'Everyone is on Ozempic': Why Hollywood's newest weight loss trend is so concerning.

Ozempic. Chances are, you've heard of it. 

A medication designed for people with Type 2 diabetes, over the past several months the drug has gained massive traction, with talk of it being prescribed to celebrities for weight loss.

A once-a-week injection, the role of the drug is to balance blood sugar levels, making it an effective solution for long-term weight management for diabetics and obesity.

However, for celebrities, it's seemingly becoming the drug of choice for weight management.

While only a few celebrities have publicly admitted to taking Ozempic (or WeGovy - another popular brand of the drug), others have shared their views on the trend, with some even openly denying taking it.

Recently, comedian Chelsea Handler talked about the drug being used for weight loss in her own Hollywood circles, sharing her experience on the podcast Call Her Daddy.

She opened up about unknowingly being prescribed the drug, and why she decided to step away from it.

Speaking with host Alex Cooper, she shared, "So, my anti-aging doctor just hands it out to anybody. I didn't even know I was on it. She said, 'If you ever want to drop five lbs., this is good.'"

"I came back from a vacation and I injected myself with it. I went to lunch with a girlfriend a few days later, and she was like, 'I'm not really eating anything. I'm so nauseous, I'm on Ozempic,'" she said. 

"And I was like, 'I'm kind of nauseous too.' But I had just come back from Spain and was jet-lagged." 

After sharing with her friend that she was "on semaglutide", her friend explained that the drug she had named was, in fact, Ozempic.

"I'm not on it anymore. That's too irresponsible," Handler revealed. "I'm not gonna take a diabetic drug. I tried it, and I'm not gonna do that. That's not for me. That's not right for me."

"Everyone is on Ozempic. It's gonna backfire, something bad is gonna happen."

Watch: Psst... here's the viral Mikayla Nogueira TikTok video everyone is talking about. Post continues below.

Then, there's Elon Musk.

The Tesla CEO shared on Twitter last year that the "secret" to his recent weight loss was "fasting" and 'WeGovy”.

Earlier this year, Khloe Kardashian shut down discussions surrounding whether she was on the medication.

Responding to a fan, who wrote: "The fact that she uses diabetic medication to get this skinny is disturbing," the reality star said, "Let’s not discredit my years of working out. I get up 5 days a week at 6am to train. Please stop with your assumptions. I guess new year still means mean people."

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A post shared by Kardashian Social (@kardashiansocial)

Similarly, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards responded to claims she was taking the weight loss drug, writing on Instagram, "I am NOT taking Ozempic. Never have."

Actress Jameela Jamil has also spoken out numerous times about the increased use of Ozempic in Hollywood, as well as the current supply shortages.

On Instagram, she wrote: "I have said what I have said about the potential harm of people using the diabetes medication for weight loss only." 

"I fear for everyone in the next few years. Rich people are buying this stuff off prescription for upwards of $1,000. Actual [people with] diabetes are seeing shortages. It's now a mainstream craze in Hollywood."

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A post shared by Jameela Jamil (@jameelajamil)

In the caption, she stated: "I'm seeing people really struggle because of this stuff. It has become the exact uncontrollable wave I thought it would become and I hope that I'm worried for no reason, and that my doctors who have been advising me on this stuff are wrong."

Of course - the popularity of the weight loss drug is not only thanks to the buzz it's received from celebrities. It's all over TikTok, too.

Scroll through the social media platform and you'll find thousands, upon thousands of TikTok videos touting the benefits of the drug. People even share their 'day on a plate' while taking it.

@scentsbykimmy Friends to end my day 🥰 #wia #fyp #viral #wiaiad #ozempic #ozempicweightloss #ozempicjourney ♬ original sound - scentsbykimmy

These videos are currently racking up millions of views, and primarily involve users giving updates on their weight loss, tips on how to use the medication and its side effects.

A common question that crops up in the comment section? How to access the drug.

While it's currently available on prescription from a general practitioner, last year in Australia, there was a nationwide shortage of the essential drug - meaning many people with diabetes and chronic health concerns couldn't access their medication.

At the time, the Therapeutic Goods Administration released a joint statement, urging health professionals to only prescribe and dispense the treatment for its approved use - to manage type 2 diabetes. 

The statement said the essential and continued care of people with type 2 diabetes needed to be prioritised, and warned those using the medication for weight management may not have their prescription fi