I have used Mounjaro, a similar drug. I am not diabetic or pre-diabetic. I chose to take it for weight loss (and insurance did not cover it). It is not a fad diet type of thing like we’ve seen in the past. It works very well (along with choosing a proper diet and plenty of exercise). I lost 50lbs using it. My mother recently started using it and it’s going well for her (she’s 1 month in).
I think some people do have ill side effects from these drugs. You have to start with a low dose and ease into to make sure you won’t have these bad side effects. If you do, simply stop the drug. It might not work for you. From what I understand, it has worked well for lots of people, way more than those you hear about in the news with the bad side effects.
For me, it suppressed my appetite. I didn’t crave foods and almost had to remember/force myself to eat. It slows digestion so you feel fuller longer. It’s an amazing drug and experience for someone who has always loved food and indulged.
I lost my weight over a 6 month period, so it wasn’t anything too fast. I think I avoided the “Ozempic face”. Lol. I also play a lot of tennis, so I think the exercise helped me from losing too much muscle mass.