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The mammograms that DON'T spot breast cancer: Why some women have a condition that makes tumours harder to detect - and puts them at greater risk of getting cancer By JUDITH KEELING Published: 08:19 EST, 22 December 2024 | Updated: 08:19 EST, 22 December 2024 e-mail View comments Excited about the Greek ­holiday she and her daughter were about to embark on, Deborah King's thoughts were fixed on last-minute packing as she got out of the shower. But as she reached for something in her bathroom cabinet, her eye was caught by an indentation on the underside of her left breast. Checking it, she was horrified to feel a few lumps - one that felt as large as a 10c coin - inside the breast as she probed it. 'I was totally shocked - it was only two months since my mammogram, which had been all clear,' recalls Deborah, 58, a graphic designer and mother to 15-year-old daughter Grace. 'My mind was on the nine-day trip Grace and I had planned. We were visiting friends I hadn't seen for nearly 20 years. I was so looking forward to it. 'Yet here, clearly, was something worrying. I only spotted the indentation by chance because I happened to have my arms raised. When I put my arm down, I couldn't see it.' Though shaken by the discovery, Deborah reasoned it couldn't be ­'anything serious', reassuring herself with the fact there was no family history of breast cancer and the result of her most recent ­mammogram. But she was sufficiently concerned to contact her GP, who immediately referred her for further investigations. However, the appointment did not come through; Deborah had to wait four weeks for tests in hospital, which took place at the end of August. Graphic designer Deborah King, 58, pictured with daughter Grace, 15, is angry that tumours measuring 4cm in total were missed on her mammogram This included an ultrasound scan and ­biopsies, which revealed Deborah had ­invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) — a cancer that starts in the milk ducts and which accounts for up to 75 per cent of all breast cancers. The cancer was stage 1 - meaning it had not spread beyond the breast - but the diagnosis was a terrible blow. Now undergoing gruelling chemotherapy and anxious about her forthcoming mastectomy, Deborah is angry that tumours, measuring 4cm in total, had been missed only two months earlier on the mammogram. The cancer also didn't show on two mammograms at hospital - but was clearly visible on ultrasound. So how could this have ­happened? It transpires that ­Deborah has 'dense breasts' - a term doctors are familiar with, but many women are unaware of. Crucially, having dense breasts makes it difficult for mammograms to detect small tumours The breast itself doesn't feel different but contains more fibrous tissue, and less fat, than normal. Women with dense breasts are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Research suggests they could be four to six times more at risk than those with low density, but it's not known why. Crucially, having dense breasts makes it difficult for mammograms to detect small tumours. All breasts contain glands, fibrous tissue and fat - but dense breasts have relatively 'more fibrous tissue than fat,' explains Cheryl Cruwys, the founder of patient advocacy group Breast Density Matters. Could you have dense breast tissue? Don't be afraid to ask your doctor about your breast density. People have the right to know their breast density, their breast cancer risks and how sensitive a mammogram is at detecting cancers in dense breasts. People have the right to make informed decisions about breast cancer screening and their own health. Some private screening clinics tell people about their breast density. However, you may need to pay to have a mammogram done privately. Talk to your GP if you think this is something you would like to do. Source: Breast Cancer Network Australia Advertisement The issue is that both dense breast tissue and tumours show up as white on the mammogram image - so spotting a small tumour can be 'like looking for a cotton wool ball in a snowstorm', she says. 'The denser the tissue, the whiter the mammogram.' Dr Lester Barr, a consultant ­surgeon specialising in breast cancer, adds: 'Breast density has nothing to do with how your breast looks or feels, but relates to how your breast tissue looks on a mammogram. The density is caused by the way protein molecules align in a woman's breasts.' The reason ultrasound is helpful in women with dense breast tissue is that it uses a different technology, soundwaves, to detect lumps (rather like the echo finder on a submarine), which may not be apparent on X-ray technology. Deborah was given an ultrasound after she reported a lump - and while two mammograms looked like a mass of white, and no cancer showed up, a dark mass was clearly visible on the ultrasound. 'If I hadn't noticed the ­indentation, it could have spread and I would be facing a very ­different prognosis,' she says. 