FROM sulphur burps to diarrhoea, we’re all familiar with the brutal side effects of fat jabs – but have you heard of ‘Ozempic feet’?
Ozempic, a medication originally used by diabetes sufferers, has become as famous as the rapidly-thinning stars who may – or may not – be using it.
Weight loss medications like Ozempic have boomed in popularity recently – but there’s a new side effect experts are noticing[/caption]
Celebs like Gemma Collins and Rebel Wilson have proudly confessed to using skinny jabs to shed the pounds[/caption]
As the poster child for a new wave of weight loss injections, Ozempic can help people drop up to a fifth of their body weight, along with other brands including Mounjaro, Wegovy and Zepbound.
The drugs, which have been hailed a miracle by some, work by mimicking GLP-1, a hormone released in the body when we are full.
While many celebrities, including Amy Schumer, 43, and Sharon Osbourne, 72, have lost huge amounts of weight and openly talked about using Ozempic, we’ve also heard about a huge list of potential side effects.
And while you may be familiar with ‘Ozempic face, butt and neck’, there’s another surprising side effect that may soon be featuring on the red carpet – ‘Ozempic feet’.
The brand new term, coined by Fabulous, refers to excessive skin or ageing on feet after using fat jabs – and it’s not just seen in those who have used Ozempic, but also Mounjaro too.
It’s not something any celebs have openly discussed as of yet (and we can’t say we’re surprised) but according to the experts, it’s a side effect that Sharon Osbourne is experiencing.
It all comes after Sharon, who admitted to using Ozempic in order to shed 42lb, was called out for her latest Instagram snap.
Just days ago, the Osbournes star came under fire from fans who said her feet “gave it away” that she had airbrushed her picture.
Sharon uploaded a sweet picture of her and grandson Sidney, two, who is her daughter Kelly’s only child.
The pair were seen enjoying some cosy time together as they watched TV, with the family dog on the sofa.
But eagle-eyed fans rushed to the comments to pass remarks on the star’s feet.
One fan said: “Beautiful airbrushed photo but feet tell your age.”
A second added: “Ok, the filter is STRONG on the face. Almost mannequin like, but the feet don’t match the face.”
Meanwhile, someone else commented: “The feet and the face just don’t match up lol it’s just funny but she looks great for her age.”
And according to the pros, it turns out that Sharon, who is married to rocker Ozzy, 76, is the first official celebrity victim of ‘Ozempic feet’.
Sharon’s feet appeared practically wrinkle-free in 2019, prior to using Ozempic[/caption]
Now, fans have claimed Sharon’s feet ‘tell her age’[/caption]
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous, Gerard Lambe, a plastic and cosmetic surgeon who heads up Reflect Clinic UK, says: “‘Ozempic feet’ really does exist and unfortunately there isn’t a ‘foot tuck’ surgery to fix it.
“Everyone seems to focus on ‘Ozempic face’ but it will surprise many that ‘Ozempic feet’ is an actual phenomenon.
“In fact, I get many patients who have experienced dramatic weight loss using GLP-1 medications and a curious observation has been the effect these drugs have on their feet.
“The peculiar wrinkling is actually not so baffling once you acknowledge that the skin on the top of the foot is among some of the most delicate on the human body.
“It’s soft, stretchy and flexible, as the feet do a lot of work carrying the human skeleton and muscle mass all day.
“But with long term use of Ozempic and GLPs, there is not only rapid weight loss, but fluid and inflammation decreasing at a fast rate too.”
According to Gerard, ‘Ozempic feet’ is characterised by wrinkly, sagging skin.
He continues: “Unfortunately, it leaves the soft skin on the upper surface of the foot wrinkly, sagging and, in some cases, very overweight people have permanent skin folds.”
What are the other side effects of weight loss jabs?
Like any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects.
Common side effects of injections such as Ozempic include:
Nausea: This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts.
Vomiting: Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea.
Diarrhea: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset.
Constipation: Some individuals may also experience constipation.
Stomach pain or discomfort: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort.
Reduced appetite: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss.
Indigestion: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating.
Serious side effects can also include:
Pancreatitis: In rare cases, Ozempic may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Kidney problems: There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon.
Thyroid tumors: There’s a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic.
Vision problems: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic.
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin.
Dr Nora, a cosmetic and medical dermatology doctor at Rejuvenation Clinic, says: “The term ‘Ozempic feet’ might be new, but what we’re seeing isn’t surprising.
“When people lose a lot of weight quickly – especially with medications like Ozempic – they don’t just lose fat in the face and body, but in the feet too.
“That natural padding disappears, leaving the skin looking saggy, deflated and aged.
“In Sharon Osbourne’s case, the effect is even more noticeable because she’s had quite a bit of cosmetic work done on her face – it still looks lifted and tight, whereas her feet haven’t had the same treatment.”
The feet don’t match the face
Instagram user
As well as using weight-loss injections to alter her appearance, the TalkTV host is no stranger to plastic surgery and has spoken candidly in the past about the vast number of times she has gone under the knife.
The British-American television personality has spent the last 45 years nipping and tucking her body, in a bid to keep her youthful appearance.
As reported by the Daily Star, the outspoken star said: “There’s not one part of my body that I haven’t had twisted, lifted, elongated, whatever.
“I’ve been messed up many times. This last one was a kind of fix-it job from the guy that did it before.”
Sharon began her surgery journey in 1978 and has since had a breast reduction and lift, a boob job, a gastric band and five face lifts.
Dr Nora recognises: “The contrast can make the feet appear even more aged and out of sync with the rest of the body – however we need to remember she is 72 years old!
“It’s similar to what we call ‘Ozempic face’ or ‘Ozempic neck’ – the skin loses volume and structure and can start to look thin, crepey, and veiny.”
