Ozempic: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
This drug is on the tip of everyone’s tongue. Chelsea Handler had an entire bit dedicated to the injectable on the Critics Choice Awards and #ozempic has 300 million views on tik tok and counting.
Ozempic was first on the scene as a treatment for Type 2 Diabetes but is now being praised for its ability to slim waists.
Miracle drug or another diet culture dud? Let’s dive into it as I answer all of your burning ozempic questions.
All information provided is intended to be used for informational purposes only. This article is not medical advice, nor is it intended to replace medical advice.
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic is a part of class of medication called a GLP-1 Receptor Agonist (1). It’s a once-weekly shot that works by
Increasing insulin secretion
Prevents the liver from dumping glucose (sugar) into the blood
Slows gastric emptying
Why is it commonly used in diabetes management?
Ozempic can be pretty effective at lowering the blood sugar. It also has a few advantages like it can be helpful for heart and kidney health which are bigger concerns for people with diabetes (1).
New research is also starting to show the neuroprotective benefits of these medications. We may find that ozempic is great for brain health as well(2)!
What are some of the common side effects of ozempic?
Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headaches, and diarrhea are some of the most common side effects of ozempic (3). This is partly due to the fact that the medication slows down the stomach from being emptied after a meal.
Dosing really matters when it comes to the intensity of these side effects. The higher the dose the worse the side effects can be.
Ozempic also has a black box warning to not take the medication if you have a personal or family history of thyroid cancer (1).
Why are there shortages?
There is a perfect storm for shortages right now. In 2022, the American Diabetes Association adjusted how they prescribe medications. For years, metformin has been the first medication recommended to people with type 2 diabetes. Now ozempic, along with another class of medications, can be prescribed as the first medication if someone is at high risk for cardiovascular disease (4).
This means the medication is being prescribed more often by doctors to be used by people with diabetes.
Around that same time, Hollywood got word of how ozempic can be used for weight loss. #ozempic has nearly 300 million views and climbing on tik tok as this medication has become all the rage.
Getting a dose of ozempic has become harder than getting your hands on a golden ticket to Willie Wonka’s factory.
Let me tell you, it is really heartbreaking to see clients who are benefiting from this medication for their blood sugar management and are not able to get it. Switching medication can be an arduous process… it really sucks.
Does Ozempic work for weight loss?
Yes and no. There are a few studies out there on weight loss and ozempic (5, 6, 7).
The longest and largest study took 1961 adult participants for a 68-week trial of ozempic (5).
These participants received individual counseling sessions every 4 weeks to help them adhere to a diet that reduced their calorie intake by 500 calories a day. They were also counseled to increase their physical activity by 150 minutes per week.
The participants were then broken down into a placebo group and a group that received 2.4 mg dose of Ozempic weekly (first starting at 0.25mg and working their way up to the full dose).
2.4mg is the highest dose currently available (8).
The study found that 89.7% of the ozempic group had adverse events such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, headache, or abdominal pain. A surprising 94.3% of participants stayed until the end of the study despite the unwanted side effects.
After 68 weeks, participants on average lost around 15% of their starting body weight (5).
—>Here’s the BIG BUT<—
A follow-up study to the original 68-week study found that participants regained most of their lost weight within one year of stopping the medication (9).
Of course, more studies need to be done, but it looks very likely that someone will have to stay on this medication to keep weight off.
At the end of the day, is it worth it? To deal with nausea, vomiting, headache and other not-so-fun side effects to keep the weight off? Not to mention the pretty penny you will likely have to shell out to get your hands on the medication for weight loss.
Who should take ozempic?
It depends! Consult with your doctor to see if this is appropriate for you.
When working with my clients I always ask them what their goals are and what will work with their lifestyle.
Some people have difficulty taking medications every day or even multiple times a day. A once-weekly shot can be beneficial if it means the individual is actually going to take the medication as prescribed.
Others have tried a lot of different medications and ozempic seemed to be the thing that worked. They found a dose that gave them the blood sugar benefits without the terrible side effects.
If you are looking to take this medication for weight loss it may bite you in the butt. You will likely have to take a high dose of the medication to achieve weight loss which will likely come with more intense side effects. You will also likely have to stay on this medication to maintain that weight loss.
As a dietitian, I work with my clients on eating more regularly and really allowing themselves to eat the amount of food that their body needs. The blood sugar responds well to eating regularly and getting our nutrition needs met. The blood sugar responds well to having a healthy relationship with food and reducing stress and anxiety around eating. Sometimes this medication gets in the way of that.
Let’s pull it all together…
Ozempic has some great benefits for people with diabetes including blood sugar reduction, promoting heart and kidney health, and may help brain health.
Hollywood has popularized this medication for weight loss purposes which may be taking this medication out of the hands of people who need it.
If you decide to take ozempic for weight loss you may run into some nasty side effects and will likely have to stay on the medication to maintain that weight loss.
At the end of the day, it’s up to you and your doctor to decide what is best for you and your health.
Want to learn more about the top medications out there?
Check out our Understanding Medications Masterclass where we break down all of the top medications currently being prescribed for type 2 diabetes and prediabetes.
Are your frequent bathroom breaks realted to your medications? Learn about the different side effects of each medication in the Understanding Medications Masterclass. CLICK HERE to access the masterclass.
Written by: Laurel Deininger-Kimmerly, MS, RD, LDN, CDCES