Blockbuster weight loss drug Ozempic can cause a surprising side effect in your feet, doctors say – and some celebrities are already showing signs.
The term “Ozempic foot” is used to describe the condition of sagging or aging skin on the feet resulting from rapid fat loss. This joins the category of concerns such as “Ozempic face” and “Ozempic butt,” which are also attributed to significant changes in body fat composition.
While the drug has taken Hollywood by storm, experts warn the cosmetic downsides are catching up.
Dr. Barry Weintraub, a board-certified plastic surgeon based in New York, explained to DailyMail.com that a reduction in body fat can lead to reduced water retention, potentially causing pronounced sagging in the feet.
Ozempic, in addition to its counterpart drug Mounjaro, is officially indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, it is commonly used off-label for weight loss purposes, particularly popular among celebrities.
Now, fans are speculating that stars like Sharon Osbourne and Oprah Winfrey may be among the first to show signs of the surprising foot-related side effect.
Osbourne, 72, recently posted a cozy Instagram photo with her grandson — but eagle-eyed commenters were quick to point out signs of extreme weight loss.
Similarly, TV spectators have also noticed excessive wrinkling on 71-year-old Oprah’s feet when the American host and television producer was seen onstage at the 55th NAACP Image Awards at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
Sharon Osbourne took to Instagram to share a cozy picture of herself with her two-year-old grandson and pet dog
The skin on the top of the foot is delicate, thin and has lower fat reserves than the bottom or sole of the foot.
As you age, the fat pads in the foot can become even more scarce and lead to loose skin and wrinkles.
However, taking weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro can significantly reduce the fat reserves in the whole body, including the feet – leading to excessive sagging and wrinkles due to muscle loss, Dr Weintraub said.
Eagle eyed fans were quick to notice the strange wrinkling on Osbourne’s feet in her Instagram post from April 5.
The star’s perfectly smooth facial complexion, which some users claimed was achieved with a filter, contrasted her feet.
One Instagrammer commented: ‘Beautiful airbrushed photo but feet tell your age’.
While another quipped: ‘How strange when the skin on your hands and feet don’t match the skin on your face’.
However, while many thought that she was simply showing signs of aging, Dr Weintraub believes otherwise.
He explained to this website: ‘Seeing veiny and sagging skin on the top and sides of the foot is most likely a result of the new lack of water retention due to a decreased BMI caused by Ozempic and other such weight-loss drugs.
‘As the heart becomes less taxed with extra weight, the water retention decreases, and the substructures of the foot (veins, tendons, bones) often become more visible.’
Earlier this year, Winfrey said taking weight-loss drugs, like Ozempic and Wegovy, helped her realize the truth about ‘thin people.’
In 2023, the media mogul finally admitted to using an undisclosed GLP-1 – a type 2 diabetes medication that can also aid in weight loss – to shed nearly 50 pounds after decades of yo-yo dieting.
Having nearly reached her goal weight of 160 pounds (72kg), Winfrey revealed her experience taking a GLP-1 and what it has taught her about ‘thin people.’
One of the things that I realized the very first time I took a GLP-1 was that all these years I thought that thin people had more willpower,’ Winfrey confessed.
Dr. Barry Weintraub, a New York-based board certified plastic surgeon exclusively told DailyMail.com that a loss of fat in the body can impact water retention in the body and cause excessive sagging in the feet
TV spectators have also noticed excessive wrinkling on Oprah Winfrey’s feet
‘They ate better foods. They were able to stick to it longer. They never had a potato chip.’
However, she is yet to comment on which weight loss drug she took.
Neither Osbourne or Winfrey have commented on whether they are suffering from any side effects from intake of their respective weight-loss drugs.
