Jennifer Fessler.Photo: John Lamparski/Getty ImagesJennifer Fessler is not letting the side effects steer her away from using injections for weight loss.In the first episode of herTwo Jersey Jspodcastwith herReal Housewives of New JerseycostarJackie Goldschneider, the 53-year-old revealed that she was in the hospital for an impacted bowel after taking semaglutide.Semaglutide — also sold under brand namesOzempicandWegovy— is an FDA-approved prescription medication for type 2 diabetes or chronic obesity and works in the brain to impact satiety. It has become the latest Hollywood trend for its off-label use for weight loss.“I have been on, and I’m not going to call it Ozempic — that’s been the umbrella name. But I’ve been on semaglutide for over a year now, and I’ve lost maybe 22 pounds,” Fessler said during the podcast.Goldschneider, who has beenvocal about not agreeingwith the use of Ozempic for weight loss, called it a “very dangerous trend” but said she respects her friend’s decision to take the weekly injections, asking Fessler if she was nervous about taking it.“I’m a raging hypochondriac, but when it comes to things having to do with my physical appearance, somehow that goes out the window,” Fessler said. “For instance, I’m not afraid at all of going into surgery for anything cosmetic.”She continued, “I’m not afraid of Ozempic and I will tell you I have had an experience that was not good — and I’m pretty positive it was about the semaglutide — where I had to go to the hospital for an impacted bowel… and I’m still not nervous about it.”Fessler said several months ago she was experiencing constipation, one of the side effects of Ozempic, but did nothing about it, even as it worsened.“I was drinking no water, eating no vegetables. Cause something that happens, a new experience for me, is being able to eat what I want even when it’s not the most healthy choices and still lose weight,” she explained. “So maybe for the first time in my life, I’m losing weight on pizza and bagels and ice cream.“Having said that, I noticed there was constipation, I didn’t do anything about it. I wasn’t taking Miralax, that you take every morning, or any kind of stool softener,” she said. “I hadn’t gone in a week, then it was a week and a half.”Fessler admitted that she was aware of the drug’s side effects but she’s also “to blame for ignoring them and allowing them to escalate to the point where I became impacted.”Now, the reality star said she hasn’t had any more issues because she’s drinking more water, trying to eat healthier foods and is taking Miralax. She’s also hired a personal trainer to combat the muscle loss she’s experienced.“A lot of this you have to be proactive about,” she added. “Am I worried about it? No. Am I aware of it and a little disappointed in myself for not addressing it sooner? Sure.”Jennifer Fessler.Jennifer Fessler InstagramNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The impacts of Ozempic and similar medications on the digestive system are currently being investigated; In June, the drugs were linked tosevere gastroparesis, also known as stomach paralysis, which theMayo Clinicsays “[prevents] your stomach from emptying properly.”In September, theFDA issued a warningthat Ozempic can lead to a life-threatening condition known as ileus—a type of bowel obstruction where either sections or the entirety of the intestines become obstructed. This blockage can restrict blood flow to organs, resulting in tissue necrosis.A spokesperson for Ozempic’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, told PEOPLE in a statement, “The safety and efficacy profile of Ozempic has been evaluated in clinical studies involving more than patients. The most commonly reported side effects were gastrointestinal, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach (abdominal) pain, and constipation. The known risks associated with use of Ozempic are reflected in the FDA-approved product labeling.““We stand behind the safety and efficacy of Ozempic® when used as indicated,” the company added.
Jennifer Fessler.Photo: John Lamparski/Getty Images
Jennifer Fessler is not letting the side effects steer her away from using injections for weight loss.In the first episode of herTwo Jersey Jspodcastwith herReal Housewives of New JerseycostarJackie Goldschneider, the 53-year-old revealed that she was in the hospital for an impacted bowel after taking semaglutide.Semaglutide — also sold under brand namesOzempicandWegovy— is an FDA-approved prescription medication for type 2 diabetes or chronic obesity and works in the brain to impact satiety. It has become the latest Hollywood trend for its off-label use for weight loss.“I have been on, and I’m not going to call it Ozempic — that’s been the umbrella name. But I’ve been on semaglutide for over a year now, and I’ve lost maybe 22 pounds,” Fessler said during the podcast.Goldschneider, who has beenvocal about not agreeingwith the use of Ozempic for weight loss, called it a “very dangerous trend” but said she respects her friend’s decision to take the weekly injections, asking Fessler if she was nervous about taking it.“I’m a raging hypochondriac, but when it comes to things having to do with my physical appearance, somehow that goes out the window,” Fessler said. “For instance, I’m not afraid at all of going into surgery for anything cosmetic.”She continued, “I’m not afraid of Ozempic and I will tell you I have had an experience that was not good — and I’m pretty positive it was about the semaglutide — where I had to go to the hospital for an impacted bowel… and I’m still not nervous about it.”Fessler said several months ago she was experiencing constipation, one of the side effects of Ozempic, but did nothing about it, even as it worsened.“I was drinking no water, eating no vegetables. Cause something that happens, a new experience for me, is being able to eat what I want even when it’s not the most healthy choices and still lose weight,” she explained. “So maybe for the first time in my life, I’m losing weight on pizza and bagels and ice cream.