Amy Kane's story is a compelling narrative of transformation, not just in physical appearance, but also in her relationship with food, her health, and how society perceives her. Her weight loss journey, aided by GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, has brought about significant changes in her life, highlighting both the positive impacts and the challenges that come with such a radical transformation. This article delves into Amy Kane's experience, the science behind her weight loss, and the broader implications of using medications in the fight against obesity.
The Starting Point: Struggles with Weight and PCOS
Before her transformation, Amy Kane, a mother of three, weighed 300 lbs. She struggled with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal condition affecting women of reproductive age, and insulin resistance. These conditions contributed to increased hunger and made weight loss extremely challenging for her. "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. She also struggled severely with postpartum depression and eventually gave up trying to lose weight, eating what felt good rather than what would help fuel her body.
The Transformation: GLP-1 Medications and a New Body
Amy Kane plummeted from 300 lbs. down to 135 lbs. in less than two years thanks to weight loss shots. In a video, she sarcastically asked, "Can you believe Ozempic did this?" followed by, "I really can because Ozempic helped me lose 160 pounds."
GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound have been making headlines due to their rising popularity as weight loss agents. These medications, originally developed for type 2 diabetes, work by mimicking the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) hormone, which helps regulate blood sugar levels and slows down gastric emptying, leading to reduced appetite and increased satiety.
In this episode of The Oprah Podcast, Oprah sits down with Dr. Ania Jastreboff, an endocrinologist and associate professor at the Yale School of Medicine, to talk about the new GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound. Dr. Ania, who has been on the forefront of GLP-1 medication research for the past 20 years, will talk through why it is biologically difficult for some people to lose weight, maintain weight loss and why obesity is a disease. She explains how the new GLP-1 medications work, how they can facilitate weight loss, and if they are safe.
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Societal Perception and Personal Acceptance
One of the most significant changes Amy Kane experienced was in how she was treated by others. As she explained in a conversation with Oprah, people now treat her differently because she is in a smaller body. "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."
However, the journey hasn't been without its challenges. Kane has also faced shaming for using medication to aid her weight loss. "You are shamed for your weight struggles, and then you are shamed for using medication to help with weight loss," the Chicago-based content creator told Newsweek.
Addressing the "Skin Sac" Myth
One of the common criticisms leveled against individuals who lose significant weight, especially with the help of medications, is the concern about excess skin. A comment that reads: "Why does everyone on Ozempic always end up looking like a skin sac? No muscle definition, just skin." 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.
Kane emphasized that there's nothing in the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medication that caused her "saggy skin." 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."
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."
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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.
A New Relationship with Food and Self
Today, Kane 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."
Oprah's Take on Weight Loss and Shame
Oprah Winfrey has been vocal about her own weight struggles and has now opened Oprah Daily’s The State of Weight curriculum, a package that explored obesity as a medical disease, different forms of obesity therapy, and more. In An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution, Oprah spoke with various experts, including Cleveland Clinic’s W. Scott Butsch, MD; ABC News chief medical correspondent Jennifer Ashton, MD; ABC News medical correspondent Darien Sutton, MD; and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s Amanda Velazquez, MD. Oprah also talked with patients who have tried weight-loss medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro.
“[It] will bring together medical experts, leaders in the space, and people in the day-to-day struggle to talk about health equity and obesity with the intention to ultimately release the shame, judgment, and stigma surrounding weight.”
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