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Cited by 210Pharmacology and Obesity TreatmentData-Driven Disease SurveillanceSocial Media in Health Education

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 29 of the 29 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Public interest in the off-label use of glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists (Ozempic) for cosmetic weight loss: a Google trends analysis.

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Han, Sabrina H, Safeek, Rachel, Ockerman, Kyle, Trieu, Nhan, Mars, Patricia, Klenke, Audrey, Furnas, Heather, Sorice-Virk, Sarah·2023·Aesthetic Surgery Journal
DOI 10.1093/asj/sjad211
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Abstract

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. The off-label use of Ozempic (Novo Nordisk, Bagsværd, Denmark), the brand name of the GLP-1 agonist semaglutide, for cosmetic weight loss has been popularized by social media and celebrity influence. The aim of this study was to analyze with Google Trends (Alphabet Inc., Mountain View, CA) the recent search popularity of Ozempic and related GLP-1 agonists. The term “Ozempic” was analyzed with 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” (Novo NordisK) and “Mounjaro” (Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN). Between March 2018 and February 2023, overall RSV in “Ozempic” grew exponentially in the United States. Simple linear regression analysis showed significantly increased RSV over time with an R2 of 0.915 and a regression coefficient of 0.957 (P < .001). When comparing “Ozempic,” “Wegovy,” and “Mounjaro” since June 2021 (FDA approval of Wegovy), Ozempic remained at the greatest RSV. One-way analysis of variance found statistically significant differences between the 3 search terms at all time points between December 2021 and February 2023 (P < .001). 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. Level of Evidence: 3:

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Synnott, Those weight loss drugs may do a number on your face
  2. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, 2023, 95th Academy Awards

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Metadata

Authors
Han, S. H., Safeek, R., Ockerman, K., Trieu, N., Mars, P., Klenke, A., Furnas, H., & Sorice-Virk, S.
Affiliations
  • University of Florida Health (US)
  • University of Florida (US)
  • Stanford University (US)
Corresponding author
Sorice-Virk, Sarah
ORCID
Venue
Aesthetic Surgery Journal
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2023-07-04
Volume
44
Issue
1
Pages
60-67
ISSN
  • 1090-820X (ISSN-L)
  • 1527-330X
DOI
10.1093/asj/sjad211
OpenAlex
W4383186133
Cited by
210
References
26
Citations by year
2026: 70 · 2025: 85 · 2024: 44 · 2023: 11
FWCI
32.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
academic.oup.com/pages/standard-publication-reuse-rights (vor)
Locations
  • Aesthetic Surgery Journal (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology (medical) › Pharmacology and Obesity Treatment
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Data-Driven Disease Surveillance
  • Social Sciences › Health › Social Media in Health Education
Keywords
semaglutide, GLP-1 receptor agonists, off-label drug use, public interest, search volume trends, Wegovy, Mounjaro, obesity treatment, social media influence, celebrity endorsement
MeSH terms
Semaglutide, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Humans, Hypoglycemic Agents, United States, Weight Loss, Glucagon-Like Peptide 1, Off-Label Use, Search Engine

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