GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic are used to treat type 2 diabetes and may also be prescribed to treat severe obesity.
The active ingredient, semaglutide, can lead to significant weight loss, but the body's response varies from person to person.
According to previous statements made by obesity researcher and specialist physician Emilia Huvinen to Iltalehti, some people experience a marked reduction in appetite, while others notice a much smaller effect.
In the past, attention has focused on the term "Ozempic face," which describes a more hollow facial appearance following rapid weight loss.
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According to Iltalehti, the phenomenon is not a documented side effect of the medication but rather a change that can occur when body fat is lost quickly.
Feet undergoing change
Healthline describes a similar phenomenon that has been referred to as "Ozempic feet."
The term refers to visible changes that may occur after rapid weight loss.
For example, tendons and blood vessels may become more prominent, the skin may appear loose, and some people find that their feet become narrower or that their shoe size changes.
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According to Healthline, pain may occur because the fat pad beneath the heel becomes thinner.
At the same time, the loss of muscle mass in the foot and calf can affect balance, walking function, and stability around the ankle and the Achilles tendon.
Not an official side effect
Healthline also points out that the structure of the feet may have been affected by years of excess weight and that these changes do not necessarily disappear immediately after major weight loss. Instead, the body adapts gradually.
Ozempic feet are not an official side effect of GLP-1 medications.
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According to Healthline, these are changes that may occur following rapid and substantial weight loss, regardless of whether it happens with or without the use of Ozempic.
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