Ozempic is a medication for diabetes and yet it is always in the spotlight as celebrities and influencers talk about using it to lose weight fast.
The Food and Drug Administration approved Ozempic for diabetes in 2017. Later, in 2021, they approved a higher dose of its active ingredient, semaglutide, to combat obesity, under the brand name Wegovy.
Since then, discussions about the drug have surged online. Elon Musk, when asked about his “fit, ripped and healthy” appearance, tweeted that he was on Wegovy. Andy Cohen discussed at length Ozempic’s rising fame. In September, Variety noted that actors and producers are discreetly praising the drug on Signal while on TikTok, the hashtag #Ozempic has over 273 million views.
What is Ozempic and what is it used for?
Ozempic is an injectable diabetes medication used alongside diet and exercise to help adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. It can be used alone in those who cannot take metformin (another diabetes drug) or as an addition to other diabetes medications.
Ozempic contains semaglutide and is a weekly injection that lowers blood sugar by prompting the pancreas to produce more insulin. While it’s not approved for weight loss, some doctors do prescribe it for that purpose.
How does Ozempic work?
Ozempic mimics a naturally occurring hormone called GLP-1. As these hormone levels rise, they signal your brain that you’re full. It also slows digestion and increases the time that food stays in your body, similar to how bariatric surgery works.
Does Ozempic work for weight loss purposes?
Weight loss is a common side effect when using Ozempic for diabetes treatment. The active ingredient in Ozempic, semaglutide, is effective for weight loss, but it’s also necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle to support your weight loss.
Ozempic itself is not approved for weight loss. However, semaglutide is approved for this purpose under the name Wegovy, which contains a higher dose of the active ingredient compared to Ozempic.
It’s important to understand that when you take these drugs for weight loss, your body may adjust, creating a new baseline, which can lead to a weight loss plateau. Studies have shown that discontinuing Ozempic (or Wegovy) may result in regaining the weight you’ve lost.
What’s the difference between Ozempic and Wegovy?
Ozempic and Wegovy are both once-a-week injections that have been FDA approved. However, Ozempic is for diabetes management while Wegovy has been approved for weight management. Both are manufactured by the same company and contain the same active ingredient which is semaglutide. However, Wegovy contains higher doses of it while Ozempic has lower doses of semaglutide. Also it’s worth noting that Ozempic may be covered by insurance (if prescribed for diabetes) while Wegovy is not.
Ozempic Weight Loss Success Stories Shared Online
If you’re looking for Ozempic weight loss stories to inspire and motivate you to give this treatment a shot, you’ve come to the right place. On this page we will share several Ozempic success stories for you.
Kim Wilton’s Ozempic Weight Loss Success Story
Kim Wilton is a senior program manager from Redmond, Washington. She had been on a quest to find the right treatment for her type 2 diabetes. Traditional medications like Glipizide and Metformin just weren’t cutting it for her and so her doctor recommended seeing an endocrinologist, who then introduced her to Ozempic.
Kim shared that after starting Ozempic, she saw dramatic changes in her health.
Pros
- Weight Loss: Kim lost an impressive 50 lbs.
- Less Food Fixation: She found herself not constantly thinking about food.
- Reduced Portion Sizes: She felt full after smaller meals.
- Limited Treat Consumption: One cookie was enough to satisfy her sweet tooth.
- Decreased Sweet Cravings: Sweet foods became overly sweet and less appealing.
- Improved Mental Health: She stopped fixating on her weight and diabetes management, leading to better mental well-being.
Cons
- Kim experienced constant nausea, making it difficult to decide what to eat, especially if she could smell the food.
- Occasional painful cramps she experienced were quite disruptive.
- Not thinking about food made it hard to plan family dinners.
Kim described her experience with Ozempic as life-changing. Her blood sugar levels are now under control, her A1C is at a healthy level, and her mental health has significantly improved.
However, Kim has concerns about the future affordability of Ozempic. Her insurance covers the cost at the moment, but she worries about what might happen if she changes jobs. The medication costs around $1,000 for a month’s supply.
Despite the cost concerns, Kim is committed to staying on Ozempic for the foreseeable future. She hopes that competition in the market will eventually drive the price down though.
