (FDA approval of Wegovy), Ozempic remained at the greatest RSV. One-way ANOVA found statistically significant differences between the three search terms at all time points between December 2021 and February 2023 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates a significant and growing public interest in "Ozempic" and related GLP-1 agonists. As the use of GLP-1 agonists for weight loss becomes more prevalent, plastic surgeons, particularly in the aesthetic setting, must be prepared for the downstream implications. Increased awareness, understanding, and further scientific studies led by plastic surgeons will help deliver the safest possible patient outcomes.