'This diagnosis shocked me profoundly as I realised it meant I had been wrong to think I could trust the results of the mammogram.' It's not known how many women have dense breast ­tissue. As Dr Barr explains: 'Breast ­density is a spectrum from very low to very dense. This is assessed subjectively by a radiologist looking at the degree of "whiteness" There is no accepted cut-off on the spectrum that defines when a breast becomes dense.' Another factor is that the density of a woman's breast tissue varies with age. Dr Barr says a woman's breast tissue generally becomes less dense with age - while at age 30-35 almost every woman has dense breast tissue, by the age of 50 this has dropped. 'It is likely breast density becomes clinically relevant in those with the very densest breasts from the age of 40,' he says, adding that this group could benefit most from extra screening. For example, Britain's National Health Service has a screening program that picks up 16,000 breast cancers every year, says Dr Barr, but 'there are another 1,200... "missed" by that mammogram'. Breast density is only one factor in these missed diagnoses. Another type of cancer difficult to detect on a mammogram is invasive lobular carcinoma - the second most common type. It starts in the glands where milk is made when breastfeeding. Because the cancer cells can grow in lines - rather than lumps - these are not easily discernible at an early stage. Inflammatory breast cancer, which accounts for up to five per cent of breast cancers, is also often missed by mammography. It, too, often does not cause a lump - instead, cancer cells block lymph (or drainage) vessels, causing the breast to look swollen. Britain's National Health Service has a screening program that picks up 16,000 breast cancers every year, but there are another 1,200 missed by the mammogram Around a third of breast cancers in women of all ages are detected by mammogram, with the rest spotted by women themselves. This may be because the woman is younger, so not yet eligible for ­screening, or because of dense breasts and cancers not showing up on ­mammograms. The cancer may also be an interval cancer (one that occurs in between screenings). Every state and territory in Australia operates a BreastScreen service that invites women aged between 50 and 74 years to have a mammogram every two years. Most BreastScreen services do not advise people of their mammographic density. BreastScreen in Western Australia and South Australia are the only two states that currently notify people if they are identified as having dense breasts when they have their screening mammograms. The people who are notified as having dense breasts are given follow-up information, including whether any further care or investigation is necessary. Campaigners point out that some countries, such as France and Austria, routinely offer follow-up screening (such as ultrasound) to women with especially dense breasts. They rely on a density scoring system called BI-RADS, developed by the American College of Radiology. Under this system, there are four categories: A, Fatty; B, Scattered areas of ­fibroglandular density; C, Heterogeneously dense; and D, extremely dense. In France, you get a standard mammogram but if the ­radiologist considers you are in category C or D they refer you for an ultrasound. 'However the BI-RADS system is based on subjective judgment and so offers variable accuracy - a computerised assessment of breast density is under development,' says Dr Barr. A 2019 UK review of breast screening options concluded there was insufficient evidence to support offering women with dense breasts an ultrasound after a negative mammogram, due to variations in the accuracy of ultrasounds. Ultrasounds can sometimes ­produce a high number of false positive results (leading to anxiety and unnecessary investigations), and false negative results, explains Dr Barr. 'Standard hand-held ultrasound has proved too inaccurate for general screening purposes, but it is useful in giving additional information about a lump found by mammography or in a woman coming into the clinic because she has found a lump.' Around a third of breast cancers in women of all ages are detected by mammogram, with the rest spotted by women themselves What's more, a mounting body of evidence suggests routine screening mammograms may cause more harm than good for some women - regardless of breast density - due to false positives and overtreatment, including surgery on harmless cancers that would never have caused the patient any problems, says Michael Baum, a professor emeritus of surgery and visiting professor of medical humanities at University College London. 'In my view, routine mammogram screening should be scrapped for all women,' he told Good Health. Inflammatory breast cancer, which accounts for up to five per cent of breast cancers, is often missed by mammography. (Pictured: a normal mammogram of a 27-year-old patient) Professor Baum was responsible for setting up the UK's breast screening ­program in 1988, but now points to statistics reviewed by the ­independent Cochrane body which suggest current techniques prevent very few deaths. 'You'd have to screen 2,000 women over a ten-year period to avoid one breast cancer death [compared with not screening the same women],' he explains. 