Ozempic: Diabetes Drug or Weight Loss Aid?
In the United States, approximately 38 million people have diabetes. Within that population, about 95% have type 2 diabetes, a condition that affects your body’s ability to metabolize sugar, otherwise known as glucose.
In 2017, the FDA approved a new injectable drug called semaglutide that can improve blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. This medication, known as Ozempic — along with similar drugs like Wegovy — has seen rapid adoption in medicine, with prescriptions increasing by 300% from 2020 to 2023 alone.
However, since Wegovy is a weight loss medication containing the same main component as Ozempic, it raises the question: Does Ozempic primarily treat diabetes or weight loss?
Join us as we explore how scientists are working to gain a better understanding of Ozempic’s uses and why it’s become so popular in recent years.
What Is Ozempic — and What Does It Treat?
Ozempic is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It works by improving blood sugar levels over the long term, which is measured by reducing a person’s HbA1c (hemoglobin A1c) levels. Additionally, regular use of Ozempic may help lower the risk of major cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes in individuals with type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
How Does Ozempic Work?
The active ingredient in Ozempic, semaglutide, works by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). When it activates the GLP-1 receptors, Ozempic enhances your body’s ability to control blood sugar by:
- Telling your pancreas to release insulin when blood sugar is high.
- Blocking the release of a hormone called glucagon, which can make your liver release extra sugar into your blood.
- Slowing down the rate at which food moves through your intestines, lowering the amount of sugar that enters your bloodstream after you eat.
- Making you feel full, leading to less food consumption.
Is Ozempic a Weight Loss Aid?
In short, no — although one of the common side effects of Ozempic is its ability to help some users lose weight. In a recent Forbes article, Dr. Christopher McGowan explained that in addition to Ozempic’s effects on blood glucose, the active ingredient, semaglutide, also impacts the hunger centers in the brain, reducing feelings of hunger and food cravings.
While not approved by the FDA as a weight-loss medication, its sister drug, Wegovy, received approval for use by overweight individuals or those with cardiovascular disease in 2021. The key difference between Ozempic and Wegovy is the dosage, with Wegovy offering a higher dose of semaglutide to aid weight loss (alongside a healthy diet and exercise).
So, although the main function of Ozempic isn’t to help people lose weight, its inclusion of semaglutide often results in weight loss as a side effect experienced by many users. Because type 2 diabetes is often associated with obesity, its potential to assist in weight loss may also help individuals manage their condition more effectively and improve their overall health.
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Sources:
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/medications-containing-semaglutide-marketed-type-2-diabetes-or-weight-loss
https://www.ozempic.com/why-ozempic/how-ozempic-works.html
https://www.forbes.com/health/weight-loss/ozempic-for-weight-loss/
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-treatment-reduce-risk-serious-heart-problems-specifically-adults-obesity-or