Gina Schweppe’s Ozempic Weight Loss Success Story
In December 2021, 36-year old Gina Schweppe found herself very unhappy with her weight. At 200 lbs she felt incredibly uncomfortable in her own skin. Only her pajamas and sweats fit and she had lost all confidence.
Gina has four children and would often deal with anxiety and hypothyroidism. She had tried Weight Watchers for a long time and while she enjoys it, her efforts only led to a weight loss of 10 lbs which regained back by the end of the year.
Knowing her hypothyroidism made weight loss difficult for her, she started researching about Ozempic and semaglutide. Her doctor initially told her she wasn’t a candidate since she didn’t have diabetes so a friend suggested visiting a medical spa, where a physician assistant prescribed Ozempic due to her being overweight and being pre-diabetic. She began her treatment on February starting with 0.05 mg and gradually increasing the dose over the following weeks until she reached 1 mg.
After about three months, she stopped taking semaglutide, having lost 35 lbs through a combination of the medication, exercise and a healthy diet. She emphasized that these medications are not miracle cures but they effectively slow down digestion so you feel full for longer periods and avoid binge eating and cravings.
With semaglutide, she aligned her healthy eating and running routine and dropped from size 32 jeans to 27. She did experience nausea, heartburn, excessive burping, and severe constipation.
She iterated the importance of seeing a healthcare professional before starting on Ozempic to make sure you’re suitable based on your medical history and needs.
Kevin Poole’s Ozempic Weight Loss Success Story
Kevin Poole lost 21 lbs on Ozempic. He used to not worry about his weight but as he entered his mid-40s, he began noticing unfavorable changes in his body composition in spite having a high level of physical activity.
He noticed that his metabolism had slowed down and although he tried various diets they were only temporary fixes. Although Kevin didn’t gain a lot of weight overall, the extra pounds he did put on settled in his midsection. He was becoming increasingly bothered by his body image and told his wife that he thought this was just how life goes, but she challenged that notion, saying it didn’t have to be this way.
As a healthcare professional, Kevin often avoided medications even though he saw their benefits for others. Despite his doubts, he decided to give Ozempic a shot, especially since ineffective diets had left him avoiding mirrors and feeling discouraged.
After his initial consultation his healthcare provider prescribed Ozempic. It took just 30 days for him to see significant changes.
A key factor in Ozempic’s effectiveness for Kevin was the personalized approach his provider took to customize weight care and monitored him to manage any side effects.
But it was after the first month when Kevin noticed real changes. After five months on Ozempic, Kevin lost 21 pounds or 12% of his body weight. Kevin experienced no negative side effects, and although there were occasional slowdowns, he continued meeting his goals. He also celebrated non-scale victories, such as improved sleep and a more positive self-image.
Kevin is ecstatic about his progress. His wife and kids have noticed a big change, and he feels great. He has more energy and better sleep habits.
Avoiding Unrealistic Expectations When Taking Ozempic
Dr. Andrew Kraftson, a clinical associate professor specializing in endocrinology, metabolism and diabetes at Michigan Medicine explained the common occurrence of weight-loss plateaus for people on medications like Ozempic or Wegovy. He said that many patients reach a plateau around the 18-month mark and often patients mistakenly believe the medication has stopped working.
Dr. Kraftson emphasized that the goal isn’t continuous weight loss. Even if patients remain technically overweight, their overall health can improve significantly.
Gary Czaplewski, a 49-year-old private detective from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, encountered a weight loss plateau six months after starting Wegovy and while he lost about 35 pounds he faced severe side effects when his dosage was increased. The intense pain made him fear he might have pancreatitis.
To break through his weight loss plateau, Gary tried to increase his exercise but found it more difficult than anticipated. He expected a more sustained and easier weight loss journey.
When patients are unhappy with their weight loss progress, Dr. Kraftson says that doctors have few options. They can try adding another medication, but this might lead to new side effects and drug interactions. They might also suggest further dietary restrictions and increased exercise, but this can promote disordered eating and is challenging for those already consuming very little while on these medications.
Dr. Kraftson notes that while patients might be told they could lose up to 15 percent of their weight with medications like Ozempic or Wegovy, reaching that milestone doesn’t always bring the satisfaction patients expect. He recommends managing expectations and focusing on broader health improvements other than weight loss.