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Is It Safe To Use Ozempic For Weight Loss? Possible Side Effects & Alternatives!

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Anvesha Chowdhury

Published on: 15 Jul 2024

10 min

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Hello, readers! We all strive to conquer our weight loss goals, but let's face it: traditional weight loss methods can feel like pushing a cart up the hill. That’s why new trends are rising all over the internet, including Ozempic for weight loss.

This drug, in reality, is actually a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist that has emerged as a prime contender to help people lose weight. Initially designed for type 2 diabetes, Ozempic (Semaglutide) isn't FDA-approved for weight loss, but weight loss is a common side effect. This sparked interest in its potential for non-diabetic weight management. Now, enter FDA-approved Wegovy, a higher-dose version of Ozempic specifically approved for weight loss in June 2021. The question remains, however: is Ozempic a safe and effective alternative for weight loss, and what does the research say?

Stay tuned! In the next paragraphs, we'll delve deeper into Ozempic's popularity for weight loss, explore the link between Semaglutide tablets and vision loss concerns, and investigate if Rybelsus, another GLP-1 agonist, offers a safer path to weight management.

1. What Is The Significance Of Ozempic Injection For Weight Loss?

2. How Is Semaglutide Linked To Cause Of Vision Loss?

3. Does Rybelsus Work For Weight Loss?

4. Dietitian’s Recommendation

5. The Final Say

6. FAQs

7. References

What Is The Significance Of Ozempic Injection For Weight Loss?

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorised the use of Ozempic, often referred to as Semaglutide, in 2017 for individuals with type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is a weekly injection that stimulates the production of more insulin by the pancreas, lowering blood sugar levels. Although it is not authorised for weight loss, some physicians prescribe it. Here is how Ozempic plays a role in weight loss:

1. It Slows Digestion

Ozempic functions by projecting itself as a hormone that is found naturally. Your brain receives messages from these hormones, telling them when you are full through molecules. Additionally, it delays the time it takes for food to leave the body, ultimately slowing digestion.

2. Weight Loss Is A Side Effect

Ozempic acts as a kind of gut hormone, imitating the effects of Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that occurs naturally. GLP-1 has many impacts that result in weight loss. For instance, it promotes insulin secretion from the pancreas; this aids your body to stock extra blood sugar as glycogen in the liver and muscles, thereby reducing hunger feelings.

Additionally, it can decrease the rate at which your stomach empties itself. This makes you feel fuller for a longer period of time and reduces how many calories are consumed.

3. Promotes A Feeling Of Fullness

Ozempic makes you feel full by imitating the effects of GLP-1. This naturally occurring hormone helps to regulate blood sugar levels by inducing the pancreas to release insulin. GLP-1 additionally works on receptors in brain areas that manage appetite, conveying messages of fullness and reducing hunger-related urges. The impact on both messages from the brain and movement in the gut makes you sense that you are satisfied for a longer time, which could result in lesser calorie consumption and an eventual decrease in weight.

4. It Affects Beyond Weight Loss

When you take Ozempic or other GLP-1 medications, your body produces more GLP-1, which reduces your appetite and makes you feel fuller. But Ozempic is not just an appetite suppressant. Ozempic, like other anti-obesity drugs, changes how your body responds to weight loss and likely has effects beyond the weight loss benefits.

5. It Can Change Your Body's Response To Food Intake

Obesity is not a problem of behaviour. It cannot be controlled by eating less or doing more exercise. Obesity is a metabolic syndrome that has many factors involved in its build-up. It functions through an alteration in the normal pathways which regulate our body weight or fat. By taking anti-obesity drugs or other GLP-1s such as Ozempic, your body's reaction to food intake and subsequent loss of weight could be modified.

6. It Can Create A New Normal For Weight Loss

It is important to remember that if you start taking any of these weight loss medications, your body can get used to it and create a new normal. This can cause your weight to stagnate. Research has shown that you will likely regain your lost weight if you stop taking Ozempic (or Wegovy).

Also Read: 10 Common Weight Loss Mistakes - Oops! You Did It Again

How Is Semaglutide Linked To Cause Of Vision Loss?

So, we discussed what research entails about Ozempic for weight loss. However, this drug has some major side effects that need to be addressed, too. One of them is vision loss. Let’s uncover how Semaglutide is linked to the cause of vision loss:

1. It Can Cause Blindness In One Eye

There is an association between the use of Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and the risk of developing a rare type of eye stroke that can cause blindness in one eye.

According to international researchers, the weight loss drug Semaglutide (Ozempic and WeGovy) may be associated with an alleviated risk of an eye disease that causes vision loss.

When blood flow to the optic nerve is interrupted, a condition known as non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) typically results in abrupt vision loss in one eye, and people with diabetes are at higher risk. In a new study published in JAMA Ophthalmology, researchers investigated a possible link between Semaglutide and a rare type of eye stroke called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).

