A woman who has halved her body weight thanks to Ozempic has recently gone viral on TikTok after sharing the aftermath of a dramatic weight loss.
On October 3, Amy Kane, 35, who once weighed 300 pounds at her heaviest, garnered 1.7 million views (@amyinhalf) after lifting her jumper to reveal the excess skin on her stomach. In the clip, she sarcastically asks, “Can you believe Ozempic did this?” followed by, “I really can because Ozempic helped me lose 160 pounds.”
The video includes a screenshot of a comment that reads: “Why does everyone on Ozempic always end up looking like a skin sac? No muscle definition, just skin.” She then emphasizes that there’s nothing in the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medication that caused her “saggy skin.”
The Chicago-based content creator told Newsweek: “You are shamed for your weight struggles, and then you are shamed for using medication to help with weight loss.”
TikTok/@amyinhalf
What Is GLP-1?
According to the University of Chicago Medicine, drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, and Mounjaro have been around for years, but they have recently been making headlines due to their rising popularity as weight loss agents. These drugs belong to a class known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), which mimic a hormone (GLP-1) in the body that helps control insulin and blood glucose levels while promoting feelings of satiety.
According to Gallup, 6 percent of U.S. adults, or 15.5 million people, have used or are using an injectable diabetes medication, with 3 percent using it specifically for weight loss.
Loose Skin After Weight Loss
Kane felt motivated to respond to the comment in a video to state that type 2 diabetes and weight loss drugs do not cause loose skin.
In the video, she shares that she much prefers her current body, as her overall health has significantly improved since her transformation from a size 24 to a size 4.
Her statement was backed by consultant plastic surgeon Hazim Sadideen, who works at the Cadogan Clinic in London, U.K.
He told Newsweek: “For individuals who lose 100 pounds or more, the likelihood of excess skin is extremely high and is unrelated to the specific weight-loss method.”
Kane said that she shares videos about her journey online to “reduce the shaming.”
Health Risks Associated with Excess Skin
Dr. Samuel Lin, a board-certified plastic surgeon and Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, also spoke to Newsweek about the physical and psychological implications.
He said: “While the health risks of obesity far outweigh the issues associated with skin laxity, the impact of excess skin remains significant. Physically, loose folds of skin can lead to mechanical irritation and intertrigo, a condition where prolonged moisture exposure between folds leads to inflammation, skin breakdown, and ulceration.
“Bacteria and fungi flourish in the moist environment of skin folds, increasing the likelihood of infections and other skin complications. Site-specific concerns also arise—excess skin in the midsection contributes to urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction. This can interfere with daily activities, highlighting the functional limitations that come with severe skin laxity.”
A New Relationship with Food
Kane has a hormonal condition that affects women of reproductive age called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and she is insulin-resistant. Symptoms of each include increased hunger which contributed to her struggles with food.
“Weight loss has always been extremely challenging for me,” she told Newsweek. “This led to years of disordered eating and an unhealthy relationship with food.
“I struggled severely with postpartum depression and eventually gave up trying to lose weight. I ate what felt good and not what would help fuel my body.”
Today, she eats in moderation, focusing on protein and hydration. She doesn’t restrict herself or eliminate food groups but instead eats mindfully.
She told Newsweek: “I am very proud of myself and how hard I have worked. I am still working on accepting my new body, but overall I embrace it and feel so much more comfortable in my own skin.”
Looking ahead, she plans to have a tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, a cosmetic surgery procedure that removes excess fat and skin from the abdomen while tightening the abdominal muscles.
“My self-esteem has dramatically changed,” she told Newsweek. “I am treated like a completely different person in society than when I was in my larger body.”
Is there a health issue that’s worrying you? Let us know via health@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
