The RiceZempic diet TikTok craze: Is it a Generation Z imitation of Ozempic, as claimed?
RIP-rizing the "Diet" Craze: Emma O'Regan-Reidy's Expose
Published Nov 5, 2024 at 10:50 AMReading Time: 3 minutes
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The social media realm, especially TikTok, is a hotbed for trends, with the wellness and lifestyle spheres being no exception. The latest micro-trend to sweep across the platform centers around diets and weight loss hacks, dubbed 'ricezempic'. Emulating the popular type 2 diabetes medication, Ozempic, this questionable diet trend has left many scratching their heads. But what exactly is this trend about, and is it truly the affordable alternative to the pricy prescription??
Embracing the "Budget Ozempic"?
While numerous variations exist, the primary recipe for ricezempic involves nothing more than rice and water. Bearing a striking resemblance to the summer-famed 'oatzempic' diet, ricezempic materializes by soaking unwashed rice in water, resulting in murky, starchy water. TikTok enthusiasts sometimes add lime juice to the leftover liquid and consume it first thing in the morning. This popular concoction is touted for its ability to leave users feeling more satiated for extended periods, purportedly suppressing their appetite.
However, it's essential to acknowledge that the homemade ricezempic drink merely contains resistant starch, a type of dietary fiber often found in common foods like chickpeas, cooked potatoes, and rice. Unlike the active GLP-1 receptor agonist in Ozempic, resistant starch's impact on prolonged feelings of fullness is not universally accepted by experts.
Does the Ricezempic Fad Deliver?
In an article for The Conversation, Lauren Ball, a professor of Community Health and Wellbeing at The University of Queensland, and Emily Birch, an accredited practising dietician, shed light on resistant starch's health benefits. Only a few hours of sustained feelings of fullness can be expected from consuming a single cup of rice, as opposed to the seven days of active effects associated with Ozempic. Moreover, only around 0.6 grams of resistant starch can be found in half a cup of uncooked white rice, a far cry from the recommended daily intake of 15 to 20 grams for optimal benefits.
Additionally, just drinking cloudy rice water is not the most effective way to consume resistant starch, further invalidating the claim that ricezempic is a legitimate alternative to Ozempic.
False Promises on Social Media
The rise of harmful diet trends on TikTok, including ricezempic, is not a new phenomenon. An April 2024 study conducted by MyFitnessPal and Dublin City University (DCU) unveiled that nearly 60% of the surveyed millennial and Gen Z TikTok users had been influenced by or frequently tried nutrition trends they encountered on the platform. Worryingly, close to 30% reported experiencing adverse effects from a trending diet.
Dieting trends like ricezempic can create unrealistic expectations, leading to disappointment or frustration when results don't materialize. Regularly viewing such content may even contribute to the emergence of disordered eating habits.
Don't let the promises of spoof diets and counterfeit weight loss hacks sway your health decisions. Incorporating small, sustainable lifestyle changes and consulting health professionals for guidance is the way forward for optimal wellness.
- The latest trend on social media platforms like TikTok, centering around diets and weight loss hacks, is often called 'ricezempic', a questionable alternative to the prescription medication Ozempic.
- Despite being touted as a means of satiety and appetite suppression, the homemade ricezempic drink primarily contains resistant starch, a type of dietary fiber, whose impact on prolonged feelings of fullness is not universally accepted by experts.
- The rise of dubious diet trends on social media, such as ricezempic, is concerning, as it can lead to unrealistic expectations, the emergence of disordered eating habits, and even negative health effects in many young users. Instead, incorporating small, sustainable lifestyle changes and consulting health professionals should be prioritized for overall wellness.
