Ozempic for Weightloss - How does it work?
It seems no matter where you look today, you see news broadcasts, commercials, social media ads, and celebrity endorsements for weight loss with Ozempic. It has been touted as the next big thing in weight loss! So, what is Ozempic and how does it work?
The Details
Ozempic is one of the name brands for a medication called semaglutide. You may also see name brands like Wegovy and Rybelsus. They are all a form of semaglutide with slightly different dosages or ways of using them. Ozempic and Rybelsus are prescribed for type 2 diabetes. Wegovy is prescribed for weight loss. However, ads for weight loss typically don’t mention the brand names. You’ll see it advertised as injectable semaglutide.
What is semaglutide?
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1, for short). GLP-1 is a hormone naturally found in our gut. When the body recognizes our blood sugar is starting to rise, it triggers this hormone to attach to its receptors in the body - like a lock and key mechanism. When this happens, the pancreas releases insulin and helps reduce blood sugar. However, sometimes this process doesn’t work as expected. Either we don’t create enough insulin or our body isn’t sensitive to insulin and our blood sugars continue to be high. Semaglutide helps give our body a little boost by providing additional GLP-1 for our bodies and triggering more naturally occurring insulin to be released.
How does it work for weight loss?
Ok. Semaglutide helps with diabetes, but how does it make us lose weight?
It causes the stomach to empty more slowly which makes you feel fuller longer.
The GLP-1 receptors that semaglutide attaches to are found in areas all over the body, including the brain. The receptors found in the brain are in areas in charge of appetite regulation. When the GLP-1 attaches to those receptors, it causes an increased feeling of fullness and reduced hunger.
Semaglutide also impacts your brain's reward centers - particularly the one associated with that feel-good emotion you get when you eat high-calorie foods. With these pathways impacted, it is easier to stick with a more nutritional plan.
Does it actually work?
Studies show that semaglutide does work for weight loss. In a study done in 2022, a group of 175 patients that were considered overweight (BMI higher than 27) or obese (BMI higher than 30) had an average total body weight loss percentage of 5.9% at 3 months and 10.9% at 6 months (Ghusn et al., 2022). For a 250lb person, that is just under 15lbs in 3 months and just under 30lbs in 6 months. Making changes to lifestyle such as changing diet or adding exercise were not part of the study, so the weight loss was attributed to the use of semaglutide alone.
What are the side effects?
In the same study, the most common side effects were nausea and vomiting followed by diarrhea and fatigue. While not experienced by patients in that particular study, there are more severe side effects that have been found in the use of semaglutide. These include allergic reactions to the medication, thyroid tumors, swelling of the pancreas, problems with the gallbladder, changes in vision, and possible injury to the kidneys.
How do I try semaglutide?
If you are interested in semaglutide, I recommend going to a trusted medical professional to discuss if this is an option for you. Many ads are circulating the internet offering online management of this medication for low prices, but I would recommend steering clear of those companies. They use a compounded form of the medication that isn’t approved or regulated by the FDA. Avoiding these companies also reduces the chance of falling victim to scam sites that are not sending the correct medication, sending poor quality medication, or not sending the medication at all.
Wegovy can cost upwards of $1400/month and must be prescribed by a medical provider. They do offer a savings program to help offset some of the cost, even if your insurance does provide some coverage. For online medication management companies, you can expect to pay $300-$400/month after an initial discount on the first month, but as I mentioned above, I would not recommend any company offering semaglutide for cheap. What is it that people say? If it is too good to be true, it probably is.
While semaglutide does assist with weight loss, it is best to add healthy eating and movement into your daily routine as well. You don’t have to go pump major iron at the gym, but trying to get in a walk or even following a chair exercise video on YouTube can work wonders in boosting your metabolism and your mood. This helps create a healthy routine so when you stop using the medication, you reduce the risk of falling back on old habits.
-Kyra, RN
Sources:
Ghusn, W., De la Rosa, A., Sacoto, D., Cifuentes, L., Campos, A., Feris, F., Hurtado, M. D., & Acosta, A. (2022). Weight loss outcomes associated with SEMAGLUTIDE treatment for patients with overweight or obesity. JAMA Network Open, 5(9). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.31982
