Ozempic is Not the Answer to Losing Your Weight —for Good
Is Ozempic weight loss magic in a pill?
Oh my, could we go on a rampage about this?! In early 2023, the use of Ozempic has become a popular topic in the weight loss space (and in my suburbs).
What is Ozempic?
According to Forbes, 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 it. The active ingredient in Ozempic, known as semaglutide (GLP-1), is FDA-approved at higher doses for treating individuals with obesity and other weight related medical problems under the name Wegovy.
Due to a Wegovy shortage coupled with Ozempic’s weight loss effects going viral, people without type 2 diabetes are using Ozempic off-label for weight loss.
Ozempic is an FDA-approved prescription medication that helps improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It is proven to lower hemoglobin A1C, a measure of blood glucose over time, according to research cited on Ozempic’s site. It also helps adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease lower their risk for cardiovascular events like stroke or heart attack.
Christopher McGowan, M.D., a gastroenterologist specializing in obesity medicine and endobariatrics, explains that in addition to its effects on blood glucose and diabetes, GLP-1 also impacts weight via two key mechanisms:
It affects the hunger centers in the brain (specifically, in the hypothalamus), reducing hunger, appetite and cravings; and
It slows the rate of stomach emptying, effectively prolonging fullness and satiety after meals.
“The net result is decreased hunger, prolonged fullness and ultimately weight loss,” adds Dr. McGowan.
“Ozempic is FDA approved for the treatment of diabetes only. It is not a weight loss medication,” explains Dr. McGowan.
Even though Ozempic and Wegovy are essentially the same medication (just available in different doses). Ozempic is typically covered by insurance but often Wegovy is not.
High demand and subsequent inventory and supply chain strains have severely impacted Wegovy’s availability notes Dr. McGowan. As a result, Wegovy has been repeatedly unavailable since its introduction and many people are turning to off-label use of Ozempic for weight loss. Dr. McGowan notes that this is interfering with the availability of Ozempic for those with diabetes.
While taking semaglutide may help you lose weight while you are on the drug, most people will regain most of that weight if they discontinue using it. “Studies show that stopping Ozempic completely will likely lead to regaining most of the weight lost within several months,” notes Rekha Kumar, M.D., head of Medical Affairs at evidence-based weight care program Found and a practicing endocrinologist at an academic medical center in New York City.
“GLP-1 medications [like Ozempic] are designed to be taken long-term,” explains Dr. McGowan. “They are chronic medications for the treatment of chronic conditions (both diabetes and obesity).”
What will Ozempic do to my metabolism?
I don’t think anyone wants to pursue a weight loss option that, despite providing short-term results, will eventually cause you to gain back all their weight (and then some). In our opinion, Ozempic is setting people up for exactly that. Unless you plan to be on this medicine forever (and the long-term side effects of long-term off-label Ozempic are unknown as of yet), it is likely you will just gain back any weight you lost while taking it. The net effect is very similar to eating a 1200 calorie diet – while you might lose some weight in the short-term, you are likely setting yourself up for long-term failure because the damage eating so little will do to your metabolism. In a way, drugs like Ozempic are simply a mechanism that makes you more likely to stick to a low-calorie diet (with some additional blood sugar impacts as well). And we know that extremely low-calorie diets can cause your metabolism to slow down and make maintaining a healthy weight for the long-term difficult.
According to Healthline-quoted doctor, Kathleen Dungan, M.D., weight rebound occurs because the drug does not cure the underlying issues—daily nutrition and exercise habits—that led to weight gain in the first place.
Content creator, Remi Bader recently made a guest appearance on the podcast Not Skinny But Not Fat to share that she not only “gained double the weight back” once she stopped taking Ozempic, but her “binging got so much worse.”
“I saw a doctor, and they were like, it’s 100% because I went on Ozempic,” Bader explained.
Dr. Ibiye Owei, Assistant Professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, explained that metabolic adaptation occurs while patients are losing weight on Ozempic and this can contribute to weight gain when the medication is ended.
However, she said that this effect isn’t unique to semaglutide.
“This happens regardless of what weight loss method is employed,” she said, pointing out a study showing that contestants of the TV show The Biggest Loser had decreased resting metabolic rates that persisted six years after the competition ended.
Do we recommend off-label Ozempic for weight loss?
Absolutely not. As we discussed, you are likely to gain your weight back after you stop taking Ozempic. Further, Ozempic will likely cause muscle loss. This, combined with your metabolism slowing down from eating low calories, will make it even harder to keep your weight off. Peter Attia, MD—a longevity and wellness expert and host of the The Drive podcast— discusses this in detail in his blog post, Lean mass loss on GLP-1 receptor agonists: a downside of the “miracle drugs.” He discusses how Ozempic causes both muscle and fat loss and does not improve body composition as much as natural weight loss methods. What does that mean? Even if you lose weight taking Ozempic, you can end up more obese than before because of the muscle lost in the process. Instead of Ozempic (or any other quick fix solution), focus on weight loss strategies that allow you to lose body fat while maintaining lean muscle mass—like strength training and eating adequate protein.
What is the best way to lose weight and keep it off?
We know the idea of taking a magic pill to lose weight is alluring. But quick fix weight loss solutions are a lot like get rich quick schemes—too good to be true. What is the best way to lose your weight and keep it off for good? The answer is a long-term, holistic approach that includes establishing nutrition and exercise habits that are congruent with maintaining a healthy weight and compatible with your lifestyle. These healthy habits include being intentional with nutrition, eating enough protein (we recommend a minimum of 100 grams per day), lifting weights at least 2-3 times per week, and being active (more walking, less sitting).
Unlike Ozempic, we can help you revv up your metabolism! Book a free, 15-minute strategy call where we’ll discuss your goals and dieting history and discuss how Couture Coaching can help develop a customized plan for boosting your metabolism that allows you to eat more (really!). We’ll also talk about how you can exercise to build calorie-burning muscle. The Couture Coaching Team wants to help you create a body you love—for life!
Want More Metabolism-Boosting Information?
Join our private Facebook Group (Boost Your Metabolism After Age 30)
Listen to our podcast
Follow us on Instagram
Get our free video on how you can increase your metabolism