Dr. Sabine Hazan, renowned gastroenterologist, raised serious concerns about Ozempic widespread use

Dr. Sabine Hazan, a renowned gastroenterologist, has raised serious concerns about Ozempic and its widespread use. While obesity remains a major issue in America, Dr. Hazan warns that the drug’s side effects—particularly gastrointestinal complications like gut paralysis and motility problems—are being downplayed. “The truth is, there’s a myriad of issues,” she says, noting that patients often come to her struggling with these complications.

What alarms her most? The lack of transparency. At a recent American College of Cardiology event, Dr. Hazan spoke to an Ozempic rep who refused to engage with gastroenterologists—saying they “weren’t allowed” to talk to them. “That’s a red flag,” she recalls thinking, prompting her to alert her network of colleagues in a group called ‘Ladies of the Gut.’ If a company believes in its product, why shy away from scrutiny?

Dr. Hazan also proposed studying the microbiome before and after Ozempic use—a suggestion met with dismissal by some companies. “When they say ‘no, we’re okay,’ they’re hiding something,” she insists. Contrast this with probiotic companies she’s worked with, who eagerly seek data on their products’ effects because they’re committed to the truth. “That’s science,” she says.

Another concern: the dependency Ozempic creates. “You can’t stop it without the weight coming back,” Dr. Hazan explains, likening it to a trap akin to historical drugs like amphetamines or Fen-Phen—both of which caused significant harm before being pulled. Her own mother took Fen-Phen, and the cardiac fallout was a lesson in the dangers of undisclosed risks.

For Dr. Hazan, informed consent is key. If a 300-pound individual chooses the risks of Ozempic over discipline and exercise, that’s their prerogative. But making it a standard without full disclosure? That’s where she draws the line. “The American public needs to learn discipline, not dependency,” she argues. What do you think—should we demand more transparency on drugs like Ozempic?