When someone asks Andrea Cosentino how she lost weight, she doesn’t shy away from telling them about GLP-1s.
Having lost more than 30kg (66lbs) since starting on Ozempic – and then switching to Wegovy – the 44-year-old mother of two believes the more people share their stories and tips, the less the stigma will persist.
‘I had a friend ask me a little while ago, “Andrea, what did you do? You look fantastic!” she says.
‘I told her what I was using, and she confided she’d just started as well. I gave her some advice – specifically about how to keep hydrated and how to order when she went out for dinner. I’d learnt from experience that overeating would lead to feeling really sick later on. I saw her about a month later and she thanked me for the tips.’
And while the compliments on her appearance are nice, Andrea says the weight loss has really been a convenient side effect of the drugs. Her real motivation was to treat her high blood glucose, which had kept her at pre-diabetic levels since 2019.
She had found those metabolic markers difficult to manage because of a medication she was on for her bipolar disorder, which slowed her metabolism and increased her appetite.
‘My blood sugar was at 7.8, and I asked my doctor if I should consider going on Ozempic,’ Andrea says of the process of being prescribed GLP-1s.
‘My GP told me it wasn’t a case of if I went on them, but when.
Andrea’s blood glucose levels were pre-diabetic before she began using Ozempic. She is pictured on the right as a size 16
After losing 30kg (66lbs) with weight loss injections, Andrea is now a size 12 and says people comment on how much younger she looks
‘She said I could either wait until I became diabetic – at which point the medication would be cheaper for me – or I could go on it now and try to prevent myself from developing diabetes in the first place. I decided to go for it.’
In April 2024, Andrea began the treatment. Within eight months, her blood sugar had fallen to 5.6.
‘My doctor actually gasped when she read the results – I thought it was bad news! She said, “No, no, this is insanely good – I can’t believe it!”‘
An unexpected side-effect: Ageing in reverse
While headlines about ‘Ozempic face’ warn that the rapid weight loss associated with GLP-1 drugs can lead to sagging, sallow features that make the patient look older, Andrea says the response from her friends and family suggests quite the opposite.
‘People keep telling me how much younger I look now that I’ve lost weight,’ she says.
Andrea believes she has avoided ‘Ozempic face’ because she is mindful of getting the right nutrients – especially those that promote collagen, like vitamin C and zinc – and maintaining her muscle as she continues to lose weight steadily.
She also swears by a protein-rich diet, daily SPF, and steering clear of booze.
At her heaviest, Andrea (pictured with her husband) was about 100kg (or 220lbs) and her bipolar medication made it hard for her to lose weight
Now weighing around 70kg (154lbs), Andrea is often told she looks years younger. She credits her youthful appearance to a protein-rich diet, daily SPF, and steering clear of alcohol
Other approaches that may help reduce facial sagging include avoiding smoking, preventive dermatologic care, collagen-stimulating fillers such as Sculptra and Radiesse, as well as microneedling and radiofrequency treatments.
‘I’ve worn sunscreen every day since I was 12 years old,’ she says.
‘Back then, it was really hard to find a moisturiser with sunscreen in it – never mind one that wasn’t tested on animals (this was the ’90s). Every single day since then I have worn a moisturiser with sunscreen on my face, in addition to washing it with cleanser every night and morning, no matter what.
‘Everything I use (top to toe) has never been tested on animals (ingredients and final products), and since moving to Australia from Canada I have transitioned most products to Australian-made in order to reduce my carbon footprint and support local businesses.
‘I wear minimal make-up and sunglasses 365 days a year, so I have no doubt those have helped as well.’
When it comes to what really works – and the advice Andrea shares with anyone starting their own journey – she swears by a holistic approach to health as the secret to looking younger while on Ozempic and similar drugs.
‘I only ever drink water or tea, no alcohol, no fizzy drinks, and only sometimes juice,’ she explains.
‘And I need to follow a low FODMAP diet, as directed by a dietician, for gut issues – that helps my skin and body too.’
‘I do Pilates twice a week which is really good for my muscles, and walking is so much more enjoyable now. I do it more for mental health than exercise, but the additional energy I have makes it easier than ever,’ Andrea continues.
She also sees an osteopath and massage therapist regularly to keep on top of any niggling physical issues, and believes in regular stretching to keep mobile – even making a habit of doing so while watching TV in the evening.
Trial and error
Of course, with any medication comes side effects, and Andrea has learnt by trial and error how to manage these.
‘The first time I went out for dinner after starting on Ozempic, I came home and was sick,’ she admits.
‘You have to get used to eating smaller portions, and ordering less rich food.’
She says constipation can also be an issue.
‘Sometimes you have to choose between solid food or liquids,’ Andrea says.
‘The medication slows how quickly the food moves through you, and you need to make sure you’re having enough liquid to help that process, but sometimes you feel like you can’t fit it all in. Increasing my smoothie and soup intake has been a game-changer – I can get all those nutrients in, but they move through more easily.’
Ultimately though, Andrea says the medication has given her a new lease on life, finally allowing her body to work as it should so she can get the most out of every day.
‘I think ageing is a privilege that can be full of learning and gratitude,’ she reflects.
‘I want to live as long and well as I can, and I knew avoiding diabetes by taking the GLP-1 would help me do that.’