Weight Loss and Diabetes Drugs – Learn About This New Trend

America has been obsessed for decades with weight loss – how to drop extra pounds? Diet and exercise are now joined by a new tool – prescription drugs called semiglutide in a dispensible pen – Ozempic and Wygovy. Let’s take a look at weight loss and diabetes drugs.

Should prescription drugs for diabetes be used for weight loss?  This trend is taking the weight loss industry by storm and this hot topic has people talking from the red carpet to suburban book clubs. But is the hype real?  More importantly, are these drugs safe for everyone using them for weight loss? 

The drug in question is Ozempic (semaglutide), a popular brand-name drug used for treating type 2 diabetes.  Ozempic is an injectable drug used, along with diet and exercise, to improve blood sugar levels and to reduce the risk of heart attacks or stroke for adults who have Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.  

Ozempic is not approved for weight loss.

Some people may lose weight while taking Ozempic because the medication is intended to lower blood sugar levels and improve glycemic control. 

Some doctors may prescribe Ozempic for weight loss off-label. Wegovy and Saxenda are similar drugs to Ozempic and are approved for weight management.

Ozempic costs vary depending on the insurance plan and can cost up to $10,000/year out of pocket.  There is no generic on the horizon. 

The active ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide.  Semaglutide is in a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists and it works by helping your body release more insulin and improving blood sugar control.

Approved in 2017, Ozempic is not for use in people with type 1 diabetes and it is not known if it is safe and effective for use in children under 18 years of age.

But if weight loss leads to lower chance of developing diabetes, should semaglutide drugs be prescribed and covered by insurance plans as a way of preventing more risky and potentially more expensive diseases in the future? 

Originally for patients with type-2 diabetes and obesity – these drugs help patients feel fuller longer

These drugs have been trending with celebrities like Elon Musk and Chelsea Handler and social media influencers and are shaking up the 75-billion-dollar weight loss market.  Weight Watchers and Noom are joining the craze with telehealth programs to introduce these drugs to their clients.

The downside according to medical experts is that these drugs work only as long as you take it.  The medication then wears off after a couple of weeks, leading to “weight cycling” – a phenomenon where weight gains to previous levels or more are seen as well as increases in blood sugar and cravings. “Studies show that stopping Ozempic completely will likely lead to regaining most of the weight lost within several months,” explains Rekha Kumar, M.D., head of Medical Affairs at Found, an evidence-based weight care program in New York City. 

However, using Ozempic for short-term, cosmetic weight loss is not recommended.  Experts, such as Christopher McGowan, M.D., a gastroenterologist specializing in obesity medicine and endobariatrics, and founder of True You Weight Loss in North Carolina warns that these drugs used in this way, can lead to potential adverse effects in addition to regaining lost weight. For a list of “superstar” foods that are good for diabetes, check this list from the American Diabetes Association.

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