‘Her feet look older than her age’
Dr Ed Robinson, one of the UK’s leading aesthetic doctors, has received an influx of patents demonstrating side effects of Ozempic, including ‘Ozempic face’ and ‘Ozempic neck’.
He reveals to Fabulous: “If you stay on the drugs for a long time and you have this sustained calorie deficit, you will lose good fat which is useful for maintaining the youthful structures in your body.
“You have lots of fat pads in your face and other different parts of your body that are closely packed together when you are young. They start to drift apart as you get older.
“When you hit perimenopause and the menopause, hormones like oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone are important for maintaining the cohesiveness of these fats.
“Ozempic will cause this fat content to be lost quicker, making you look older as these structures are so helpful for maintaining your youthfulness.
In Sharon Osborne’s case, I imagine Ozempic has led to her feet looking slightly older than her age
Dr Ed
“The feet are no different. There are fat pads on the top sides of your feet where your extensor tendons are, similar to the fat pads on the back of your hands.”
Dr Ed hailed Sharon as a victim of ‘Ozempic feet’, adding: “As these fat pads start to get smaller, the tendons and veins start to get more visible, making you look older.
“In Sharon Osborne’s case, I imagine Ozempic has led to her feet looking slightly older than her age.
“Sharon’s feet are showing signs of the ageing process including thinning skin, pigmentation, more visible tendons and veins.”
While the experts have deemed Sharon to be a celeb displaying ‘Ozempic feet’, what about the others? Here, we let you decide…
ARE OTHER STARS SHOWING SIGNS?
Oprah Winfrey
Like Sharon, American telly personality Oprah Winfrey has openly admitted to using skinny jabs.
While Oprah hasn’t discussed her side effects, the 71-year-old said ‘food noise’ – a term used to refer to the constant, intrusive thoughts about eating – caused her to never stop eating until she was full.
Oprah Winfrey, pictured in 2018, prior to using fat jabs[/caption]
Oprah’s feet has since started to appear more wrinkly[/caption]
She revealed on her podcast: “One of the things that I realised the very first time I took a GLP-1 was that all these years, I thought that thin people just had more willpower.
“They ate better foods, they were able to stick to it longer, they never had a potato chip.
“And then I realised the very first time I took the GLP-1 that, ‘Oh, they’re not even thinking about it’.
“They’re only eating when they’re hungry and they’re stopping when they’re full.”
Now, Oprah has referred to weight loss injections as a “maintenance tool” rather than a quick solution.
‘Godzilla’ of fat jabs
Dr Mitra Dutt, a GP from Lloyds Pharmacy Online Doctor, says: “Mounjaro works by activating two hormonal receptors (GIP and GLP-1), which enhance insulin production, improve insulin sensitivity and work to decrease food intake.”
Saxenda, which contains the active ingredient liraglutide, is another weight loss jab that’s been available on the NHS since 2020.
While Mounjaro is hailed as the “King Kong” fat jabs, a new weight loss drug dubbed “Godzilla” looks set to displace it.
Containing the active ingredient retatrutide, slimmers trying the drug lost up to 29 per cent of their weight in less than a year.
By comparison, trial results showed semaglutide, known as Ozempic, could lead to 15 per cent weight loss and tirzepatide, aka Mounjaro, to 23 per cent.
Retatrutide acts on three different receptors in the brain, “turbocharging” calorie burning while dulling hunger pangs.
Existing weight-loss jabs only suppress appetite, whereas the new treatment also speeds up metabolism.
The new drug is still undergoing clinical trials so it’s not yet known if it will be made available on the NHS.
Following her use of fat jabs, Oprah stepped down from her role as a WeightWatchers ambassador.
She said it was due to her desire to “be able to talk about whatever I want to talk about” regarding weight loss issues.
And now, the skin on Oprah’s feet appears to be looser following her weight loss.
Rebel Wilson
After much speculation, actress Rebel Wilson admitted in April last year that she had used Ozempic to shed 80 pounds back in 2020.
She’s another celeb that may have fallen victim to ‘Ozempic feet’, but hasn’t yet publicly discussed experiencing any side effects.
Rebel, pictured here in 2013, turned to Ozempic in 2020[/caption]
She has since slimmed down – can you notice a difference on her feet?[/caption]
The 45-year-old told The Sunday Times: “Someone like me could have a bottomless appetite for sweets, so I think those drugs can be good.
“I feel strongly that young women shouldn’t try to obsess over looking like Victoria’s Secret models – they should just look like themselves
“I know that my relationship with food is complicated.”
The Australian originally decided to slim down following advice from her IVF doctor in 2019 but due to her trope of playing “fat, funny characters” in Hollywood films, she felt her weight loss wasn’t welcomed by her industry peers.
She said: “Basically no one apart from my mum wanted me to lose weight.
“People thought I’d lose my pigeonhole in my career – playing the fat, funny character – and they wanted me to continue in that.”
Being only in her 40s, Rebel could be the youngest victim of ‘Ozempic feet’.
Wave goodbye to ‘Ozempic feet’
If you’ve been using Ozempic and have noticed saggy and aged skin on your feet, fear not.
While a top UK consultant cosmetic surgeon claims a ‘foot tuck’ is not an option, according to the pros, there are a variety of beauty solutions that can help to reverse this issue.
Dr Nora advises: “The good news? There are treatments that can help.
“Regenerative options like polynucleotides or hydrating skin boosters can improve skin quality and elasticity, giving back some of that youthful bounce.”
Dr Ed Robinson adds: “It is possible to have skin boosters such as hyaluronic acid, polynucleotides (derived from fish DNA) and even dermal fillers to improve the appearance of the feet, although this is not a common request I find from people.”
