She recalled feeling frustrated that no matter what she did, her body always wanted to go back to a certain weight. Winfrey has struggled with her weight for decades, famously losing 67 pounds with a liquid diet in 1988 then regaining the weight as soon as she “returned to real food,” she recalled on Oprah.com. When asked about her transformation at the "The Color Purple" event, Winfrey didn’t even mention a weight-loss drug. They sound like miracle drugs for people wanting to lose weight - what's the catch? Researchers have also found the weight loss jabs could reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes or heart failure in obese people regardless of the amount of weight they lose. In terms of weight loss, in clinical trials people lost up to 20% of their body weight on tirzepatide and 15% on semaglutide. Ozempic was approved by the F.D.A. in 2017, while Mounjaro, Ozempic’s primary competitor, was approved in 2022. If it’s making me healthier, I think I’ll be OK,” she says. Sabrazsia Gardner, the woman who started taking Wegovy in January, says she’d like to stay on it for as long as she can and hopes to lose 120 pounds. Dr. Robert Lustig, a neuroendocrinologist and professor emeritus of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, previously told TODAY.com he has “major, major concerns” about people potentially taking Wegovy for years or for life. Possible serious side effects of Ozempic and Wegovy include pancreatitis, gallbladder problems and kidney problems, among other issues, according to the manufacturer. Here, people report experiencing vomiting, headaches, fatigue, “sulfur burps,” and hair loss—though the vast majority seem to feel it’s a small price to pay for losing weight. Subsequently, Novo Nordisk developed Wegovy specifically for weight loss. Though they both contain the same active ingredient, the drugs have different indications, dosages, prescribing information, titration schedules, and delivery devices. About Half of Those Who Take GLP-1 Agonists Experience Nausea, and About One-Third Experience Diarrhea All anti-obesity medications are prescribed along with a lifestyle program that addresses eating and exercise. Researchers are still studying which medications are best for which patients. “There are no blood tests that could let someone know they’re going to respond to a given therapy or medication, such as a GLP-1 analogue like semaglutide.” The older generation of anti-obesity medications includes those that need to be taken once a day or more—one requires daily injections. Doctors still prescribe older FDA-approved medications, which also target the brain. How Ozempic and Similar Drugs Work The symptom was not identified in any of the drug's phase 3 trials, which enrolled thousands of participants to evaluate semaglutide's safety. Delayed stomach emptying, the defining feature of gastroparesis, is a known consequence of Ozempic and related drugs. The science is still unclear, however, as other studies have found that GLP-1 medications can actually increase testosterone levels and improve erectile dysfunction. This result may be surprising, because weight loss usually improves erectile dysfunction. And it's really interesting because I think, you know, we tend to think that insurers will cover medications eventually - right? You actually reported that Medicare puts weight loss in the same category as balding and erectile dysfunction. But it could be an important factor in terms of getting insurers, at least for this specific group, so people with a high risk for further heart incidents. And so what the big push has been by the pharma industry is to try to prove these are drugs that are going to reduce costs for insurers in other respects. Many people gain back some of the weight they lost when they stop taking weight-loss drugs. Then your healthcare professional talks with you about the pros and cons of prescription weight-loss drugs. Coverage for Wegovy is often more limited than Ozempic, as many insurers consider weight loss drugs elective. Those seeking treatment for diabetes and/or obesity should be prioritized not only until the supply and demand issue is solved, but until the effects of cosmetic use are further studied. It is still uncertain which is most effective at preventing weight regain once people stop taking them, since none of these medications have been studied that long. Furthermore, the authorization rate of insurance coverage has decreased from 60% in 2022 to as low as 25%, which is predominately due to people taking the drug for weight loss — which is often not covered. The increased demand from those diagnosed with obesity, and those who desire the drug for weight loss without a diagnosis has created supply issues for this drug. Statins also may help reduce the risk of certain blood clots. These medicines also have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with your health care provider. But there are no firm conclusions about their effects on human health. A 2017 review said that juicing and “detox” diets can cause initial weight loss because of low intake of calories, but they tend to lead to weight gain once a person resumes a normal diet. Healthy eating, behavior changes and exercise are vital for prescription weight-loss drugs to work well. Weight-loss drugs are meant to be only part of a weight-loss plan. Prescription drugs are medicines that a healthcare professional prescribes. Patients should inform their healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and herbal products. They are most effective for individuals with obesity or weight-related conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Like the GLP-1 enzyme, GLP-1 receptor agonists can suppress appetite, delay gastric emptying, reduce plasma glucose levels, and enhance insulin secretion, thereby controlling glucose levels in the body . However, synthetically produced GLP-1 agonists are able to evade the effect of DPP-4 (as they are administered with a DPP-4 inhibitor), thereby increasing insulin production and lowering blood glucose levels over longer periods of time . In the same way, GLP-1 agonists bind to GLP-1 receptor sites and trigger the same effects even in the absence of intrinsic GLP-1 molecules. Several recent clinical studies have focused on the effectiveness of different doses and drug delivery typologies (oral, injection, etc.). As an oral medication, a 14 mg daily dose of Rybelsus® is equivalent to the 0.5 mg weekly dose of Ozempic® . I thought the medication might help me get more energized. When I gave myself my first injection, I was optimistic it would help me feel healthier. I had doled out the same recommendations to my own patients a million times, without much success. Like most women, I had gained weight in pregnancy. “It's very exciting to have, especially since it's more of a noninvasive strategy compared to bariatric surgery, and a lot more patients will be open to it.” And so compounded drugs are, you