If there is something we are talking about more than the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni drama lately, it is Ozempic. Over the last 6 months, there has been a significant debate over Ozempic, a prescription pharmaceutical product in an injectable form used to treat Diabetes. Its widespread use and increased demand as an effective weight loss method has raised severe concerns within the scientific community and beyond.
Is Ozempic a powerful tool for weight management, or is it just another "bubble" with dangerous health effects? Let’s see what this “magic” Ozempic injection is all about.
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic belongs to a group of medicines called GLP-1 receptor agonists and contains the active ingredient semaglutide. The substance prompts the body to produce more insulin and has, therefore, been used for decades to control plasma glucose in type 2 diabetes.
Ozempic was developed by Novo Nordisk and received FDA approval in December 2017 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, while its use has been unofficially expanded in the US to combat obesity and, more broadly, unofficially as well, for weight loss.
How does Ozempic work?
The active ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide. Its action is defined as follows: The gut produces dozens of hormones, many of which travel to receptors in the brain where they either curb or stimulate appetite. One such hormone is glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Semaglutide mimics the action of GLP-1 as it binds to GLP-1 receptors. Because of this, these drugs are also characterized as GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA). Since it acts in the same way as the peptide GLP-1, semaglutide:
As its primary action, it stimulates the secretion of insulin from the pancreas, which helps control blood glucose levels and acts on the appetite centers of the brain, causing a feeling of satiety, which contributes to reduced food intake and, by extension to reduced energy intake, which can lead to a negative energy balance and, in the long term, weight loss.
Ozempic's benefits are:
- sugar regulation and reduction of glycosylated hemoglobin
- improvement of cardiovascular profile
- improvement of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- blood pressure reduction
- weight loss
According to research, this particular drug contributes to weight loss in two ways
It has a direct effect on the hypothalamus, the appetite center, and reduces the feeling of hunger.
It binds to receptors in the stomach, resulting in delaying the removal of food after a meal, giving the feeling of rapid and prolonged satiety, leading to reduced food intake.
Patient reports, moreover, claim that they simultaneously see a reduced desire for foods rich in calories, sugar, and saturated fat. There are also patients, however, who state that even though they tried Ozempic treatment, they did not see any results.
Is Ozempic effective?
Research and clinical studies to date have shown that semaglutide is the most effective anti-obesity drug. In a clinical study with obese adult participants, a comparison was made between those who received semaglutide along with a diet and exercise program and those who followed a diet and exercise program alone.
After 68 weeks, participants who took semaglutide lost 15-20% of their body weight compared to 2.4% in those who did not.
Ozempic side effects
Like any medication, Ozempic has possible side effects, including mild ones:
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea and/or constipation
- severe fatigue
More specific side effects include
Risk of Hypoglycemia: When Ozempic is combined with other diabetes medications, especially insulin or sulfonylureas, there is an increased risk of hypoglycemia.
Pancreatitis: Although rare, cases of acute pancreatitis have been reported in patients using GLP-1 receptor agonists. Patients should be alert for symptoms such as severe abdominal pain and seek medical attention if they occur.
Thyroid tumors: Animal studies have shown an increased risk of thyroid C-cell tumors with GLP-1 receptor agonists. However, the relevance of these findings to humans remains undetermined, and ongoing studies aim to clarify this risk.
Everyone who wants to lose weight can use Ozempic?
The answer is no. Ozempic is suitable for people suffering from diabetes mellitus and, according to the FDA, for the treatment of obesity, it is administered to people:
- People with a BMI ≥ 27 and at least one weight-related condition, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal blood lipid levels, obstructive sleep apnea, or a history of heart attack, stroke
- People with a BMI ≥ 30 (obesity)
Regarding weight loss, the use of semaglutide is intended for a limited period of time as an extra help, an extra "boost" in weight loss. Semaglutide is intended to aid in weight loss over a limited period of time. However, when intake is interrupted, all the weight is regained unless substantial changes are made to lifestyle and diet.
A follow-up study of 232 participants from the original clinical trial showed that all had regained almost all of the weight they lost within a year of stopping the drug. Also, the same was observed for the benefits that had been observed, such as a reduction in blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol, which returned to their initial levels before its administration.
The results were spectacular for as long as the intervention lasted, always combined with diet and exercise, that is, a lifestyle change
Can Ozempic really work miracles?
The answer is no! Clinical studies show that Ozempic contributes to weight loss only when combined with a diet and exercise program. It is a valuable tool that helps in weight loss efforts and only in cases where the treating physician officially recommends its administration. It is necessary that, while taking the medication, the patient also receive adequate nutrition education on the principles of a balanced diet in order to achieve their goals. At the same time, they should also incorporate physical activity into their daily routine. After interrupting intake, they must necessarily follow a balanced diet and exercise program.
It's good to remember that there is no magic pill, no magic diet or drink that can magically make us lose weight. Losing weight is a complex process that requires, first of all, willpower, patience and perseverance, but also nutritional education to maintain the results in the long term.