'While one woman avoiding breast cancer is of enormous value, this has to be weighed against the risk of over-diagnosis and over-treatment - including needless mastectomies and even an increased risk of death from cancer treatment itself,' he says. However, Professor Baum, whose mother died from breast cancer, stresses that doctors must use 'all the screening tools available' to ­diagnose women who self-report symptoms such as pain or a lump. As for Deborah King, who assiduously attended previous screenings, she feels betrayed by the system because no one told her she had dense breasts, or recommended she have a follow-up ultrasound. 'No one tells you that you have dense breasts — or that if you do, tumours may not show up on a ­mammogram,' she says. 'I have always attended screenings and trusted the results. Now I feel my trust was betrayed. How can they call this a screening program when it is not comprehensive?' Julia Bradbury NHS France Cancer Share or comment on this article: The mammograms that DON'T spot breast cancer: Why some women have a condition that makes tumours harder to detect - and puts them at greater risk of getting cancer e-mail

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The proposed “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) by Donald Trump, to be led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, has sparked interest despite its misleading name. This non-governmental advisory body aims to streamline federal regulations, which span more than 180,000 pages. However, achieving significant spending cuts may prove challenging. , “Washington is quite inefficient, but most of what it does is write checks — with great efficiency.” Mandatory programs like Social Security and Medicare comprise about 60% of the federal budget, which Trump has pledged to protect. The Defense Department, with its $800 billion budget, and interest on national debt are also considered untouchable. This leaves only about 15% of the budget for potential cuts, making Musk’s goal of $2 trillion in spending cuts seem unrealistic. Despite these challenges, Zakaria supports the reform impulse, stating, “I think it will force greater scrutiny and efficiency on government, which needs it.” He also believes it will compel the Republican Party to confront its long-standing promise of dismantling the New Deal-era government expansion. Related Story: Historically, Republican presidents have struggled to significantly reduce government size. Even Ronald Reagan, who campaigned against big government, saw federal debt increase during his tenure. Zakaria argues that the American public has consistently voted for “Republican levels of taxation and Democratic levels of spending,” leading to the current debt situation. He warns that drastic spending cuts could trigger an economic downturn, citing Europe’s austerity experience in the 2010s. While acknowledging the need for reform, Zakaria concludes, “With DOGE, we might finally get an effort to actually deliver on the central Republican promise of the past 90 years. And we will find out what America thinks of it.” Read more at

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Rupert Murdoch and ABC chair Kim Williams (Image: PA/AAP) As Australia’s media staggers into the summer silly season, legacy media is fighting the last battles of the bruising traffic wars of the twenty-teens as it restructures programming, repositions products and reshuffles personalities. But here’s the good news: while the media is struggling, journalists are getting better, diving in, looking for solutions as they adjust to the big challenges of what’s been tagged the global polycrisis. It’s the coming of deep journalism. In legacy media, meanwhile, the hammer of their intellectual and organisational investment in the priority of audience growth is banging away at what passes for news in the Australian cycle: political and celebrity gossip, leavened with polls, crime, car crashes and natural disasters. Oh and don’t forget the perennial culture wars outrage (why, just this past weekend, here’s the latest on Australia Day !). ‘As vicious as anything I had ever seen’: Robert Manne on being News Corp’s target Read More It’s all part of the hunt for the elusive “traffic”: those unique visitor numbers that can be monetised through whatever advertising dollars Google’s monopoly on ad tech allows to slip through. The ABC, too, has fallen for the traffic lure, with its decade-long remaking of its managerial team so that it possesses a more commercial bent. These hires are suits with a lifetime of training to see audience aggregation through a lens of light programming, inoffensive personalities and bland news judgment all marked “largely harmless”. Too late. Looks like the always mythical mass audience is done with being pushed and pulled across increasingly marginal viral offerings dressed up as news. The media’s relentless doubling down on the trivialisation of the gossip framing no matter the subject doesn’t grow audiences. It drives them away. It’s why the latest big headache for legacy news media isn’t (or isn’t just) misinformation. It’s news avoidance. According to the 2024 Digital News Report released by the University of Canberra, about two-thirds of Australians actively avoid news, worn out by “news fatigue”. There’s more figures buried in News Corp’s latest financial