know, pharmacy-made versions, and people have been buying cheaper versions of so-called Ozempic from these compounding pharmacies. Actually, lots of people take compounded drugs. You know, WeightWatchers didn't really offer weight-loss drugs before, you know? How have these drugs impacted the weight-loss industry? Prescription Weight Loss Medications Nausea and diarrhea are among the most commonly reported side effects, though they’re usually mild-to-moderate and subside with time. Much of the recognition for semaglutide should go to a Canadian, Daniel Drucker, a University of Toronto endocrinologist who helped discover GLP-1. The longer-term effects aren’t known. Studies suggest the drug accesses areas of the brain involved in appetite regulation. But the messenger molecule also works on the brain to increase feelings of satiety, and, because the body still needs energy, it uses energy from the stored fat cells. Although this is a big step, it doesn’t address the racial gap between diabetics who are eligible for these drugs. This is ultimately from the supply and demand discrepancy but has also been triggered by doctors prescribing Ozempic off-label at higher rates, leading to Ozempic being used for weight loss and other conditions. Some diabetics are reportedly having trouble accessing their previously prescribed drugs. Victoza, a GLP-1 drug released in 2010, had side effects discovered about it, eventually resulting in official warning from the FDA in 2013. This has led to a steep increase in use and prescription of these drugs, resulting in 2-3% of Americans reportedly being on them. A study by April Prunty and colleagues looked at those two types of stigma, as well as outcomes related to physical health, healthcare utilization, and selected health behaviors including physical activity and smoking. That’s literally what we’re doing when we treat obesity. People think that they can will themselves out of this disease, whereas you wouldn’t ever say to someone with cancer or any other chronic illness, “Don’t take medicine. Chika Anekwe is an obesity medicine physician at the Mass General Weight Center and an instructor at Harvard Medical School. Nearly 42 percent of American adults have obesity, a condition that disproportionately affects older adults and racial/ethnic minorities, according to the CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination survey. "I've never been able to overcome it because I'm trying to figure out how to have a better relationship with food while food is shouting at me in my mind all the time, and it's never worked," Thomas said. "Side effects include primarily nausea, stomach upset, sometimes vomiting." "The side effects are minimal. They are very well tolerated," Reddy told ABC News. "My medical history alone from prior to this medication to six months in was astronomical," Winterstein, who lives in Mississippi, told ABC News. The nausea, which was the most common side effect that led patients to stop treatment, may be caused by the slowing down of the emptying of the stomach or by acid reflux, Aronne says. In clinical trials, almost 7% of patients treated with Wegovy permanently stopped taking it because of adverse reactions, or more than twice the number of people who received a placebo, Novo Nordisk reported. “We are decreasing their defended fat mass set point, and the consequence of that is that they lose weight." It's been a month since the company started offering popular weight loss drugs, giving people a new option to help them lose weight. One of the positive aspects of everyone talking about the newer weight loss drugs is that they have helped people who have been shamed and blamed about their weight speak out about the disease. Right away, patients noticed that these drugs didn’t just treat their diabetes—they also helped them lose weight. Originally developed to treat diabetes, GLP-1 agonists — or obesity drugs — have risen in popularity thanks to their weight-loss effects. Originally developed to treat diabetes, these GLP-1 agonists — now also popularly known as obesity drugs — have been making headlines for their weight-loss effects. The first clinical trial studying the effects of semaglutides on obesity was in 2021, and no studies have yet been published on the effects of semaglutides on mental health or cosmetic weight loss. In 2022, the US Food and Drink Administration (FDA) fast-tracked approval of the drug to treat obesity after a study showed it helped people lose more than 20% of their bodyweight. As Sky News research revealed thousands of severely obese patients are facing severely delayed treatment, here we look at the wave of weight loss drugs and how they work. Ozempic was approved in 2017 for treatment of type 2 diabetes, while a higher dose of semaglutide was approved in 2021 for weight loss under the name Wegovy. On average, after 1 year, adults who take prescription medications as part of a lifestyle program lose 3% to 12% more of their starting body weight than people in a lifestyle program who do not take medication. The reality star lost between 5 and 7 pounds and said the drug made her "more conscientious of what I was eating." But she stopped using it because of the side effects. She didn't experience the same side effects while taking this medication. Afterward, she experienced side effects and stopped taking the drug after three weeks. She's since revealed that she's no longer on the medication and has since noticed some surprising changes in her body. “You thought they were going to make a weight-loss drug and I wasn’t going to take it? Looking to the future, if the research around these drugs continues to unfold as it has been, this emerging field of science is set to be an exciting one. A clinical trial in England with overweight children aged 12–17 found that Ozempic injections helped them reduce their body mass indexes by 16 per cent in 15 months. “If these results continue to be validated in larger human studies, we may see these drugs being prescribed for addiction within the next three-to-five years,” Vickers adds. Consumers stop eating these foods, not because they're forcing themselves, but because the food becomes unappealing. This matters because these foods are engineered to be irresistible. Over 70% of users reported eating less junk food, including packaged snacks, sugary drinks, frozen meals, and fast food. People feel genuinely satisfied with less food, and their cravings, especially for junk food, simply disappear. This was interesting science, but nobody knew what to do with it. That's not the case, you still have to work the program and have healthy lifestyles," she explained. But she says people shouldn't think of it as a "magic pill." " It involves treating obesity as an illness rather than simply a lack of willpower. Nadolsky said the company's new program which offers the latest anti-obesity meds is a paradigm shift. It's important that people continue to make lifestyle changes to help their weight