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.
While Ozempic is not specifically labeled as a weight loss drug, studies sponsored by Novo Nordisk, the company that makes Ozempic, suggest people who take semaglutide—the active compound in Ozempic—may lose weight.
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, can be a powerful medication for treating diabetes and obesity. Semaglutide must be taken consistently to see long-term weight loss effects. As soon as someone stops taking the drug, their body fat and former appetite tend to return.
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.
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.
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.
How much weight will I lose with Ozempic? About a third of people who take Ozempic for weight loss will lose 10% or more of their body weight. Most people should expect to lose at least 5% of their starting body weight when using Ozempic for weight loss.
The most common side effect with Ozempic is nausea and occurs in about 15% to 20% of people. Others include vomiting (5% to 9%), diarrhea (8%), stomach-area pain (6% to 7%), and constipation (3% to 7%).
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.
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.
The most common side effects of Ozempic, according to the drug's website, are nausea, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea and vomiting. Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, told CBS News that the drugs "are a well-established class of medicines, which have demonstrated long-term safety in clinical trials.
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.
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.
Lifestyle habits: While Ozempic is incredibly effective it is not a magic pill. It can only assist in weight loss in combination with a balanced lifestyle. To maximize its effectiveness, it's important to adopt healthy habits such as following a well-balanced diet and engaging in regular exercise.
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.
Ozempic is best taken once a week on the same day each week [4]. It can be taken with food or without. The time of day you take Ozempic doesn't really matter, as long as you are consistently taking it on the same day each week.
Ozempic® should be administered by a patient once weekly on the same day each week, at any time of the day, with or without meals.
Ozempic isn't approved for weight loss. But because of how it works, some people taking Ozempic lose weight as a side effect. If you don't have diabetes, taking Ozempic for weight loss is considered an off-label use. Wegovy, a higher-dose version of Ozempic, is approved to help people manage their weight.
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.
Ozempic is a type 2 diabetes medication which is prescribed to manage blood glucose levels. It is not a medication for people who do not have diabetes or are at risk of type 2 diabetes.
There is no specific time frame when someone should stop taking Ozempic as it is a medication that is intended for chronic (long-term) use.
You Will Regain Weight
Because people stop feeling full and their food cravings return when they stop Ozempic, weight gain is likely, Kushner says.