report to its US regulator, that show what people aren’t reading: the company’s still un-paywalled tabloids. Monthly unique visitors to London’s The Sun (the paper that claimed to win elections back in the 1990s) have slumped from 140 million in 2021 to just 80 million this year. It must get worse for News Corp’s managers when they look at what people are reading, like the record global hard-back sales of Spare , the memoir-cum-tabloid critique by the company’s continuing legal foe, Price Harry. His book says of Rupert Murdoch: “I couldn’t think of a single human being in the 300,000-year history of the species who’d done more damage to our collective sense of reality.” Commercial media have been working hard to pivot away from the hard grind of digital ads towards reader subscriptions. Early stay-at-home COVID saw a surge, but growth has stagnated — or fallen, as The Washington Post found in October when its subscriptions dropped 10% after it took the play-safe route of declining to endorse a presidential candidate. The cycle of daily reporting — the one thing after another that mass media were built to serve — no longer meets the challenges of the moment that historian Adam Tooze has popularised as the “polycrisis” — the complex interaction of climate emergency, mass movements of peoples, the collapse of the neo-liberal growth model, and the war(s) on (and for) democracy. ‘Deeply repulsive’: ABC chair Kim Williams rails against Joe Rogan amid pitch for greater funding Read More As the cheap hits of the viral cycle fade and paywalled subscriptions stall, audiences are looking elsewhere, curating their own news feed from multiple, varied sources, fracturing the solidity of once traditional habits of news consumption. As the Digital News Report highlights, news consumers are looking for news that “helps me learn”, “keeps me engaged”. News that merely entertains? That ranks last. Legacy media — as the ABC and the free-to-air networks alike are finding — can no longer rely on the traditional loyalty of audiences to keep coming back because there isn’t anything else on offer. Instead, news-hungry audiences are embracing the long form to understand what’s going on — from podcasts to YouTube talks, from email Substack newsletters to literary magazines. It’s being fed by new media start-ups, particularly in populations large enough for a small audience to be big enough to get by, like the Vox/NY Mag group in the US, or “ The Rest is ...” podcast range in the UK, or the Digipub network in India. It’s a trend reflected, too, in the subscription numbers. While tabloid media struggle, mastheads that offer deep analysis are thriving. In News Corp, for example, its upmarket mastheads like the London Times , the Wall Street Journal and, yes, even The Australian are building solid audiences for their journalism. That said, Australia’s population size make it a weaker trend here. And that’s the opening for the ABC. The public broadcaster’s strength has historically been built by aggregating often small audiences through discrete offerings (think triple j versus Classic FM). The past decade’s trend to corporate uniformity (like axing The Drum ) may have meant fewer missteps that cause red faces in Senate estimates. But it’s made the corporation more bland — and effectively outsourced too many of its news choices to the judgments of News Corp editors. Late last century, the ABC was able to rejuvenate Australian creativity and production by rethinking itself as a platform for drama by opening itself up to co-productions. By rethinking itself as a platform within the emerging ecosystem of deep journalism, the ABC can do the same today, helping Australians build the media we need, rather than a dull cultural echo of the US information flow. Have something to say about this article? Write to us at letters@crikey.com.au . Please include your full name to be considered for publication in Crikey’s Your Say . We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.

Susan Dziubinski: I'm Susan Dziubinski with Morningstar. Morningstar recently published its updated list of the Best Companies to Own for 2025. What qualities must a company have to make the list? For starters, we're looking for companies that have significant competitive advantages that will allow them to thrive over decades. We're also looking for businesses that generate reliable cash flows. And we favor management teams that have made adept capital allocation decisions. Today we're looking at three of the new companies that joined the list for 2025. Before we dig in, a quick reminder that a great company isn't necessarily a great stock to buy right now. We think it's important that investors buy companies—even great ones—only when their stocks are trading below what they're actually worth. 3 of the Best Companies to Own in 2025 and Beyond 1 - Danaher DHR 2 - Paychex PAYX 3 - Equifax EFX The first of our best companies to own in 2025 and beyond is Danaher. Danaher focuses primarily on manufacturing scientific instruments and consumables in the life science and diagnostic industries. Like all the names on our best companies list, Morningstar... Susan DziubinskiWhat does Big Tech hope to gain from warming up to Trump?

