While Ozempic is advertised as a type 2 diabetes medication, it has been widely used by many to quickly lose weight.
On the Show Me the Science podcast, Professor Luke O'Neill has said that the drug may have a range of benefits that have not yet been considered.
"We worry about long term-term use and various things which I'll come on to - but [it does] things you wouldn't expect," he said.
"So, for example, it looks like it's decreasing the risk of heart attack and stroke by 20%.
"Now, that would have a big effect because heart attacks and strokes are very serious - people end up in the ICU and there's a huge cost to that.
"So, there's going to be a saving there, first of all, because of the drop in heart attacks."
Prof O'Neill said that food companies are also worried about Ozempic because people taking the drug eat less, while airlines have said that lighter passengers could lead to less money needed for fuel.
How it works
Prof O'Neill explained that the drug works by increasing a natural hormone called GLP-1, which controls appetite.
""GLP-1 was discovered first of all in the gila monster, of all things - these giant lizards.
"Very clever scientists spotted that giant lizards eat a meal and don't need to eat for months on end.
"Their body makes this GLP-1 substance, and that regulates how they burn glucose, and it stops them getting obese."
The drug may provide a quick and effective solution to tackling the growing global obesity crisis, according to Prof O'Neill.
Gila Monster with mouth open, captive, native to southwestern USA and Sonora, Mexico. Photo: Michael D. Kern/Alamy. 3 June 2012Ozempic has also been seen to have a positive effect on sleep apnea, arthritis, Parkinson's disease, infertility, and more, according to Prof O'Neill.
"It's not as if this is the ultimate drug," he said.
"There are side effects such as nausea, gastrointestinal problems, and the most serious one is muscle wasting.
"There's no doubt you lost some muscle mass, as well as losing some fat tissue.
"You lost a bit of mass from your muscles and that can be quite serious, especially in older people, because they might fall more or they can't go about their day-to-day business because their muscles aren't as strong."
Prof O'Neill said that while we should be cautious with our usage of Ozempic for now, he believes it could have many positive societal impacts, particularly when it comes to obesity.
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