'Real Housewives' Star Jennifer Fessler Hospitalized for Ozempic-Related Health Complication

Jennifer Fessler

Jennifer Fessler, who appeared in season 13 of Real Housewives of New Jersey, revealed that she was recently hospitalized for a health complication from taking the drug semaglutide, also called Ozempic and Wegovy, after it negatively affected her bowel movements.

On the Dec. 4 episode of her podcast Two Jersey Js, which she co-hosts with fellow RHONJ star Jackie Goldschneider, Fessler said, "I have been on—and I'm not going to call it Ozempic, that's been the umbrella name—but I've been on semaglutide for over a year now, and I've lost maybe 22 pounds."

"I'm not afraid of Ozempic and I will tell you I have had an experience that was not good, and I'm pretty positive it was about the semaglutide. I had to go to the hospital for an impacted bowel," she went on, before insisting, "I'm still not nervous about it."

Fessler then explained in more detail what led to the hospital visit, sharing that there were signs of an issue that she ignored, while also admitting, "I was drinking no water, eating no vegetables."

The reality TV star continued, "'Cause something that happens, a new experience for me, is being able to eat what I want even when it's not the most healthy choices and still lose weight," before saying that she was "losing weight on pizza and bagels and ice cream" as she took the drug.

Fessler said she "noticed there was constipation," but that she wasn't taking a laxative and she didn't get the issue checked out until it had been at least a week and a half without bowel movement.

But she assured listeners that since the hospitalization she has not "had a problem since."

Ozempic is a prescription drug with the main ingredient semaglutide approved by the FDA for use to treat type 2 diabetes. While Ozempic is not approved for weight loss, the active ingredient, semaglutide, is approved for weight loss under the name Wegovy.

Many celebrities have spoken up about taking Ozempic, which is the term most commonly used to refer to the drug, including Sharon Osbourne, Tracy Morgan and more, although it continues to be controversial for a variety of reasons.

Next: Sharon Osbourne Reflects on Her "Too Gaunt" Appearance After Ozempic Weight Loss