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In the evolving landscape of automated trading, Avenix Fzco presents FXSpire, a forex robot designed for systematic market operations. This Expert Advisor (EA) system functions within the MetaTrader 4 environment, specializing in EURUSD trading on the M30 timeframe interval. Through integration with DukasCopy's tick data, processed via Thinkberry SRL's Tick Data Suite, the software conducts analysis using historical market data from 2016 to present, establishing a foundation for its technical operations. Market Analysis Methods The technical framework of this forex robot encompasses multiple analytical approaches: The system maintains these analytical components while processing market conditions through various technical filters, enabling systematic response to different market scenarios. Each component contributes to the overall analytical framework, creating a comprehensive approach to market analysis. Position Management and Risk Controls FXSpire operates with specific capital parameters, requiring 10,000 USD minimum for deployment. The system manages up to four concurrent trading positions, implementing fixed Take Profit and Stop Loss protocols for each operation. Through automated position sizing capabilities, the software adjusts trade volumes up to 12.46 lots based on account conditions. The risk management infrastructure incorporates: Technical Analysis Implementation Pattern recognition remains central to the system's operation, with specific focus on formations such as "3 White Soldiers" and "3 Black Crows." These technical analysis components work alongside built-in filters and indicators, creating a systematic approach to market assessment. The integration of these elements enables consistent operation across varying market conditions while maintaining predetermined protocols. The combination of technical analysis and risk management creates a comprehensive framework for automated trading operations. Each component operates within specific parameters, contributing to the overall functionality of the system while maintaining operational consistency. About Avenix Fzco Operating at the crossroads of financial technology and automated trading, Avenix Fzco maintains a steadfast focus on developing sophisticated forex automation solutions. Their development methodology emphasizes the integration of advanced analytics with practical trading applications, resulting in systems designed to navigate modern market complexities. The company's engineering approach combines rigorous testing with continuous refinement, ensuring their technology evolves alongside market demands. For those ready to explore the realm of automated forex trading, Avenix Fzco's software website stands ready with FXSpire's complete suite of features. https://fxspire.com/Warning: This post discusses weight loss. In recent years, celebrities have turned to Ozempic and similar drugs for weight loss. While the FDA has approved Wegovy and Zepbound for weight management, Ozempic and Mounjaro officially remain medications for type 2 diabetics. According to NPR , shortages due in part to Hollywood's fondness for the drugs have left many diabetics unable to access the medications they need. NPR pointed out that the drugmakers themselves have advertised heavily, with some commercials including the number of pounds patients lost even when that particular medication was meant for type 2 diabetics. This, in combination with social media, has also increased demand for using those drugs for weight loss. Because these drugs are so popular, many social media users accuse famous people of using Ozempic whenever a celebrity loses weight. Here are 19 celebrities who have either admitted to or denied using Ozempic and similar drugs: 1. Admitted it: Kelly Osbourne This year, the reality TV star raved about Ozempic while chatting with E! News . "I think it's amazing. There are a million ways to lose weight. Why not do it through something [that] isn't as boring as working out?" "People hate on it because they want to do it," she continued. "And the people who hate on it the most are the people who are secretly doing it or pissed off that they can't afford it. Unfortunately, right now it's something that is very expensive, but it eventually won't be because it actually works." 2. Denied it: Khloé Kardashian In 2023, the reality TV star posted photos of herself on Instagram, which sparked Ozempic accusations in the comments. “Let’s not discredit my years of working out," Khloé replied . "I get up 5 days a week at 6am to train. Please stop with your assumptions. I guess new year still means mean people." This year, she shared more of her thoughts on an episode of The Kardashians . "When I was bigger, if they had Ozempic, I probably would have tried it, 'cause I tried any other thing. I tried any fad weight loss trend except for the real thing that actually works, and that’s a lifestyle change." She encouraged viewers to focus on "healthiness" and not just "the number on a scale." 