The pop music refrain of “O-O-O-Ozempic” is all over TV these days. Ozempic and its sister drug, Wegovy, are the new weight-loss drugs of choice for celebrities, but are they right for you? As the popularity of Ozempic and Wegovy, continues to grow, so do the questions people have about the potential benefits and risks.
Ozempic and Wegovy are brand names for semaglutide and injectables. But they’re not exactly the same. Both drugs decrease appetite and slow down emptying of the stomach so people feel less hungry and eat less. They can cause some unpleasant gastrointestinal side effects.
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.
Wegovy is supposed to be used for people who have a body mass index (or BMI) of 30 or greater along with those who have a BMI of 27 or greater who also have other health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol that make weight loss important.
Some people who do not have obesity or weight-related health conditions have been saying that they’re using Wegovy or Ozempic to drop 10 pounds and “get skinny.”
REASONS TO BE CAUTIOUS
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.
The drugs are expensive, and in general, insurance plans don’t cover them for weight loss (although they often do for people with diabetes).
The popularity of the new drugs has led to some shortages.
The drugs can cause unpleasant gastrointestinal side effects.
A small percentage of people who take the drugs can suffer from a diabetes eye complication called retinopathy. Along with consulting with your primary care provider or endocrinologist, you should also see your eye doctor.
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. And, of course, exercise is important to keep your body healthy.
Some people have complained about looking older due to “Wegovy or Ozempic face.” While many people taking weight loss drugs are pleased to shed some pounds, some say they’re dropping weight in the wrong place: their face. Some have complained of looking old and gaunt due to fat loss in the face.
While there are reasons to be cautious about the newest drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy are helping many people lose considerable weight — about 12 percent of body mass, on average — which can dramatically improve a person’s health. Your doctor can help you determine if you are a good candidate for Ozempic or Wegovy.
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