“Having said that, I noticed there was constipation, I didn’t do anything about it. I wasn’t taking Miralax, that you take every morning, or any kind of stool softener,” she said. “I hadn’t gone in a week, then it was a week and a half.”Fessler admitted that she was aware of the drug’s side effects but she’s also “to blame for ignoring them and allowing them to escalate to the point where I became impacted.”Now, the reality star said she hasn’t had any more issues because she’s drinking more water, trying to eat healthier foods and is taking Miralax. She’s also hired a personal trainer to combat the muscle loss she’s experienced.“A lot of this you have to be proactive about,” she added. “Am I worried about it? No. Am I aware of it and a little disappointed in myself for not addressing it sooner? Sure.”Jennifer Fessler.Jennifer Fessler InstagramNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The impacts of Ozempic and similar medications on the digestive system are currently being investigated; In June, the drugs were linked tosevere gastroparesis, also known as stomach paralysis, which theMayo Clinicsays “[prevents] your stomach from emptying properly.”In September, theFDA issued a warningthat Ozempic can lead to a life-threatening condition known as ileus—a type of bowel obstruction where either sections or the entirety of the intestines become obstructed. This blockage can restrict blood flow to organs, resulting in tissue necrosis.A spokesperson for Ozempic’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, told PEOPLE in a statement, “The safety and efficacy profile of Ozempic has been evaluated in clinical studies involving more than patients. The most commonly reported side effects were gastrointestinal, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach (abdominal) pain, and constipation. The known risks associated with use of Ozempic are reflected in the FDA-approved product labeling.““We stand behind the safety and efficacy of Ozempic® when used as indicated,” the company added.
Jennifer Fessler is not letting the side effects steer her away from using injections for weight loss.
In the first episode of herTwo Jersey Jspodcastwith herReal Housewives of New JerseycostarJackie Goldschneider, the 53-year-old revealed that she was in the hospital for an impacted bowel after taking semaglutide.
Semaglutide — also sold under brand namesOzempicandWegovy— is an FDA-approved prescription medication for type 2 diabetes or chronic obesity and works in the brain to impact satiety. It has become the latest Hollywood trend for its off-label use for weight loss.
“I have been on, and I’m not going to call it Ozempic — that’s been the umbrella name. But I’ve been on semaglutide for over a year now, and I’ve lost maybe 22 pounds,” Fessler said during the podcast.
Goldschneider, who has beenvocal about not agreeingwith the use of Ozempic for weight loss, called it a “very dangerous trend” but said she respects her friend’s decision to take the weekly injections, asking Fessler if she was nervous about taking it.
“I’m a raging hypochondriac, but when it comes to things having to do with my physical appearance, somehow that goes out the window,” Fessler said. “For instance, I’m not afraid at all of going into surgery for anything cosmetic.”
She continued, “I’m not afraid of Ozempic and I will tell you I have had an experience that was not good — and I’m pretty positive it was about the semaglutide — where I had to go to the hospital for an impacted bowel… and I’m still not nervous about it.”
Fessler said several months ago she was experiencing constipation, one of the side effects of Ozempic, but did nothing about it, even as it worsened.
“I was drinking no water, eating no vegetables. Cause something that happens, a new experience for me, is being able to eat what I want even when it’s not the most healthy choices and still lose weight,” she explained. “So maybe for the first time in my life, I’m losing weight on pizza and bagels and ice cream.
“Having said that, I noticed there was constipation, I didn’t do anything about it. I wasn’t taking Miralax, that you take every morning, or any kind of stool softener,” she said. “I hadn’t gone in a week, then it was a week and a half.”
Fessler admitted that she was aware of the drug’s side effects but she’s also “to blame for ignoring them and allowing them to escalate to the point where I became impacted.”
Now, the reality star said she hasn’t had any more issues because she’s drinking more water, trying to eat healthier foods and is taking Miralax. She’s also hired a personal trainer to combat the muscle loss she’s experienced.
“A lot of this you have to be proactive about,” she added. “Am I worried about it? No. Am I aware of it and a little disappointed in myself for not addressing it sooner? Sure.”
Jennifer Fessler.Jennifer Fessler Instagram
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The impacts of Ozempic and similar medications on the digestive system are currently being investigated; In June, the drugs were linked tosevere gastroparesis, also known as stomach paralysis, which theMayo Clinicsays “[prevents] your stomach from emptying properly.”
In September, theFDA issued a warningthat Ozempic can lead to a life-threatening condition known as ileus—a type of bowel obstruction where either sections or the entirety of the intestines become obstructed. This blockage can restrict blood flow to organs, resulting in tissue necrosis.
A spokesperson for Ozempic’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, told PEOPLE in a statement, “The safety and efficacy profile of Ozempic has been evaluated in clinical studies involving more than patients. The most commonly reported side effects were gastrointestinal, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach (abdominal) pain, and constipation. The known risks associated with use of Ozempic are reflected in the FDA-approved product labeling.”
“We stand behind the safety and efficacy of Ozempic® when used as indicated,” the company added.
source: people.com