3. Admitted it: Amy Schumer On a 2023 episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen , the actor called out other celebs for lying about their weight loss. "Everyone has been lying saying, 'Oh, smaller portions.' Like, shut the fuck up," she said. "You are on Ozempic or one of those things, or you got work done. Just stop. Be real with the people. When I got lipo, I said I got lipo." The actor also said she used Ozempic in the past but experienced negative side effects. "Like a year ago, I tried it. I was one of those people that felt so sick and couldn't play with my son. I was so skinny and he's throwing a ball at me and [I couldn't]. And you're like, 'OK, this isn't livable for me.' But I immediately invested because I knew everyone was going to try it." 4. Denied it: Lizzo In September, the singer shared an Instagram video of herself at the gym. In the comments, someone accused her of either using Ozempic or cocaine to achieve weight loss. Lizzo responded a few days later with another video, this one captioned, "When you finally get ozempic allegations after 5 months of weight training and calorie deficit." She spoke along to the sound of the video, saying, "It's like a reward." 5. Admitted it: Elon Musk On X (formerly known as Twitter), a user complimented Elon's looks and asked for his secret. The X owner replied , "Fasting." In a second tweet, he said , "And Wegovy." According to WebMD , "Ozempic and Wegovy are different brand names for the same injectable drug, semaglutide." Wegovy is "approved to manage weight in adults and kids 12 and up who have obesity" while Ozempic is "approved to lower blood sugar when you have type 2 diabetes." 6. Denied it: Kylie Jenner Ozempic rumors have plagued the reality TV star since Travis Scott (Kylie's ex and the father of her two children) released a song with the lyrics: "She doin' Ozempic, tryna be different, tryna be a newer woman." In August, she spoke to British Vogue about her body's journey throughout motherhood, explaining that as soon as she felt "in shape" again after the birth of her first child, she became pregnant with her second. "I feel like people didn’t give me, or give women in general, enough empathy... I see pictures [online] and people are accusing me of being on drugs or something,” she added, referring to Ozempic and similar drugs. "I’m back at my weight I was before I had my daughter and son, and people are putting side-by-sides of me three months postpartum. I’m like: 'Does everyone forget that I had two children, and I gained 60 pounds both pregnancies?'" 7. Admitted it: Oprah Winfrey Last year, the media mogul told People that she uses a weight loss drug, though she didn't specify the name of it. "It was public sport to make fun of me for 25 years," she said. "I have been blamed and shamed, and I blamed and shamed myself." Oprah explained that she uses it "as a tool to manage not yo-yoing. The fact that there's a medically approved prescription for managing weight and staying healthier, in my lifetime, feels like relief, like redemption, like a gift, and not something to hide behind and once again be ridiculed for. I’m absolutely done with the shaming from other people and particularly myself." 8. Denied it: Jessica Simpson Last year, the singer addressed Ozempic rumors during an interview with Bustle . "Oh, Lord. I mean, it is not. It’s willpower. I’m like, do people want me to be drinking again? Because that’s when I was heavier. Or they want me to be having another baby? My body can’t do it." 9. Admitted it: James Corden In September, the comedian discussed his Ozempic usage on his SiriusXM podcast This Life of Mine. "It won’t be surprising to you when you look at me now that it didn’t really work. All it does is make you feel not hungry. But I am very rarely eating [because of hunger]. You are looking at someone who’s eaten a king size — and when I say king size Dairy Milk, one you give someone for Christmas — in a carwash. None of that was like: 'Oh, I’m so hungry.' It is not that, it’s something else." 10. Denied it: Ice Spice In August, the rapper hosted an X Spaces (formerly known as Twitter Spaces) where she denied the Ozempic rumors that abounded after her recent weight loss. "I wish y'all never learned the word Ozempic," she said. "That's one thing I wish. Oh my God, like, what even is Ozempic? What the fuck is that? Genuinely, what is that?" "Like, you lazy ass bitches never heard of a gym?" she continued. "It's called the gym. It's called eating healthy. It's called being on tour. Like, what the hell? Maybe if I was sitting home all day, it would be easier to stay big." 11. Admitted it: Rebel Wilson In March, the actor told The Sunday Times that she embarked on a journey to lose weight when a doctor told her it would be beneficial for IVF. While she no longer takes Ozempic, she previously combined it with exercise, a high-protein, low-sugar diet, and examining her relationship with food with a doctor. "Basically no one apart from my mom wanted me to lose weight," she said. "People thought I'd lose my pigeonhole in my career, playing the fat funny character, and they wanted me to continue in that." Rebel added, "I feel strongly that young women shouldn't try to obsess over looking like Victoria's Secret models — they should just look like themselves. I know that my relationship with food is complicated." 