Must Read Before Using Ozempic For Weight Loss in 2024
Ozempic is an insulin that was approved by the FDA in 2017. After it comes on the market, the drug has become popular among those who want to lose weight. Though it has a few side effects (we will discuss later), it becomes famous for its effective results within a few weeks.
According to our experience of working with Ozempic, we have found that most people have marginal knowledge of the uses of this medication. Thus, it sometimes becomes a drawback for consumers. Well, here we will help you to understand all about Ozempic for weight loss and its impact on diabetes.
How Does The Ozempic Work for Weight Loss
First, you need to know that Ozempic does not suggest weight loss, and it is mainly used for treating type 2 diabetes. It works indirectly by following a few techniques. We have a hormone called GLP-1 in our body, that stimulates insulin secretion and contributes to limiting postprandial glucose excursions.
The GLP-1 helps to control the hungriness. You will feel like you have eaten a bit ago, and for a long time, you can stay without eating.
The Ozempic is made for the disease type 2 diabetes, but semaglutide injection also can help with weight loss. It burns the extra calories in your body, controls blood sugar levels, and reduces the production of sugar by the liver. If it can control the blood sugar, you will be less hungry, which may help to lose weight.
Remember that the Food and Drug Administration has not officially approved Ozempic for weight loss. So talk to your doctor about your interest in Ozempic (semaglutide).
What Does Ozempic Do for Diabetics
The FDA authorized Ozempic in 2019 to treat diabetes when prior medications failed to manage blood sugar. Years of research in the lab and clinical trials on humans have already shown its safety and efficacy.
Therefore, this was the next discursive step. The weight reduction that often results from using Ozempic semaglutide injection to improve the blood treatment of diabetes is a welcome side effect that aids many people with the disease in maintaining a healthy blood sugar level.
Can Someone Without Diabetes Take Ozempic?
The producers of Ozempic (Novo Nordisk) launched the Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity (STEP) initiative in 2018 to investigate the drug's effectiveness in promoting weight reduction.
Patients were either fat or overweight but did not suffer from diabetes. Subjects who took Ozempic for weight loss and made other lifestyle changes (such as eating better and exercising) lost an average of 14.9% more weight than those who took a placebo throughout the 68-week experiment.
Moreover, it's worth noting that these results are comparable to those seen in individuals who undergo more invasive weight reduction treatments, such as gastric sleeve surgery.
Participants on Ozempic lost weight in a different study called the SUSTAIN clinical trials (which was also financed and performed by Ozempic's producer), likely as a result of better blood sugar management, less appetite, and fewer food cravings.
How to Use Ozempic for Weight Loss
We recommend beginning treatment at the 0.25 mg dosage and working up to the 1 mg dose over eight weeks. Common side effects, such as nausea, are lessened as your body adjusts to the medicine in the first few weeks. You can get Ozempic in a convenient pen-shaped injection pen with a single-use needle attached. It can be set up and used in just 2 minutes and comes with comprehensive instructions.
Insert a fresh needle into your Ozempic pen, choose your dosage, and press the injector button while holding the pen against the skin on your abdomen, upper thigh, or upper arm.
Best Place to Inject Ozempic For Weight Loss
There are a few parts in your body, where you can inject the Ozempic. The stomach is the best place to inject Ozempic For Weight Loss. More specifically, the abdomen area, which is 1–2 inches away from the navel. But if you can't inject in your abdomen area, don't worry, inject on your higher thigh.
Besides these sites, you can also inject your higher arms or hips. You have to follow that which place is the best for easy absorption into your bloodstream.
Is Ozempic Safe for Weight Loss?
Several studies have shown that Ozempic is a beneficial and safe medicine. Eighty percent or more of those with type 2 diabetes are also overweight. Therefore, people with both diabetes and obesity benefit from therapy. But still, the medicine is not approved by the FDA. So take the Ozempic for Weight Loss by getting suggestions from your doctors.
Ozempic's ability to prevent significant adverse coronary events like heart attacks and strokes is only one of its numerous benefits. However, only some can utilize Ozempic with risk. The maker of Ozempic warns that it is only suitable for some people with the following conditions.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Pancreatitis
- Problems with the pancreas or kidneys
- Family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
- Type 1 diabetes
- Under 18 years of age
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) is an endocrine system condition.
However, before making any drastic changes to your health, it is recommended that you speak with a medical professional. Thus, you should ensure that the medicine is suitable for your needs and that you take the correct dosage.
Positive Results Ozempic For Weight Loss And Diabetes
Researchers have confirmed Ozempic's efficacy in helping people slim down. Ozempic underwent six significant trials (called SUSTAIN, 1hich involved 7,215 patients.) Patients with diabetes were randomized to receive either a placebo or another medication for their condition, with 4,107 receiving Ozempic.
Compared to a placebo or other diabetic therapies, Ozempic medication resulted in significant weight reduction for up to 2 years. The findings were consistent across all demographics tested, including age, gender, race, and ethnicity.
Following one year of therapy, up to 63% of patients lost 5% or more of their body weight, and up to 27% of patients lost 10% or more of their body weight in these studies.
Individuals who took Ozempic for weight loss 1 mg in addition to lifestyle measures (such as food adjustments and exercise) lost an average of 4.9 kg compared to patients who took lifestyle interventions alone (the experiment lasted for two years).
Treatment with semaglutide at increased dosages was the focus of the STEP-1 drug study. (up to 2.4 mg: Ozempic contains up to 1 mg in the UK). More than 85% of those who took semaglutide lost at least 5% of their body weight, nearly 70% lost at least 10%, 50% lost at least 15%, and slightly under a third dropped at least 20%.
Side Effects of Ozempic for Weight Loss
The weight-loss medicine Ozempic requires further study and testing before commercialization. The FDA disapproves of Ozempic as a weight-loss medicine, but additional issues make its potential advantages questionable.
Even if you have type 2 diabetes, you shouldn't use Ozempic if you have a family history of thyroid cancer. Ozempic has several potential adverse effects, some of which may be very serious. Mild adverse effects often experienced include:
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Anaphylaxis
- Changes in your sense of taste
- Nausea
- Pancreatitis
- Vomiting
- Increased glassiness
- Stomach pain
- Hypoglycemia
- Diabetic retinopathy
Demand For Ozempic Is Affecting People With Diabetes In Need
As word spread, many doctors started prescribing Ozempic for weight loss to their patients and for purposes other than weight reduction. However, the maker of Ozempic wasn't ready for the unexpectedly high demand, since the product needed to be designed for this use. Worldwide scarcities occurred because of this.
Recently, there was a severe scarcity of Ozempic in Australia. As a result, the Therapeutic Goods Administration and the Australian Medical Association issued a joint statement to the medical community. Until health officials give the go-light, doctors may only recommend Ozempic for its approved purpose (treating type 2 diabetes) and cannot write any further prescriptions for weight reduction.
Final Thoughts
Ozempic aids in weight loss by influencing your brain and digestive system. It helps to keep you feeling full for longer after meals and lessens your cravings for unhealthy foods. Thus, it controls your body's sugar and fat metabolism. However, consult with your doctor before taking any medications.
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FAQ
How long does it take to lose weight?
Some people lose weight a week or two after injecting Ozempic, while others take months. But it would be best if you kept patience for this process.
When using Ozempic, how much weight can I expect to lose?
One-third of Ozempic users see a 10% or more significant reduction in body weight. The average person utilizing Ozempic to shed pounds should anticipate dropping around five percent of their initial body mass.
