Obesity currently affects four out of ten Americans, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Heart disease, stroke, and diabetes are some leading causes of death associated with obesity or overweight. The World Obesity Federation’s 2023 atlas predicts that 51% of the world, or more than 4 billion people, will be obese or overweight within the next 12 years.
Though Ozempic took social media by storm just recently, experts in the medical world were the least taken aback. Poised to breathe clarity and context, this MedDigest article brings you the medical insights into the revolutionary nature of Ozempic in full circle.
What is Ozempic?
🩹Ozempic is a once-weekly injectable medication designed to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels effectively.
🩹It is a brand name of the drug Semaglutide.
🩹Semaglutide mimics the hormone Glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1), which helps the pancreas release insulin to lower the blood sugar.
🩹Ozempic is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes only.
🩹A sister drug to Ozempic called Wegovy, is the medication the FDA approved for weight loss. Its dose is twice that of Ozempic.
🩹As a different brand name of the same generic drug semaglutide, Ozempic gained social media popularity of viral proportions thanks to the weight loss effect it causes in those taking the medication.
How Does Ozempic Cause Weight Loss?
It acts on the brain. Semaglutide (Ozempic or Wegovy) sends signals to the appetite center in your brain to reduce hunger and increase fullness. This helps you feel full with smaller meals and decreases the need for snacks.
Ozempic’s Backstory
Ozempic is arguably the world’s most famous drug right now; a diabetes treatment turned miracle weight-loss cure that’s rocketed up the sales chart despite supply constraints. And this may be only the beginning. Considering that, it’s only fair to get a glimpse of how it got to this height of publicity.
Semaglutide (Ozempic) was first approved by the FDA in 2017 to help people with type 2 diabetes keep blood sugar under control. But during pre-approval studies, researchers noticed a remarkable side effect: people lost weight. For example, in one pivotal study, average losses for those receiving one milligram a week of semaglutide were:
- nearly 10 pounds lost over 30 weeks
- nearly 5% overall body weight lost
- waist size shrank 1.6 inches.
This side effect helped people with type 2 diabetes because excess weight is a major risk factor for the condition. Among other health benefits, weight loss can lower blood sugar and blood pressure, and reduce the need for other diabetes medications.
How Drug Companies Used Ozempic’s Side Effect as a Sales Pitch
Unintended weight loss would usually be listed as a side effect for a study medication. But ads for Ozempic didn’t list it with the other possible side effects; instead, it was featured as a benefit.
The makers of Ozempic saw the potential of semaglutide as a weight loss drug for people without diabetes. Sure enough, clinical trials confirmed that overweight and obese people taking semaglutide also lost substantial weight.
Semaglutide received FDA approval in 2021 for people with obesity (BMI of 30 or greater), or who were overweight (with a BMI of 27 to 29.9) and had a medical problem related to excess weight, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. As a weight loss drug, it was rebranded as Wegovy.
Influencers and Celebrities Hyped the Bandwagon
After high demand put Wegovy in short supply, many turned to Ozempic to lose weight. And that contributed to a shortage of Ozempic, threatening the health of people with type 2 diabetes who rely on the drug.
During his opening monologue at this year’s Academy Awards, Jimmy Kimmel cracked a joke:
“Everybody looks so great,” Kimmel said. “When I look around this room, I can’t help but wonder ‘Is Ozempic right for me?’
Further beating the drum for market popularity, the world’s richest man rocketed semaglutide to the moon! Elon Musk took to his social media company X (formerly Twitter) and touted Wegovy as his magical weight loss method.
Who is Eligible for Ozempic?
FDA officials approved Ozempic for people with Type 2 diabetes.
Who is Eligible for Wegovy?
Under the FDA authorization, Wegovy is supposed to be used for people who are obese or overweight. I’ve alluded to this above in a little more detail.
That said, people who do not have obesity or weight-related health conditions are reporting that they’re using Wegovy or Ozempic to drop 10 pounds and “get skinny.”
Why Are Weight Loss Drugs a Big Deal?
About 70% of American adults are obese or overweight, according to the FDA; putting them at risk of serious health problems like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some types of cancer.
“Losing 5% to 10% of body weight through diet and exercise has been associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease in adults,” Dr. John Sharretts of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research said when the FDA approved Wegovy.
To compound that demand for these drugs, is the booming and explosive market: the medical cosmetic industry. Humans, since the dawn of time, have always been obsessed with optics.
This is even more so as it relates to how body physique and appearance take center stage in our appeal and perception of one another.
It’s of no surprise therefore, the desire to lose weight using Ozempic or Wegovy for the sole purpose of attaining aesthetic looks, is through the roof!
What Are the Most Common Side Effects of Ozempic and Wegovy?
Gastrointestinal problems are the most common side effects since Ozempic can slow down people’s digestive systems.
During clinical trials, some participants experienced nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, indigestion, dizziness, bloating and gas.
What About the Cost of the drugs?
Using Ozempic or Wegovy without insurance coverage can cost more than $15,000 a year.
That’s causing some challenges for doctors and patients.
So far, many of the people who are publicly discussing using the medications are wealthy individuals for whom cost is not a problem.
Bottom Line
Wegovy and Ozempic are not for everyone. Ozempic is approved for people with Type 2 diabetes.
- And Wegovy is approved for people with obesity or those who are overweight and have health problems related to excess weight.
- If you lose weight with new drugs, you likely will need to keep taking the medications forever to keep the weight off.
- People who stop taking Wegovy and Ozempic often gain weight back relatively quickly.
- Semiglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) are prescription drugs. Stay away from quacks and unscrupulous vendors online who may lure you with cheaper pricing or the dread of missing out given the short supply of these drugs.
- The FDA is currently investigating the cases of at least three Americans hospitalized after using suspected counterfeits of semaglutide drugs.
- The drugs are expensive, and in general, insurance plans don’t cover them for weight loss.
- The popularity of the new drugs has led to some shortages.
- The drugs can cause unpleasant gastrointestinal side effects.
- The drugs tend to suppress a person’s appetite but to lose weight, you’ll still need to reduce your intake of desserts, sugar-sweetened beverages, and fatty foods.
- Bariatric surgery remains the most effective treatment for severe obesity, but treatment will likely evolve to include a new combination of approaches in the future.
Ask Your Healthcare Provider
While we strive to provide valuable information, it’s crucial to consult with your healthcare provider to determine if Ozempic is the right fit for you. Your provider is your best resource for personalized advice tailored to your unique health needs.
