Jackie 'O' Henderson denies rumours she is on weight-loss drug Ozempic

Slimmed-down radio presenter Jackie ‘O’ Henderson has shut down rumours she is taking the in-demand diabetes drug used by Hollywood stars to lose weight.

The 48-year-old, who previously struggled with yo-yo dieting for decades, has lost 18kg in just five months – leading to speculation she has been taking Ozempic.

But she clarified on Monday her weight loss was done the old-fashioned way: by following a low-calorie diet, exercising regularly and cutting out alcohol.

Her co-host Kyle Sandilands revealed live on air he’d been asked by several guests at his wedding to Tegan Kynaston on Saturday whether Jackie – who is an ambassador for Weight Watchers – had been prescribed a drug to lose the kilos. 

‘That diabetic mediation people talk about taking, I don’t take that,’ Jackie replied. 

‘Honestly you can do it, guys… but I will say, I reckon [cutting out] alcohol and exercise was a big thing. I’ve never done before so that was kind of the kicker for me.’

Jackie ‘O’ Henderson has thrown cold water on rumours she’s taking a popular diabetic drug used by Hollywood stars to lose weight. (Jackie is pictured on Sunday looking slim after shedding 18kg in five months) 

Kyle noted that Jackie isn’t ‘big on needles’, so it’s unlikely she’d be comfortable injecting herself with diabetic drugs.

He added: ‘She was on the WW [Weight Watchers], but she was still cheating, drinking p*ss and eating and cheese, and she gave her the biscuits and cheese and put the wine bottle away. 

Jackie, who recently started playing tennis regularly, pointed out that quitting alcohol and embracing exercise ‘was a big thing she’d never done before’. 

Kyle Sandilands , whose wedding to Tegan Kynastan was on Saturday, told Jackie he’d been asked by several guests whether she was on a popular weight loss drug used by celebrities. (Pictured: Jackie posing with Kyle at his wedding on Saturday) 

The mother-of-one confirmed that she didn’t even drink alcohol at Kyle’s wedding. (Pictured: Jackie drinking a beverage at Kyle’s wedding) 

The mother-of-one also confirmed that she didn’t even drink alcohol at Kyle’s wedding. 

What is semaglutide?

Semaglutide acts like a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which targets areas of the brain that regulate appetite and food intake — making users feel less hungry.

It also slows down the movement of food in the gut, which helps users stay full for longer.

On top of this, it signals to the body to release insulin, which helps move digested sugar from the blood into cells where it can be used for energy.

Clinical trials show that those taking the drug lost up to 15.3kg (2 stone and 6lbs), on average, over the space of 15 months, compared to just 2.6kg (6lbs) in the placebo group.

It is given as a weekly injection straight into the stomach, thigh or upper arm.

How are Ozempic and Wegovy different?

Confusingly, semaglutide is branded as two separate drugs, both of which are made by Denmark-based pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk.

Ozempic is targeted at patients with type 2 diabetes. It lowers their blood sugar and reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes among those who also have heart disease.

Sister drug Wegovy is packed with a slightly more potent dose of semaglutide and is instead targeted at people who weigh too much.

What are the side effects?

As will all medications, semaglutide is not entirely risk-free.

Users commonly complain of nausea, constipation and diarrhoea, while some also suffer from acid reflux, fatigue and complain that food tastes different after taking the drug.

It is this side effect that some people credit for further assisting their weight loss — by making their favourite junk food taste bad.

Thyroid cancer, pancreatitis — when the organ becomes inflamed — and kidney failure are rare but serious side effects.

Patients have also warned of their face appearing gaunt, exhausted and old — a side effect that has been labelled ‘Ozempic face’.

The diabetic drug semaglutide, which is marketed as Ozempic or Wegovy, has surged in popularity among Hollywood elite after becoming the first medication proven to aid weight-loss. 

The drugs act like a hormone in the brain, causing people to feel less hungry and slow the clearing of food from the stomach. 

Celebrities including Elon Musk, Chelsea Handler and Remi Bader have all admitted to using diabetic drugs to trim unwanted fat. 

It comes after Jackie recently reflected on her weight loss journey in a moving social media post. 

‘Last year I joined WW again because I wanted to get my health back in order and I know their program works for me,’ she wrote. 

‘Losing weight was never about what I looked like in the mirror, but rather an overall sense of well-being and trying to regain my energy levels,’ she continued. 

‘5 months ago I was 18 kilos heavier and I had zero energy. My health was suffering as a result, so I decided to do a complete lifestyle change.’

Jackie also recently spoke about her new diet on The Kyle and Jackie O Show, revealing she often skips breakfast, a practice known as intermittent fasting.

She also avoids carbohydrates, and satiates her hunger throughout the day by snacking on pre-cut pieces of steak.

‘I cook steak and slice it, and then I’ll just have a little sliver of steak if I’m hungry,’ Jackie said.

She resists splurging on high-calorie foods for lunch, opting to eat just ‘three little slivers of steak’ and a few Vietnamese rice paper rolls containing fish and cabbage. 

Her co-host Kyle Sandilands was shocked by her small portion size, telling her: ‘A dog would eat more!’

For dinner, Jackie usually eats vegetables and a protein such as chicken or red meat.

In between meals, Jackie treats herself to smoothies and Starbucks Frappuccinos, a type of blended ice coffee drink.

The mother of one hasn’t always followed such a restrictive diet.

In February, she told Woman’s Day she used to binge on pizza, sausage rolls and microwave meals from the petrol station before she took control of her health.

‘I was eating a lot of food that I could get in a hurry. You know, pizza and sandwiches and just takeaway, I wasn’t cooking myself,’ she said.

‘And I think it’s always best when you know what you’re putting into your body. I just got really lazy.’

Jackie recently spoke about her new diet on The Kyle and Jackie O Show and said she often skips breakfast, a practice known as intermittent fasting (Pictured left before weight loss in October 2022 and right after weight loss earlier this month) 

Jackie (pictured in a WW promo photo in 2021) told Woman’s Day in February she used to binge on pizza, sausage rolls and microwave meals from the petrol station before she took control of her health

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