loss, such as eating right and exercising. The active ingredient in Ozempic, semaglutide, does work for weight loss, according to research. When using Ozempic to treat diabetes, weight loss is a common side effect. GLP-1 drugs, like Wegovy and Ozempic, may not be good only for diabetes and weight-loss. Visit the Yale Obesity Research Center (Y-Weight) to learn more about Yale School of Medicine’s ongoing research on anti-obesity drugs and how they can help people with obesity. For example, semaglutide is an expensive drug that is not necessarily covered by insurance or weight loss at this point, says Dr. Jastreboff’s study participant from the tirzepatide trial. The doctors hope that knowing medications can treat the pathophysiology of obesity will change common misconceptions that people should be able to control the condition on their own. Our confidence in tirzepatide as an important treatment option is based on our extensive clinical trial programme.The last few years saw breakthroughs in treatments for obesity, with new weight-loss medicines dominating recent news reports.One 2022 study found that, patients who came off their Wegovy injections regained up to two-thirds of the weight they had lost after just one year.When I first started writing about them, almost nobody was paying attention to the fact that Novo Nordisk had developed this highly effective weight loss drug, right?In my years working in community clinics, I was routinely expected to see patients in 20-minute increments, leaving almost no opportunity to address lifestyle changes in a meaningful way.And if the conclusion is that you cannot take statins, be reassured that there are other medications that can lower your cholesterol.People shouldn’t be pushed into any treatment that’s aimed at losing weight or changing their body, he said. The challenge is that lifestyle, behavioral, and preventive measures can only go so far, so in our current modern lifestyle, pharmacotherapy and even bariatric surgery are necessary tools in the obesity treatment armamentarium. Because of the pharmaceutical industry’s influence, many people assume physicians are agents of Big Pharma and the healthcare-industrial complex. But I guess we should do it without the medications — that’s their perspective. Basically, with Ozempic the food sits in your stomach a little bit longer, so you feel fuller faster and fuller for longer. “So, normally you would eat, and then the food would move into your intestines. The way it is meant to work is by reducing blood glucose through a mechanism where it stimulates insulin secretion and lowers glucagon secretion. Furthermore, off-label medication could interact with other medications and worsen other health conditions and may not have rigorous data to support its safety and effectiveness short or long term in different patient populations. There is also growing evidence for off-label antiobesity medications such as metformin and topiramate . GLP-1 agonists are typically approved for the management of conditions such as type 2 diabetes and in some cases weight management but are growing in popularity for their off-label utilization. There are many treatments for erectile dysfunction, both pharmaceutical and natural. Across social media, women are crediting surprise pregnancies to their GLP-1 medication. Eventually, this can cause cell death in the retina due to insufficient blood flow, leading to vision loss. This side effect is common when people switch to a keto diet, which strictly limits the number of carbohydrates you are allowed to eat. Besides blood sugar control, however, these medications result in weight loss, an effect that has caught the eye of both the public and drug makers, who have moved to create specific formulations to help patients shed pounds. “I love seeing so many more people represented in color of skin and body type.” The desire to be thin may set some people who do not have obesity on a path to alternative ways and means of attaining weight loss drugs. Researchers are working to identify safer and more effective medications to help people who are overweight or have obesity lose weight and maintain a healthy weight for a long time. When combined with lifestyle and behavior changes, including healthy eating and increased physical activity, prescription medications help some people lose weight and maintain weight loss. So, weight-loss pills may not rival injections when it comes to rapid results. Eli Lilly’s competitor pill, Orforglipron, is expected to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Spring, and a slew of alternative pills is also in production. Not everyone needs it—those without diabetes or heart risks may not see the same gains. Even without massive weight loss, protection appears. People with type 2 diabetes and established heart disease see clear advantages. Benefits for heart health generally outweigh these risks in appropriate candidates. “That hormone gets absorbed into the bloodstream, goes to the brain and tells the brain you’ve eaten food. The maximum dose is 2 milligrams for Ozempic and 2.4 milligrams for Wegovy, according to Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical giant that makes both drugs. Each medication is self-injected by patients once a week. “Patients are not ‘cured’ once they lose the weight," Dr. Jastreboff adds. "They need to continue treatment with anti-obesity medications in order to maintain the weight they lost, just as they would need to continue taking diabetes medication to maintain blood sugar levels.” More studies are needed to find out if this is an adverse effect only in patients with diabetes or if people taking GLP-1 drugs for weight loss are also at risk, VanderBeek added. In addition, they point out, there remain questions of exacerbating inequality in places where the medications aren’t covered by insurance and still-unknown side effects from long-term use, since some patients may need to be on the drugs for a lifetime to avoid regaining weight. She lost about 30 pounds, but has regained 5 pounds back and her weight has stayed steady at that number. Here are patients’ experiences with Ozempic and Wegovy, and their before-and-after photos. Novo Nordisk says it supports a health care system that ensures patient access and affordability. The fenfluramine-plus-phentermine regimen was pulled from the market in 1997 after it was discovered the drug combo caused serious heart valve problems. “It’s the same person the way they genetically would have been if their weight was lower.” “If you had excess weight, you may have fat in your face. As we get older, we lose the subcutaneous fat in our faces. These medications flood your body with amplified versions of these natural signals. In people with obesity or type 2 diabetes, this system gets broken. Finally, in 2017, a drug called Ozempic arrived, approved by the FDA to treat type 2 diabetes. Semaglutide is a synthetic version of a hormone known as GLP-1, which the body releases