The Dangers of a Controversial New Weight Loss Method
In recent months, a new supposedly miraculous weight loss method has been gaining popularity on social media (especially TikTok): Ricezempic. Proponents of this trend, based on drinking water obtained by soaking uncooked rice, with a little lime or lemon added to flavor it, claim that the starch resulting from the mixture causes a long-lasting feeling of fullness, which makes us eat less and therefore As a result, we lose weight almost without realizing it. However, not only does this practice lack any scientific basis, but it can also have serious health consequences.
Ricezempic owes its name to a play on words between rice and Ozempic, a drug that has recently become fashionable for quick and injury-free weight loss, since it acts directly on the feeling of fullness. Sports nutritionist and nutrition coach Luisa Castillo from the Luisa Castillo Clinic talks about this. “Ricezempic does not have a solid scientific basis. Medicines such as Ozempic or Wegovy are specific drugs that act on GLP-1 receptors in the brain to regulate appetite and slow digestion, resulting in a feeling of fullness for a long time. This mechanism is complex and cannot be replicated using simple rice water,” he notes.
The rice rice myth is based on the idea that leftover starch in uncooked rice can suppress appetite.
The Ricezempic myth revolves around the idea that the resistant starch in uncooked rice, dissolved in water, can suppress appetite. However, Castillo explains that “the amount of resistant starch produced by soaking raw rice in water is negligible. The real benefits of this type of fiber come from foods like legumes, cooked and cooled potatoes, or whole grains. But rice water does not have a significant effect on weight loss and cannot be compared with the clinical effects of drugs that do help control appetite and which should be prescribed only in certain cases,” continues Castillo.
Moreover, this practice is not only ineffective, but can also be dangerous. In that sense, Castillo warns about exposure to arsenic, a metal found in rice in varying amounts depending on where it is grown. “Drinking raw rice water can increase the concentration of arsenic in the water, and long-term exposure to this metal has serious health consequences, from cancer to cardiovascular disease. Therefore, Ricezempic is not only ineffective, but can also be potentially harmful,” the expert concludes.
Ozempic: The Science Behind Medicine
To understand why Ricezempic is not only a dangerous fad but also devoid of any scientific basis, it is important to understand how the drugs it claims to inspire actually work. According to endocrinology specialist Lucas Arroyave of the Luisa Castillo Clinic, Ozempic “was originally developed for the treatment of diabetes. This is a drug that acts on the GLP-1 peptide, which regulates blood sugar levels through insulin. Additionally, these types of medications have also been found to regulate appetite and promote weight loss because they affect the satiety centers in the brain.” Later, in 2021 specifically, came Wegovy, a drug that, unlike Ozempic, was approved specifically to aid weight loss rather than to treat diabetes. Clinical trials of Wegovy showed greater weight loss but only a slight improvement in glycemic control compared to Ozempic.
Ozempic was originally developed to treat diabetes; “Trying to replicate its effect using a homemade method is irresponsible and dangerous.”
Arroyave notes that these drugs are not only effective for weight loss, but also have other important benefits for treating certain metabolic disorders. “They are approved for people with problems such as hypertension, dyslipidemia or fatty liver disease, and various studies have shown that they help reduce mortality from cardiovascular disease regardless of weight loss,” he explains. However, both Ozempic and other similar drugs should always be used under strict medical supervision. “The mistake is to use them to quickly lose a few pounds before a social event, such as a wedding. These drugs have very clear indications and should be prescribed to people who need them for metabolic reasons,” explains Arroyave, adding: “Trying to replicate their effects using a home method such as Ricezempic is irresponsible and dangerous.”
The expert emphasizes that the name Ricezempic itself is a misleading marketing strategy designed to take advantage of the success of drugs such as Ozempic. “Even if it were true that drinking raw rice water has some effect, which it does not, this solution would not provide the additional benefits that these medications have, which are also always prescribed on a case-by-case basis and taken under strict medical supervision. observation,” explains Arroyave, who claims to have advised against Ozempic for patients who come for consultation “with the simple goal of losing a few kilos and whose specific cases do not require this medicine, but simply a specific diet and a change in lifestyle habits.” “
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For her part, Castillo warns that it’s critical not to get caught up in fads like Ricezempic and other miracle diets that pop up periodically on platforms like TikTok.
“Miraculous diets that promise quick fixes often seem appealing, but they are not sustainable or safe in the long term,” says the specialist. Healthy weight loss requires time, consistency and a combination of a balanced diet, regular exercise and, in some cases, medical support. “If we really want to improve our health and lose weight safely, we must choose science-based methods and avoid unsubstantiated remedies that can only harm us,” concludes Castillo.