Wegovy and Weight Loss, The Truth About This Famous New Weight Loss Drug

You may have recently heard of the drugs Wegovy® or Ozempic®, both brand names for the same drug (semaglutide).  This trend is gaining a lot of traction among celebrities, garnering attention from SpaceX and Tesla owner Elon Musk, who reports successful use of Ozempic® for weight loss. On tiktok, the hashtag #ozempic has even reached over 160 million views.

What is it, what does it do?

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 agonist, which means it helps the body to secrete insulin while slowing the release of glucagon, keeping the body’s overall blood sugar regulated closer to its “set point”. Most individuals on semaglutide report feeling a curbed appetite, facilitating weight loss.

Is it for me?

I get it, there are a LOT of us who jump at the opportunity to lose weight. However, it’s important to note that there is no cheat code to weight loss. Diet, exercise, lifestyle, stress, current health conditions, other exogenous factors should ALL be taken into account when considering any weight loss strategy. Working with a provider who takes an in-depth look at the whole picture and can oversee the management of your care is imperative. Not to mention, as with any medication or supplement, there is a risk of side effects. With semaglutide in particular, common side effects include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

While there’s no quick fix in terms of weight loss, this medication has served many as a useful tool to manage blood sugar and initiate weight loss. Studies have shown patients on semaglutide losing anywhere from 5%-20% of their body fat after just a few months of use.  Additionally, the patient’s overall cardiometabolic profiles improved, as well as mental and physical functioning due to weight loss.

It’s worth mentioning the caveat to a weight loss drug such as semaglutide. The effects don’t last forever. Some reports showed that patients who came off of semaglutide after a period of time, slowly regained the weight they had lost. Because of this, having a robust support system to guide your weight loss journey is imperative.

Every-body is different. Therefore, individuals WILL respond differently to treatment with this type of medication. If this is something you’re interested in, speak with a provider who will take measures to ensure proper safety and management of your treatment.

PUR-FORM