2. It Can Cause Permanent Blindness

NAION is not a common problem. Out of 100,000 people, up to 10 people get sick from it every year. But it's severe: It can cause permanent blindness in one eye. This vision loss is painless. It appears suddenly and usually worsens over a few days before stabilising. And there are no treatments to improve or reverse it.

Diagnosing it isn't easy, and understanding why it happens is still a mystery. Experts believe this occurs due to reduced blood flow to the optic nerve. The researchers behind this new study noted a cluster of new NAION cases in the summer of 2023. They also said that all three affected people were taking Semaglutide.

Researchers used eye clinic patient data to identify 710 people treated for type 2 diabetes and 979 people treated for overweight/obesity with either Semaglutide or a completely different medication. Looking at NAION diagnoses, the researchers say the risk in patients with diabetes during the three-year study was 8.9% for those taking Semaglutide and 1.8% for those taking the other drug. In the overweight/obese group, the risk was 6.7% for the Semaglutide group and 0.8% for the different drug groups. While more research is needed to interlink this, scientists advise caution upon using this drug.

Also Read: GLP-1 Drugs? Its Effect On Diabetes & Weight Loss | ToneOp

Does Rybelsus Work For Weight Loss?

The FDA has approved Rybelsus for the management of type 2 diabetes. It is not officially recognised as a long-term weight-management tool. However, it has been shown to lead to weight loss in patients when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Since 90% of adults with type 2 diabetes are also obese or overweight, the benefits of Rybelsus affect both conditions.

As of December 2023, Rybelsus is only FDA-approved to help patients with type 2 diabetes control their blood glucose levels. Novo Nordisk recently tested its effectiveness as a weight loss aid.

Novo Nordisk published key findings from the OASIS 1 phase 3a study, part of the global OASIS program. The 68-week study involved 667 overweight or obese adults with weight-related health problems. It compared a 50 mg dose of Rybelsus given once daily and lifestyle changes to placebo for weight management. The study successfully met its primary objective and showed that oral Semaglutide 50 mg resulted in significant and superior weight loss compared to placebo.

Rybelsus can lead to weight loss through two actions:

1. Blood Sugar Management

Semaglutide, Rybelsus's active ingredient, stimulates the pancreas to release insulin, which helps move glucose (sugar) from the blood into the cells for energy.
This action stabilises blood sugar levels and reduces the likelihood of sudden energy swings that can cause cravings for high-calorie foods.
Semaglutide also effectively stops the production of glucagon, another hormone that raises blood sugar, by instructing the liver to release stored glucose into the blood.
By controlling glucagon, Rybelsus keeps blood sugar stable and prevents excessive hunger caused by low blood sugar.

2. Decreased Appetite

Rybelsus' influence extends beyond blood sugar control; it also regulates appetite.
GLP-1 receptors in the brain, especially in the hypothalamus, control our hunger and fullness. When GLP-1 binds to these receptors, it tells the brain to reduce appetite and cravings. This means you'll be less hungry and more satisfied with smaller meals.
Rybelsus also slows down how the stomach empties its contents into the small intestine. Slower gastric emptying means food stays in your stomach longer after eating, so you'll feel fuller for longer and reduce the need to eat more.
Rybelsus is prescribed lifestyle changes such as eating fewer calories and exercising more. It is not meant to be the only treatment for obesity.

Also Read: 11 Best Diets For Weight Loss And Why Choosing Proper Diet Is A Must!

Dietitian's Recommendation

Semaglutide and Ozempic are essential and potentially life-changing drugs for people managing type 2 diabetes and losing weight. They effectively lower blood glucose levels, reduce body weight, and improve many related health conditions. But along with medication, you should also consider changing your eating and exercise habits, the biggest long-term weight loss success from diet pills.

Dt. Lavina Chauhan

The Final Say

Take obesity medication as a long-term commitment, not a quick fix to drop a few pounds. You would not take insulin if you did not have diabetes, and you should not take anti-obesity drugs to deal with obesity.

In other words, anti-obesity drugs work not only because they correct "bad" behaviour by reducing your appetite and making you eat less. They can affect the signalling between your gut and brain and ultimately change how your body reacts to food. While Ozempic may lead to weight loss, it's crucial to remember it's a prescription medication with potential side effects.

FAQs

1. Is it effective to take Semaglutide for weight loss?

Semaglutide does not cause weight loss to happen quickly. It's a slow process that takes perseverance and dedication. Clinical studies show that most people start to noticeably lose weight after using semaglutide regularly for four to twelve weeks.

2. Is Ozempic approved for weight loss?

The FDA has not authorised Ozempic for the management of weight loss. Wegovy, on the other hand, is FDA-approved for the chronic management of weight in people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 and above, or 27 and above in people with a weight-related medical condition. Wegovy includes a larger dose of semaglutide than Ozempic.

3. What are the risks of taking Ozempic?

Overdosing on Ozempic can raise your risk of experiencing severe adverse effects, such as hypoglycemia. Seizures are among the numerous medical and psychological problems that can result from low blood sugar.

References

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