into the intestine when people eat food, says Aronne, who is a scientific adviser for Novo Nordisk. Previous medications targeting obesity haven't been "great," Narula explained, so Wegovy and Ozempic are showing the potential of changing a person's brain chemistry to impact their obesity. So it’s not causing weight loss through some bad side effect; it’s actually improving our metabolism, helping us lose weight, and lowering our appetite. Anything that is an amphetamine or amphetamine-like drug will have inherent risk of harm to it; it can lower your appetite but potentially have all sorts of side effects, including anxiety and insomnia. Before using a medication, learn all you need to know about it. Although some health care professionals prescribe them for longer periods, not many research studies have looked at how safe and effective they are for long-term use. You may need to do more than 300 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week to reach or maintain your weight-loss goal. Your health care professional may also “With medications such as stimulants or appetite suppressants, there is a risk of increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, jitteriness and other adverse effects,” she says. While many studies have demonstrated efficacy in patients with diabetes and obesity, a worrying trend is interest in Ozempic for cosmetic weight loss popularized by social media and celebrity influences . The study showed, along with weight loss, that the drug also improved the quality of life and well-being of participants, as cardiovascular risks such as high blood pressure were also being managed. Phase 3 of the semaglutide treatment effect in people with obesity or the STEP 3 program proved efficacy in reducing weight at much higher ranges at the 2.4 mg dose . Since then, semaglutide has been approved to treat individuals with chronic obesity, to aid in weight loss. This potential side effect may also be a good reminder that Ozempic is inappropriate for people who do not have a good medical reason to lose weight. When you lose a lot of weight, you might also lose some healthy-looking fat that you’d prefer to keep in places like your face or butt. While this side effect seems disconcerting, it’s worth remembering that semaglutide and tirzepatide have overwhelmingly positive effects on heart health. “Our main goal is to get people healthy and not necessarily to lose weight. However, because of the cost of these medications, some insurance companies are introducing their own criteria for eligibility or requiring step therapy with the oral drugs. Rice, the TikTok influencer, takes a compounded version of semaglutide and says she has no concerns about the risks because she has lost 62 pounds; she also says she doesn’t want to contribute to shortages of brand-name drugs. “While we recognize that some health-care providers may be prescribing Ozempic for patients whose goal is to lose weight, Novo Nordisk does not promote, suggest, or encourage off-label use of our medicines,” the spokesperson says. This could lead to a paradigm shift in health care and also impact other sectors, from biotech to food. J.P. Morgan Research forecasts the GLP-1 market will exceed $100 bn by 2030, fueled equally by diabetes and obesity usage. “The newest generations of GLP-1s and combos lead to 15–25+% weight loss on average, well above prior generations of products.” With what is currently known, we should ensure Ozempic is available for people who need it before access for cosmetic, non-chronic weight management use. Access issues have also caused a considerable increase in counterfeit drugs, causing problems for pharmacies trying to meet the inflated demand. In total, she said she has lost 73 pounds and is no longer on medications to treat high blood pressure. Food and Drug Administration to treat Type 2 diabetes, but some doctors prescribe them "off-label" for weight loss. Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, a physician of obesity medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, said it has been difficult for her to find the drug to give to her patients that have obesity and other chronic illnesses. And, the focus on celebrity weight loss is impacting body image and the body positivity movement, guests on Greater Boston said. Ozempic has lower doses of semaglutide and was developed specifically for type 2 diabetes patients.People with health conditions like type 2 diabetes and severe obesity should get it before people who hope to lose a few pounds.Health care professionals use the Body Mass Index (BMI), a measure of your weight in relation to your height, to define overweight and obesity.J.P. Morgan Research forecasts the GLP-1 market will exceed $100 bn by 2030, fueled equally by diabetes and obesity usage.Your health care professional can assess your individual risk caused by your weight.Existing GLP-1 receptor agonist therapies typically require subcutaneous administration which may be inconvenient for or not preferred by some patients, resulting in reduced adherence .You eat less, and you lose weight.Learn about weight loss medications, like Wegovy, and whether they're right for youMost significantly, this study found that danuglipron was able to reduce HbA1c% (ranging from 0.9% to 1.2% points lower depending on dosage) and weight (2.2 kg to 7.2 kg reduced depending on dosage) after just 28 days of administration . One other difference is that Ozempic is typically covered by health insurance, while Wegovy is often not covered. They both contain the same active ingredient semaglutide. Research has shown that if you stop taking Ozempic (or Wegovy), it's likely that you will gain back the weight you lost. The pill versions are especially good for “needle phobic” people, Levy says. It can be swallowed at any time of day without restrictions on food, “so it's easier to take,” Jay notes. The lowest doses cost $149 a month for people paying out of pocket, a cheaper alternative to the injectable Wegovy. The once-daily Wegovy pill is already approved and became available in the U.S. in January 2026. How does the drug in Ozempic and Wegovy help you lose weight? If they want to then proceed with a referral to a weight specialist, we are here. People oftentimes go years without seeing a PCP if they consider themselves to be otherwise healthy. And the notion that willpower is the main cause of obesity as opposed to there being physical, environmental, genetic, and other factors that contribute to it. They had less healthcare utilization (i.e., were more likely to avoid or delay medical care) and were more likely to lead sedentary lifestyles. But they may help you make the lifestyle changes that you need to lose weight and improve your health. But taken as a daily shot, it can help people with one of these conditions lose weight. This is a label given to drugs that have a risk of misuse. As a human being, I know, that’s messed up,” LeFebvre says of her desire to go back