Results showed that patients lost on average up to 14 lb (6.4 kg), although some people also gained weight. Study 1: Patients using Ozempic 0.5 mg dose lost on average 8 lb (3.6 kg), those using 1 mg dose lost 10 lb (4.5 kg), and those taking placebo (an inactive treatment) lost 3 lb (1.4 kg).
Ozempic® is not a weight-loss drug. In 2 different studies looking at A1C, adults with type 2 diabetes lost on average: Ozempic®: 8 lb (0.5 mg) and 10 lb (1 mg) vs placebo: 3 lb. Ozempic®: 12 lb (1 mg) and 14 lb (2 mg)
Still, Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications will be most effective for weight loss and blood sugar control when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Generally, eating healthy foods and avoiding foods high in sugar, calories, and unhealthy fats while taking Ozempic helps.
Getting started
The beginning dose is 0.25 mg once a week for the first 4 weeks. This will help give your body a chance to get used to the medicine. At Week 5, your health care provider will increase the dose to 0.5 mg once a week.
Most patients use this pen to take 4 doses of the starting dose (0.25 mg) then 2 doses of the next highest dose (0.5 mg) before switching to a new pen. The pens for the 1mg and 2 mg doses of Ozempic each contain 4 doses.
You may need a higher dosage of Ozempic
The same holds true for Ozempic's weight loss results. People taking higher doses of Ozempic tend to lose more weight. In the landmark study we cited above, people lost 7% of their body weight, on average, within a year and a half of taking 1mg of semaglutide.
You can assist Ozempic by lowering your overall calorie intake, moving your body where possible and limiting your alcohol consumption.
Once you begin using Ozempic, some people can find it takes several weeks to see any weight loss, yet others may see some weight loss within a week or 2. While it can be difficult, try to remain patient — change looks different for everyone.
Ozempic comes as a pre-filled pen injector. It is injected under the skin (subcutaneously) once weekly. The starting dose is 0.25 mg per week, and this can be increased to 0.5 mg after 4 weeks based on blood sugar response and tolerance. The maximum approved dose of Ozempic is 1 mg weekly.
Ozempic is also used off-label for weight loss. In particular, it can help reduce the amount of belly fat. This is because Ozempic works by making you feel fuller for longer, which can help you resist overeating by controlling cravings and hunger.
Ozempic is a long-term medication used to control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. It is a once-weekly injection using a prefilled Ozempic pen. If you take too much Ozempic, you could develop severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
Ozempic can cause nausea and vomiting if taken after eating foods high in fat or sugar. It is recommended that you take Ozempic before meals, rather than after, to minimise any potential side effects from eating high-fat or high-sugar foods.
Ozempic starts working within the first week of beginning your maintenance dose. Your blood sugar levels will start to decline during this time. Reaching the steady state can take about four to five weeks of once-a-week Ozempic doses.
By mimicking the effects of GLP-1, Ozempic can help curb your appetite and make you feel full so you consume fewer calories. This can result in weight loss.
It can boost your metabolism, lower your cholesterol, and improve hormone levels related to obesity. This substance may also help lower your blood sugar by reducing how much carbs your body absorbs.
A 2022 study found that most individuals gain weight back a year after stopping the medication.
So, on average, with the recommended starting Ozempic dose of 0.25 mg, a 500 to 1000 calorie reduced diet, and exercise 3 times a week, you can expect to lose 3-5 pounds in the first month of treatment, which works out to about 3% of body weight for most overweight or obese individuals.
Most patients will start Ozempic treatment at the lower 0.25 mg dose injected once a week for 4 weeks. The 0.25 mg dose is not used as your final maintenance dose to lower your blood sugar.
Ozempic® is proven to lower blood sugar and A1C. Ozempic® lowers the risk of major cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attack, or death in adults also with known heart disease. Ozempic® may help you lose some weight. Ozempic® is not for weight loss.
If you take too much Ozempic, you may experience nausea and/or vomiting. You may also have other stomach-related side effects, such as bloating or abdominal pain. Too much Ozempic can also lead to low blood glucose (hypoglycemia). If this happens, you may feel shaky, weak, or sweaty.
Like many drugs, the effects don't last after patients go off them, so people tend to regain most of the weight they lost if they stop taking the medication. Grunvald said many patients are under the false impression that they can stop taking Ozempic or Wegovy after they hit their goal weight.
Patients trying to lose weight with either drug should work with a dietitian for a guided meal plan, but in general, they should aim to eat 1,200 to 1,800 calories a day depending on their initial weight, Rubin says.