Ozempic and Wegovy: Guide on the most popular weight loss drugs

10 July 2024 | Irina

There are several new weight-loss drugs on the market. You've probably seen the ads. Maybe you are considering asking your doctor to prescribe them to help you lose weight.

I am a great supporter of medical progress. I want to help you make an informed decision on how to get to your healthy weight and maintain it.

These drugs were created to help people with type 2 diabetes improve glycemic control and quickly became the most in-demand medication for weight loss.

I put together some research about these miracle drugs, their side effects, the latest research, indications on how to use them properly, and what we can expect in the future in the realm of weight control medication.

It is imperative to understand that you can take this medication only under medical supervision and be supervised by a doctor for the whole duration of Ozempic’s and Wegovy's use.

Why did Ozempic and Wegovy become so popular?

Ozempic and Wegovy contain semaglutide, a synthetic hormone GLP-1 created by a Dutch pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk to help people with type 2 diabetes regulate blood sugar levels and lower hemoglobin A1C.

During randomized trials, people were injected with Ozempic, Wegovy, or a placebo while subject to behavioral intervention incorporating modifications in diet and physical activity, which remain the foundation of treatment for overweight and obesity. (5)

The information about the weight loss effect of Ozempic quickly spread in media and social media such as Jimmy Kimmel who opened the 2023 Academy Awards with a joke, "When I look around at this room I can't help but wonder, 'Is Ozempic right for me?'"(4)

The billionaire Elon Musk X-ed that he used Wegovy and intermittent fasting to lose weight. (6)

TikTok popularized Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss gathering millions of views of the “before and after” videos.

Because of this widespread popularity, in the fall of 2023, Nova Nordisk became the most profitable company in Europe making 33 billion US dollars. Ozempic is widely prescribed in the United States where it costs about $1,000 for a box.

What is the difference between Ozempic and Wegovy?

Wegovy and Ozempic contain the same active ingredient. But “Wegovy is marketed for weight loss and the prevention of heart disease while Ozempic is indicated to treat Type 2 diabetes.” (7)

How do people lose weight on Ozempic and Wegovy?

Ozempic and Wegovy prolong satiety. After people get injected with semaglutide they feel full faster and longer (2). For these effects, social media created a myth that this is a magical medicine that makes you slim in no time.

But in reality, it's not as simple as on TikTok. In the instructions the manufacturer put down the necessity of changing your lifestyle and diet because without proper diet and exercise regimen, the medication alone cannot help people lose weight: “OZEMPIC® is indicated:

as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.” (1)

Even if the medication helps to feel full faster and longer, there is a risk that a person without a detailed understanding of nutrition will be adding extra calories in the form of alcohol, sugar, or other carbohydrates. That's why you need a nutrition specialist to help create a nutrition plan to ensure that your body gets enough nutrients without going overboard with calories.

The majority of people who take Ozempic or Wegovy lose weight for up to 18 months. After that, they experience a plateau, and unfortunately, many of them get discouraged, stop taking medication, return to their previous lifestyle, and gain weight back. People need to know about this particularity before starting the medication.

They also need to know that the plateau is a normal stage of the weight-loss process, and they can be helped by a weight-loss expert to move beyond this stage to reach healthy weight.

Also, the speed with which people lose weight on semiglutide varies greatly, for example, people with type 2 diabetes lose weight at a slower rate. (5)

What are the side effects of Ozempic?

“The most common adverse reactions, reported in ≥5% of patients treated with OZEMPIC® are:

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation” (1)

The diarrhea side effect brought powerful memories of when I was using Orlistat in 1999. I lived in Italy and really “needed” to lose 20 lbs. Blocking the fat enzyme lipase to avoid absorbing fat seemed like a great idea. It worked for the first week when I was “enjoying” a fat-free diet.

Then I accidentally (read “I was starving and my body was giving all the signs that fat was welcomed”) ate the fat on prosciutto as an appetizer. But the drug ensured that the fat was passed through the bowel movement as soon as it got through the stomach.

I was on a date in a beautiful restaurant by the seaside, wearing crispy-white pants… it was a dramatic experience which I am grateful for. It was the last time I used fat-blocking drugs or any drugs for weight loss and I started on the journey to yo-yo dieting recovery.

Back to Ozempic, while semaglutide has positive effects on the cardiovascular system, nervous system, and blood circulation the research showed that mice and rats developed cancer while on this medication. It is suggested to stay away from medication if you have a family history of thyroid cancer. (3)

Also, because people can fast for a prolonged period when treated with semiglutide, there is a big risk of developing gallbladder issues. There is also the danger of osteoporosis, osteopenia, and pancreatitis, and issues with the gastrointestinal tract. (3)

As I emphasized earlier, because of the side effects and high health risks of this medication you absolutely need to be under the close supervision of a medical doctor while being treated with it.

Doctors warn the public that semiglutide is a great medication to help control type 2 diabetes in conjunction with proper diet and exercise, and it should not be considered as a weight loss medication. (5)

This is one of the examples of what kind of medication we can expect in the future that can help control cravings and appetite, but changing the diet and upgrading lifestyle remains a mandatory part of a weight loss journey.

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