on the drugs. Novo Nordisk does not comment on potential side effects in individual patients, but adverse reactions can be reported on its website. “They were discontinued because they were a death risk to people, but they worked for me. A company spokesperson adds that patients experiencing nausea on Wegovy “should contact their health-care provider, who can offer guidance on ways to manage it.” We are years away from the day that Ozempic or any related drug could be prescribed as a therapy for addictive or compulsive behavior. Somehow the drug appears to reduce our damaging tendency to overindulge in activities like drinking, shopping, gambling, or even biting our nails. Three percent of participants in the drug’s pivotal trial reported hair loss (three times as many as those who used a placebo). And when millions of people start choosing different foods, that has consequences for the entire food system.We're not in a position to fully grasp Ozempic's effect on the world yet, but what we do know is that use of the drug and its counterparts has been huge.The cost concerns are amplified by studies showing that the drugs usually need to be taken long term to prevent weight regain.In general, having a healthy diet and exercising consistently is going to be the way to be healthier in the long run, no matter what.If your answer to these questions is yes, a prescription weight-loss drug may be for you.“Patients would come in weighing 350 to 400 pounds, and we were just telling them to drink skim milk, increase your walking, things of the sort that didn’t have any impact on the degree of severity of their disease.”For many of those living with obesity, these medicines can feel like a game changer.TikTok videos with a #ozempic hashtag have had 600 million views. But at the start of August, Sky News research revealed only eight of 42 NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in England had started providing treatment to patients, and many of the rest unable to guarantee when it would be available. But what are these drugs, how do they work - and what were they originally designed to do? Learn how dropping even a few pounds can reduce your risk for many diseases and... Woman Loses 130 Pounds and Finally Buys 1 Item of Clothing for the First Time (Pancreatitis is a known possible side effect of these drugs.) “With all four legs on the ground, you have a pretty stable base to lose weight,” Primack says. “We estimate current coverage at only around 40%, but this will likely reach the 80% range by the end of the decade, driven by a series of outcomes studies that we expect will show broad health benefits from losing weight.” Foodfacts.org is an independent non-profit fact-checking platform dedicated to exposing misinformation in the food industry. At foodfacts.org, we're dedicated to exposing the truth behind misleading food narratives. Misinformation is a growing threat to our health and planet. At scale, these changes could meaningfully reduce greenhouse gas emissions and food waste. Policymakers need to set standards ensuring that "GLP-1 friendly" foods are actually nutritious. It is also responsible for less severe side effects, such as gastrointestinal discomfort.Over 70% of users reported eating less junk food, including packaged snacks, sugary drinks, frozen meals, and fast food.And people with Type 2 diabetes have trouble naturally regulating their glucose levels.By imagining the prospects of his eating or not eating the cake, he can assess what he stands to lose or gain by relinquishing his desire.These drugs are long-term drugs, meaning you may have to be on them the rest of your life.“When you stop the meds, you can rapidly regain weight,” Wolver said.Ozempic® is intended for the treatment of type 2 diabetes but has been increasingly prescribed off-label without the benefit of an FDA-reviewed analysis of safety and efficacy data .Those medications can help people lose 5% to 10% of their weight, an amount that can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in adults with obesity or overweight.But taken as a daily shot, it can help people with one of these conditions lose weight. And I think at some point during the time of the shortage of this new treatment, people kind of put two and two together. Was it with the approval of Wegovy, which is basically the same ingredient as Ozempic for weight loss? They started studying this higher dose version for weight loss specifically. And so Novo Nordisk saw these improving amounts of weight loss. It's approved for diabetes, as you mentioned. Prescription weight-loss drugs Catania said she hadn't experienced any negative side effects. I went on semaglutide, which is the ingredient in Ozempic.” Other people can do it without, why can’t I? Oshry acknowledged that she was a "little embarrassed" when she first went on the drug. Talk to your healthcare professional about your total risk of heart and blood vessel disease and personal preferences before making a decision about statin therapy. A variety of “detoxification” diets, regimens, and therapies—sometimes called “detoxes” or “cleanses”—have been suggested as ways to remove toxins from your body, lose weight, or promote health. We should be careful here, however, when we talk about efficiency, given that although drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy reliably reduce the appetite, one needs to continue taking them in order to keep the weight loss. "I’m absolutely done with the shaming from other people and particularly myself.”Typically, whenever I start anyone on Ozempic, we’re also obviously talking about their diet, exercise, and putting into place these good habits whether they’re on the drug or not.Ozempic and similar drugs work by mimicking the hormones the body releases when a person eats food, as TODAY.com previously reported.Experts are concerned that, in some cases, the side effects of prescription medications that treat overweight and obesity may outweigh the benefits.There's also growing interest among women to take GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy — for weight loss while breastfeeding after giving birth.As a new drug, we lack information on long-term health impacts, and the statistics surrounding supply, demand, and access remain concerning.When people are looking down on or judging somebody for their excess weight, that’s weight stigma.You actually reported that Medicare puts weight loss in the same category as balding and erectile dysfunction.Now in pill form, the drugs promise the same life-changing transformations – and the same protection from obesity-related diseases – but more cheaply and easily than ever before.It brought down the risk of heart - these kinds of heart issues by about 20% relative to a placebo. But largely, when we're talking about this, like, Ozempic, Wegovy, these are drugs known as GLP-1s. So when we talk about these drugs, there are some newer versions that are now coming out with slightly different science. But can you first tell us how these drugs work? We haven't seen - you know, usually the pharma industry spends a lot of money and invests a lot into getting the word out about these drugs. We've heard more recently Oprah say she's been using it for weight loss maintenance. The gift of life: A father and son's transplant journey Semaglutide is the active ingredient; Ozempic is a branded product by Novo Nordisk containing semaglutide. Understanding this distinction helps you navigate conversations with healthcare providers. