Remi Bader Says She ‘Gained Double the Weight Back’ After Stopping Weight-Loss Drug Ozempic

Remi Bader is opening up about her past experience with Ozempic now that she’s noticed it’s become “this fashion drug.”

The content creator and model, 27, was a guest on the latest episode of the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast and told host Amanda Hirsch that she was a little upset that the drug has become so popular recently after being prescribed first for him. “Current Health Issues”.

Ozempic is an FDA-approved prescription drug — given by injection in the thigh, stomach, or arm — that’s usually used to help lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. It’s the brand name for semaglutide, which it stimulates insulin production and also targets areas of the brain that regulate appetite, according to the FDA.

Recently, Ozempic has been trending on social media after TikTok users speculated that a number of celebrities have used the drug for weight loss, even though they do not have diabetes or clinical obesity.

In the podcast, Bader shared that her doctor recommended she try Ozempic in 2020, shortly after it was approved by the FDA, because she was pre-diabetic, insulin resistant and gaining weight.

RELATED: Doctor slams trend of using diabetes drugs for weight loss: ‘People who need these drugs can’t get them’

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, please contact the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) at 1-800-931-2237 or go to NationalEatingDisorders.org.

Remi Bader attends Variety, The New York Party at American Bar on October 19, 2022 in New York City.

Jamie McCarthy/Variety via Getty

However, Bader said it wasn’t the best treatment for her as it ultimately worsened her binge eating, which she has struggled with for years. She explained that although she was able to lose weight from the medication, when she stopped taking it, her binge eating returned immediately.

“They said I need this. And I had a lot of mixed feelings,” she said of taking Ozempic. “A few months later I gave it up and got into junk food.”

“I saw a doctor and they were like, it’s 100% because I went on Ozempic,” Bader continued. “It was making me think I wasn’t hungry for so long, I lost weight. I didn’t want to be fixated on being on it for too long. I bet the second I go down I’ll be off. I was starving again. I did, and my eating got really bad. So then I blamed Ozempic.”

The story continues

Bader added that she “gained double the weight” after stopping the medication, and she thinks it should really only be used for those with diabetes.

RELATED: TikTok star Remi Bader reveals she’s seeking treatment for binge eating

man preparing Semaglutide Ozempic injection controls blood sugar levels

Getty

Never miss a story – sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from cool celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Dr. Caroline Apovian, co-director of the Center for Weight Management and Wellness at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, warned that using these medications strictly for weight loss is causing less availability for “underserved” diabetic patients whose lives are at risk. . without drugs.

Ozempic is listed as “currently in short supply” on the FDA website. Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic, said in a statement that the shortage was caused by a recent surge in demand as well as supply chain issues.

“The Hollywood trend is disturbing,” Apovian recently told PEOPLE. “We’re not talking about stars who need to lose 10 pounds. We’re talking about people who are dying of obesity, will die of obesity.”

“You’re taking diabetes patients away,” she continued. “We have life-saving drugs … and the United States public that really needs these drugs can’t get them.”