Stephen Fry, the beloved British comedian and actor, known for his wit and erudition, has recently shared a distressing account of his experience with the weight-loss drug Ozempic. His revelations come amid a wave of celebrity endorsements and critiques surrounding this controversial medication.
During an appearance on the “River Café Table 4” podcast, Fry described his initial encounter with Ozempic as “astonishing.” He remarked, “The first week or so, I was thinking, ‘This is astonishing. Not only do I not want to eat, I don’t want any alcohol of any kind. This is going to be brilliant,’” indicating his hopes for a positive transformation. However, this optimism was short-lived as he found himself grappling with severe side effects. “I started feeling sick, and I started getting sicker and sicker and sicker,” Fry recounted. “I was literally throwing up four, five times a day and I thought, ‘I can’t do this.’ The new variant, Tirzepatide Mounjaro it’s called makes it even worse apparently.”
Fry’s ordeal with the drug, which he had decided to try while in America many years ago, underscores a growing concern about the popularity of Ozempic in Hollywood and beyond. “I’m an early adopter of these things. I happened to be in America, and I’d read about it, and I asked my doctor in America, my physician as they like to call them, and he said, ‘I think I can get you some.’ He tried me on it,’” Fry said. Not originally designed as a weight-loss medication, Ozempic’s primary use is for managing diabetes. Yet, its appetite-suppressing side effects have attracted those looking to shed weight, including high-profile figures.
While Fry eventually discontinued the medication due to its debilitating impact, his initial weight loss was significant. He weighed over 290 pounds in April 2019 and had lost five-and-a-half stone by August of the same year, as reported by The Mirror.
The discourse around Ozempic has seen varied opinions among celebrities. Sharon Osbourne candidly spoke about her experience, stating she had “no regrets,” despite now feeling “too gaunt” and struggling to regain weight. Kate Winslet, on the other hand, vehemently opposed the drug, labeling it as “terrible” in a New York Times interview. She quipped: “Oh, my God. This sounds terrible. Let’s eat some more things!” Oprah Winfrey also entered the conversation, revealing her use of similar medication to aid her weight loss, but stopped short of specifying the drug.
The debate is not limited to personal anecdotes but extends to concerns about the sustainability of using such medications. Actor Rob Lowe, for instance, expressed his worry to People magazine, saying, “I see people who are taking all the new weight loss drugs and that’s great, and it’s really changed their lives. But my concern always is, okay, now what? What’s the plan for the longevity of everything? I never ever talk about diets, I talk about lifestyle.”
Relevant articles:
– Stephen Fry criticises weight-loss drug Ozempic over severe side effects: ‘I was throwing up five times a day’, The Independent
– Stephen Fry was vomiting five times a day while on weight-loss drug Ozempic, Evening Standard, Mar 21, 2024
– Stephen Fry criticises weight-loss drug Ozempic over severe side effects: ‘I was throwing up five times a day’, AOL.com