12. Denied it: Ashley Benson Four months after giving birth to her daughter, the actor posted a mirror selfie on social media, where commenters accused her of using Ozempic. She responded in an Instagram story, writing, "I know a lot of people take ozempic and that's totally fine. To each their own. But don't discredit people who also work very hard to get their body back like I've done with mine." "Getting back to work forced me to focus on my health and working out and I wanted to feel confident and good about myself. And again couldn't do this without my @melissawoodtepperberg app." 13. Admitted it: Whoopi Goldberg In March, the actor discussed her weight loss on an episode of The View . "I will tell you, I weighed almost 300 lbs. when I made Till ," she said. "I had taken all those steroids, I was on all this stuff. And one of the things that’s helped me dropped the weight was the Mounjaro. That’s what I used." According to WebMD , Mounjaro and Zepbound are brand names for the same drug (tirzepatide), but "Mounjaro is approved for type 2 diabetes" while "Zepbound is approved for weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or more" or overweight adults with health conditions. 14. Denied it: Julia Fox During a 2023 interview with Entertainment Tonight , the actor addressed the swirling rumors that she was using Ozempic. "All these people are coming for me saying that I take the weight loss things... people are saying that I'm taking Ozempic or whatever it's called. I'm not, and I've never have... I would never do that. There are diabetics that need it." 15. Admitted it: Chelsea Handler On a 2023 episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, the comedian said she took it without realizing it. "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 pounds, this is good.'" After a vacation, Chelsea injected herself with it, and she met a friend for lunch a few days later who complained of nausea from Ozempic. When Chelsea said she was also nauseous and "on semaglutide," her friend replied, "That's Ozempic." Chelsea said she's no longer taking it. "That's too irresponsible. I'm an irresponsible drug user, but 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." 16. Denied it: Jesse Plemons When questions swirled around his weight loss this year, the actor told the Los Angeles Times , "It’s really unfortunate that I decided to get healthy when everyone decided to take Ozempic. It doesn’t matter, everyone’s going to think I took Ozempic anyways." He credited intermittent fasting for his weight loss. "Several people talked to me about intermittent fasting, and I just gave it a shot and [was] surprised at how quickly it was effective. So I lost a little bit before I did that part and then felt like I was in the rhythm, I was feeling better, and something shifted in my head. I just sort of got a handle on it." 17. Admitted it: Sunny Hostin In March, the talk show host shared her experience on an episode of The View . "During COVID, I gained 40. lbs. All I did was eat ... I love to cook, and I found out, I love to eat. And I was horrified about the fact that I would have to come out on air. So I also took Mounjaro." She added, "I found that my cholesterol went up to 200 when I gained the extra weight. And I use Mounjaro, and my cholesterol is 140 now. I feel better, I think I look better, and that’s what this is about for people." 18. Denied it: Julianne Hough In October, the actor posted an Instagram video of herself wearing a bikini and having fun as she enjoyed her friend's routine: sauna, cold plunge, and jumping on a trampoline. The comments were particularly negative, with many social media users discussing her body and some accusing her of using Ozempic. Julianne addressed the backlash and seemingly denied Ozempic use. "My body has never been healthier - I was full of inflammation in my 20’s and had a marker for an auto immune that I addressed and committed to over a year and a half ago. I’ve frozen my eggs over the last few years which also shifts the body fluctuation. I’ve never been healthier or happier from the inside out. Grief, loss. Sadness and fear also get stored in the body and we hold on to that in different ways. I made it a huge priority to accept, express, process and release a lot of emotions over the years." 19. And finally, admitted it: Sharon Osbourne On a 2023 episode of Piers Morgan Uncensored , the reality TV star warned viewers about the Ozempic side effects she experienced. “I didn’t want to go this thin. It just happened... You can’t stay on it forever. I lost 42 pounds now and it’s just enough." She added, "You don’t throw up physically, but you have got that feeling. I was about two, three weeks where I felt nauseous the whole time. You get very thirsty, and you don’t eat. That’s why I say you have to keep this stuff away from younger people. They will go berserk on it, and it’s not right." What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below.