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis. Ozempic and Wegovy, the brand names of a GLP-1 RA known as semaglutide, are both made by Novo Nordisk, a Danish pharmaceutical company. GLP-1 RAs were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes; their hormone-mimicking action provokes insulin production. And can all the publicity lead people to do things they definitely shouldn’t do? Other foods to avoid on Ozempic include fruits and vegetables that contain significant roughage such as pineapple, and gas-forming vegetables like broccoli. She once weighed more than 400 pounds and started taking Ozempic in early 2021 to slim down and manage her Type 2 diabetes. When it comes to side effects, O’Reilly says she experienced nausea and some diarrhea at first, which went away after about four weeks. “I’ve just really changed how I look at food as a form of sustenance.” The hospital worker in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, says she would sometimes force herself to eat when she was taking Ozempic because of the side effects. This means that roughly 2 - 3% of the population in the United States may now be taking one of these drugs. CNBC, analyzing data for GLP-1 drugs (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound) found that 9 million prescriptions of them were written in Q4 of 2022. Data analyzed by Epic Research showed an increase in use of these drugs by 40-fold between 2017 and 2021, estimating that 6 million Americans are now on either Ozempic or Mounjaro. He’s not against the drug, but calls it a Band-Aid that’s not fixing the root of the problem of obesity. Side effects may include upset stomach and vomiting, loose stools, and belly pain. This type of medicine under other brand names and dosages also treats diabetes. Phentermine by itself (Adipex-P, Lomaira) is another weight-loss medicine. Topiramate raises the risk of birth defects. GLP-1 drugs, like Wegovy and Ozempic, may not be good only for diabetes and weight-loss.The advent of GLP-1 use for appetite suppression has been a key factor in the median larger-cap U.S. food producers underperforming the S&P 500 by nearly 40% year to date.By Joan Tupponce Turn on the television any time of the day or night and within minutes you'll probably see a catchy commercial for an injectable weight loss drug.Before choosing a medicine for you, your healthcare professional asks about your health history and health challenges.Other proponents might accept the short-term risks for cosmetic purposes and dismiss the fact that there is much unknown, including whether it is sustainable long-term.In February 2024, Gosselin began taking semaglutide in addition to undergoing testosterone replacement therapy.Www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-approves-weight-management-drug-patients-aged-12-and-olderSo people basically feel like they’ve already eaten when they take it,” Aronne tells TODAY.com. It is not approved for weight loss, but some physicians prescribe it to be used for weight loss. Do health experts recommend Ozempic for weight loss purposes? If just 10% of overweight adults and 20% of obese adults in the US start using these medications, total calorie consumption would drop by about 3%. GLP-1 medications essentially turn off the brain's reward response to these foods. Researchers surveyed nearly 2,000 people taking these medications, and patterns are starting to emerge. Early evidence shows that people taking these drugs are eating less beef, choosing more vegetables, and turning away from processed snacks. Over the next decade, an estimated 40 million people worldwide could be using these medications. “If large swathes of the general public start taking them off-label for weight loss and then we find out years later that there are bad side effects, it could be a real issue.” Rarely, serious side effects can occur. A lifestyle program may also address other things that cause you to gain weight, such as eating triggers and not getting enough sleep. People who have a BMI between 25 and 30 are considered to be overweight. “We should have body acceptance and body diversity. “But we’re not seeing any (safety) signals.” People need to understand their own individual risk-benefit ratio, he said. Rarely, people who take orlistat have serious liver injury. Orlistat can cause side effects such as passing gas and having loose stools. Common side effects include upset stomach, headache and trouble passing stool. Bupropion-naltrexone can raise blood pressure. A more recent analysis in JAMA Network Open suggests GLP-1s provide far more protection against cancer for diabetic patients than insulin treatments. Though research on GLP-1 drugs is still in its relative infancy, so far studies fairly consistently show their benefit in staving off certain cancers. And in several recent studies, they show early promise in preventing many common cancers — including breast, colon, liver, and ovarian — known to be driven by obesity and excess weight. Semaglutide for weight loss should be used in addition to a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity, the FDA says. To reduce nausea while on semaglutide, registered dietitian Emily Rubin recommends skipping hot, fried or greasy food; and avoiding eating or cooking strong-smelling food. Since then, Jackson-Williams told NBC News she’s making better food choices, her blood sugar has dropped to prediabetic levels, and she’s much more active and fit. “(Ozempic) allowed me some space to develop a healthier relationship with food because I don’t ever remember a time when I wasn’t hungry all the time,” O’Reilly, 52, a chocolatier who lives in Seattle, told TODAY.com. Drugs in this category have also shown promising efficacy levels in terms of average weight loss. Subsequently, the popularity of the pharmaceutical weight-loss drug market has grown over the past few years to meet growing demand. Using a weight-loss medication is “in no way the easy way out,” he notes. Ozempic and Mounjaro are approved to treat Type 2 diabetes. Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound, targets two different hormones, GIP and GLP-1, which can lead to even greater weight loss, research shows. Weight management medications are meant to help people who have health problems related to overweight or obesity. If these lifestyle changes are not enough to help you lose weight or maintain your weight loss, your health care professional may prescribe medications as part of your weight-control program. What’s more, that ASCO study suggests that GLP-1 drugs have a notable impact on cancer risk, even when patients don’t lose a lot of weight as a result of taking them. Anti-obesity medications work in the brain to help bring that set point down, enabling individuals not only to lose weight but also to maintain the weight loss. “She’d heard about Ozempic from the lady who does her eyebrows, and was considering buying it for £180 a month to lose weight,” Chloe – who is speaking anonymously because of this friendship and her job – tells VICE. However, Sky News research into Wegovy and Mounjaro shows delays in the rollout of both weight loss jabs. Wegovy and Mounjaro is available to NHS patients, but only through specialist weight management services. Understanding Semaglutide and GLP-1 Medications That same study, funded by Novo Nordisk, showed participants lost about 15% of their body weight after taking semaglutide for 16 months, compared to a 2.4% weight loss for those taking a placebo.Some of the more commonly experienced side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea .The study didn't specify which GLP-1 medications were included in the research, but "it is reasonable to assume that semaglutide was among them," Novo Nordisk said in a statement.And we're talking about the surge in popularity of new weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro.Because many don’t think of chronic excess weight as a disease?If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, we will only use your protected health information as outlined in our Notice of Privacy Practices. You can take medication for erectile dysfunction. You can take medication for high cholesterol. You know, and a lot of the time, like, we have seen medical treatments and pharmaceutical, you know, involvement in areas actually change the way conditions are perceived, right? It really has to do with how people perceive it and how things are categorized. This amylin drug from Eli Lilly is injected once a week. This drug from Novo Nordisk also mimics both GLP-1 and amylin, and is being tested as a daily pill and a weekly injection. The once-weekly injection from Novo Nordisk combines cagrilintide, an amylin analog, with semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy. Both of them work at the level of the pancreas and at the level of the brain and other organs in the body,” adds Jay, who has also done consulting work for Novo Nordisk. “It’s certainly something that I’ve heard many of patients say, usually in a positive way,” Dr. Robert Gabbay, the chief scientific and medical officer of the American Diabetes Association, told the newspaper. Possible serious side effects can include inflammation of the pancreas or gallbladder or kidney problems. Other side effects can include vomiting, constipation and stomach pain. Before taking any medication to treat obesity, talk with your health care professional about the possible risks and benefits. Some weight management medications that curb appetite, such as phentermine, are approved by the FDA only for use for a few weeks. You can keep taking these medications as long as you are benefiting from treatment and not experiencing serious side effects. The table below lists prescription drugs approved by the FDA for chronic weight management. Some, but not all, insurance plans cover medications that treat overweight and obesity. The food system won't automatically shift toward sustainability just because demand changes. Folks who don’t like injections, or places where price and cold-storage were a barrier, will now be able to access this medication. This is sure to accelerate the adoption of this medication. Most commercial insurance covers Ozempic and Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes, often requiring prior authorization. Brand-name semaglutide is expensive, but insurance and discount programs can reduce costs. Other risks include gallbladder problems, kidney complications, and vision changes related to diabetic retinopathy. Pancreatitis is a serious risk, signaled by severe upper stomach pain radiating to the back. Eating smaller meals and avoiding fatty foods can help minimize discomfort. In studies, 73% of people taking the 0.5 mg dose and 70% on the 1 mg dose reached this target, compared to 28% with placebo. The American Diabetes Association recommends most adults with type 2 diabetes aim for an HbA1c below 7%. Ozempic is a weekly injection for adults with type 2 diabetes, used alongside diet and exercise. Ozempic received FDA approval in December 2017 for type 2 diabetes management. Semaglutide signals the pancreas to release insulin and reduces glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar. Get access to your health record, communicate with your doctor, see test results, pay your bill and more. You can get health news and information from The Science of Health blog delivered right to your inbox every month. We find that patients tend to tolerate Ozempic better and they are more effective than appetite suppressants.” “The medication has a direct effect on stomach emptying,” says O’Boyle. “This is disheartening as the benefits of GLP-1 use in patients with these metabolic disorders are so significant,” she says. How long will I need to take weight management medication? It is available as Ozempic for diabetes, Wegovy for weight loss, and Rybelsus as an oral tablet. Initially developed for type 2 diabetes, semaglutide later received FDA approval for chronic weight management. These medications bind to specific receptors to help regulate blood sugar levels and appetite. Ozempic is unique among semaglutide-containing medications. Michael Albert, MD, co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Accomplish Health, a New-York based telehealth medical weight management practice, believes there is no evidence to suggest this. On Twitter, some diabetic Ozempic users and their family members have responded to the shortage by scapegoating those taking the drug for obesity reasons. Following a Wegovy shortage, doctors began prescribing Ozempic off-label for weight loss, causing a surge in sales. Once injected, it mimics a hormone produced in the gut called GLP-1 which regulates insulin and blood sugar levels and is essential for the management of type 2 diabetes. FDA-approved in the US in 2017 and by the EU in 2018, Ozempic is a branded name of semaglutide, manufactured by the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. We do have people coming in more now removing the bigger implants and wanting smaller-size implants.” “They want every last drop of fat taken out of them,” Shafer says of patients. And so, you’re not stuffing your face with food.” This is about the degree to which weight impacts your health and your quality of life. And what we're trying to do is reshape that conversation around weight health. Oprah Winfrey says being able to use medication to manage her