The active ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide, which works by inducing satiety. This feeling of being satisfied or “full”, suppresses appetite.
Ozempic isn't technically a weight loss medication. But it's considered safe and effective for Type 2 diabetes, and you may lose weight as a side effect of treatment. If you're prescribed Ozempic and you don't have diabetes, this is considered off-label use.
Ozempic is a once-weekly injectable medication formulated to help adults with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar. Although not officially a weight loss drug, research suggests that people who take Ozempic may lose modest amounts of weight while on the medication.
It also reduces your appetite by sending signals to your brain that you've eaten and feel full, giving you a reduced appetite. Ozempic mimics this hormone to keep you feeling fuller for longer and helps slow down the rate your stomach empties food into your digestive system.
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.
You Will Regain Weight
Because people stop feeling full and their food cravings return when they stop Ozempic, weight gain is likely, Kushner says.
Ozempic is used off-label for weight loss and belly fat reduction, as it helps make you feel fuller for longer and can lead to a reduction in calories consumed. Studies have shown that this medication can lead to an average weight loss of 7.5% and a decrease in waist circumference by 5.09 cm.
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.
It's used to lower blood glucose (sugar) levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes. The starting dose of Ozempic is 0.25 mg injected once weekly for 4 weeks. Then, your dose is moved up to 0.5 mg once weekly.
(No member of the Kardashian family has publically said they use Ozempic.) Ozempic is the brand name for the medication semaglutide, which treats diabetes by balancing out hormones like insulin.
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.
Clinical studies have shown that Ozempic® (Semaglutide) can help patients lose significant amounts of weight over time. In fact, in one study, patients who took Ozempic® (Semaglutide) lost an average of 15.3 pounds after 26 weeks, compared to an average weight loss of 2.6 pounds in the placebo group.
Ozempic and its sister medication, Wegovy — approved for weight loss for people who are obese or overweight with weight-related medical conditions — are considered long-term or lifelong treatments.
Study 2: Patients using the Ozempic 1 mg dose lost on average 12 lb (5.5 kg), and those using the 2 mg dose lost 14 lb (6.3 kg).
The active ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide, which works by inducing satiety. This feeling of being satisfied or “full”, suppresses appetite. This is why it works for weight loss. Semaglutide also helps the pancreas produce insulin, which is how it helps manage type 2 diabetes.
You start feeling those usual hunger pangs again, and consequently, you may start eating more to satisfy that hunger. An increase in your consumption can lead to the regaining of weight that was lost. A 2022 study found that most individuals gain weight back a year after stopping the medication.
Everybody reacts differently to medication, and the weight loss you experience on Ozempic may differ from someone else's. It can also be due to other factors that help or hinder weight loss progress, such as your diet, activity levels, and other reasons we'll get into below.
On average, a user can lose about 3 to 5% of their body weight after using Ozempic for a month regularly. This equates to about 4 to 6 pounds on average. Using a higher potency of the drug may result in more weight loss, but it isn't recommended that you start taking it right away.
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.
In summary, Ozempic can make you feel tired, but it's a rare side effect. In the long-term, you may notice the opposite: energy increases and you're less tired, as you lose weight and improve cardiovascular health while taking Ozempic combined with physical activity and diet changes.