weight has been a relief. Even small acts, like moving healthy foods to the front of the grocery store, can have an impact. Nor could I refer patients to supportive colleagues, such as dieticians, behavioral health counselors and health coaches — my clinic didn't have them. Either way, drug companies will be among the winners, Willett said.In general, studies have found that tirzepatide and semaglutide are the most effective for weight loss.Those seeking treatment for diabetes and/or obesity should be prioritized not only until the supply and demand issue is solved, but until the effects of cosmetic use are further studied.A Gallup survey released in December showed the obesity rate increased by 6 percentage points from 2019 to its current level of 38.4%."Semaglutide’s efficacy and safety have been extensively demonstrated in people with obesity/overweight with robust evidence for improving health outcomes," the company noted in a statement to TODAY.com.These medications flood your body with amplified versions of these natural signals.A new generation of anti-obesity drugs has shifted the treatment landscape, providing potent new therapies to achieve weight loss but sparking debate about how best to use them and the proper place for lifestyle-based interventions that long had been center stage.Nicknamed the “King Kong of weight-loss drugs” thanks to its stronger effects, the UK’s Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency recently approved Mounjaro for use in adult patients with a body mass index over 35 and at least one weight-related illness.And she says, like, obesity is a disease. Wegovy has a slightly higher dosage and is designed for weight loss, while Ozempic's primary purpose was as a diabetes treatment (more on that later). O’Boyle says that medications like Ozempic tend to be better tolerated than other anti-obesity medications and gastrointestinal side effects are easily managed. The active ingredient in the drugs, semaglutide, lowers blood sugar levels, regulates insulin and limits appetite by making you feel full and causing the stomach to empty more slowly. Because Ozempic was FDA approved for type 2 diabetes, doctors must prescribe it “off-label” for weight loss. Demand has surged for the medication because of its impressive ability to help people lose weight. But true health is not just about a number on the scale.Stay hydrated and monitor blood pressure or glucose as advised.The maximum dose is 2 milligrams for Ozempic and 2.4 milligrams for Wegovy, according to Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical giant that makes both drugs.But can you first tell us how these drugs work?“We talk about diabetes remission, and, in the same way, patients have obesity remission,” Dr. Jastreboff says.Aronne calls this “the golden age of treating obesity” as more medications that work and are safe become available, he says.Wegovy patients may also experience an increased heart rate, and depression or thoughts of suicide, the company says.And for decades, we've discussed weight and dieting and obesity in terms that isolate people and often demotivate them.Households with someone taking these medications spend about 6% less on groceries overall, and up to 9% less for higher-income families. And we've seen that there are markers of, you know, things like cholesterol levels reduce when you're on these drugs. And we have seen drug companies start investing in research, not in addiction, but in areas like Alzheimer's and brain disease and things like that. They say that these drugs are completely changing everything that they've struggled with in their lives. Known as a triple-agonist, this medication from Eli Lilly is not yet approved by the FDA but has produced powerful results in clinical trials. That compares to a 15% average weight loss with a Wegovy injection. Jay believes it will be the next hot thing in the weight-loss drug space. Most recently, Wegovy® was approved for weight loss in adults in June 2021 and adolescents ≥12 years old in December 2022 . In 2019, the oral form of semaglutide, under the brand name Rybelsus®, was approved for individuals with type 2 diabetes to manage glucose control . For example, a recent study evaluated the effect of exercise and GLP-1 receptor agonists on weight loss, blood glucose levels, and cardiovascular outcomes . In fact, the study also found that patients who discontinued the medication had a 30–33% increased risk of cardiac disorders compared to patients who continued to take the medication 14, 15. If your cholesterol — particularly the LDL ("bad") type — stays high after you make healthy lifestyle changes, statins might be an option for you. The formulas in these tools often consider your cholesterol levels, age, race, sex, smoking habits and health conditions. If your risk is very high — for example, you've had a heart attack in the past — a statin may be helpful even if you don't have high cholesterol. If your risk is very low, you probably won't need a statin, unless your LDL is above 190 mg/dL (4.92 mmol/L). “A lot of people were talking about this, and it’s called Ozempic.” “I am not at all endorsing this, but people are talking about it,” says comedian Heather McDonald on her podcast, “Juicy Scoop.” As part of this work we continue to monitor reports of adverse drug reactions through routine pharmacovigilance. We continuously collect safety data on our marketed GLP-1 RA medicines and work closely with the authorities to ensure patient safety. “The main way semaglutide helps treat obesity is through its action in the brain.” It doesn’t work for everyone, but when it’s successful, it can help someone shed 15% of their body weight. According to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, use of tirzepatide in the trial resulted in more than a 20% weight reduction in those with obesity—an average of 52 pounds per person. One such medication that has made the headlines is tirzepatide, which has been used under the brand name Mounjaro® for type 2 diabetes. But new types of medicines have been life-changing for many people who have struggled with weight. While there are several advantages to the medication, it is not without its side effects. In fact, GLP-1 receptor agonists have been linked to improved cardiac function (i.e., decreased blood pressure and lower risk of stroke or heart attack) and kidney function . In this case, synthetically produced GLP-1 receptor agonists can substitute for intrinsically available GLP-1 receptors in patients with diabetes. Thus, current studies are interested in the differential efficacy, benefits, and side effects of these different forms of semaglutide. “(But) with semaglutide being out for this many years, so far nothing has emerged that’s been really new in terms of safety signals.” Novo Nordisk also says it work closely with the FDA to monitor the safety of its medicines. But I don’t think the data is there for the effectiveness of this class of drug on a long-term basis.