It can be difficult and draining to lose weight, especially if you’ve been trying for a while but haven’t had much luck. However, semaglutide (brand names Ozempic or Wegovy) success stories substantiated by research have given people with obesity or other weight-related conditions new hope. Although semaglutide injections have assisted many people in losing weight more quickly, not everyone has seen the same level of success.
Exactly why not? The causes are numerous and affected by a wide range of variables.
The bottom line is that you are not alone if you have been prescribed semaglutide for weight loss but aren’t yet experiencing the outcomes you had hoped for. Additionally, the scenario may not be as depressing in reality as it appears to be.
Remember that social media posts and films that portray Ozempic as a wonder drug only provide a partial picture of the situation. While Ozempic can encourage healthy weight loss, it is also true that any weight loss journey is drawn out, complex, and full of obstacles.
We’ll go over how Ozempic works for weight loss in both diabetics and non-diabetics in the sections below, as well as look at some of the possible causes of you not losing as much weight as you’d hoped for and offer some potential alternatives.
Remember that the information on this website is not intended to be a substitute for advice from your main healthcare physician and is only meant to supplement it.
Ozempic: What Is It?
Brand-name medication Ozempic is created by Novo Nordisk in Denmark. Wegovy is also produced by Novo Nordisk. Semaglutide is the active component in both drugs, however, the doses are different. The FDA has approved Ozempic (0.5 mg to 2 mg) as a therapy for individuals with Type 2 Diabetes. In addition to lowering the risk of major cardiovascular events, it controls blood sugar. On the other hand, Wegovy (2.4 mg) has received approval as a weight-loss medication.
Ozempic is an injectable medicine that is injected once per week beneath the skin of the belly, upper arm, or thigh. It comes in prefilled, single-patient pens. Usually, each pen comes with enough medication for four doses. Your doctor will start treating you with Ozempic at a low (non-therapeutic) dose and progressively increase it over the course of several weeks. This strategy lessens negative effects while allowing your body to acclimate to Ozempic.
How Does Ozempic Work to Lose Weight?
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist and is the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy. A class of drugs known as receptor agonists stimulates multiple body systems to act as though digestion is taking place by simulating the hormones that are normally released by your intestines during digestion, in this case, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP 1). Additionally, Ozempic really slows down the entire digestive process, including how quickly food leaves your stomach and enters your small intestine (a process known as gastric emptying).
How Does Ozempic Work to Lose Weight?
Consider it like this: You don’t feel hungry while your body thinks digestion is taking place. Slow digestion makes you feel fuller for a longer period of time while your brain signals your body systems that your hunger is satisfied. A single Ozempic injection can affect your appetite and cravings for a full week at a time. Human-made semaglutide may mimic your natural hormones, but it doesn’t degrade as quickly.
You will naturally be able to cut back on food as your body gets used to Ozempic without feeling constantly hungry. Weekly injections are simply one component of the equation; however, semaglutide does not function in isolation. The other component? Changes in a healthy lifestyle. You must combine Ozempic with exercise and dietary adjustments in order to fully benefit from it.
When taking semaglutide, how much weight reduction should you anticipate? Semaglutide research trials have shown promising results, but every circumstance is unique and depends on a variety of factors, including genetics, medical history, lifestyle, dosage, and more. Patients with Type 2 Diabetes who took semaglutide at a dose of 2.4 mg every week for 68 weeks on average lost 10% of their body weight. Patients in a related trial lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight during the same time period without having Type 2 Diabetes. Additionally, lifestyle change treatments were used in both studies.
Why Is Ozempic Not Helping You Lose Weight?
You were prescribed semaglutide (Wevogy or Ozempic) to help you lose weight, but you’re not happy with the outcomes thus far. What might be happening?
It takes time to lose weight.
Both weight growth and weight decrease happen gradually. Even if you were able to precisely replicate the results of the clinical trials for semaglutide, which lasted 68 weeks (nearly 16 months), you would still only lose 10-15% of your body weight in that time.
Let’s pretend your starting weight is 200 lbs. to put things into perspective. A total weight loss of 30 lbs is required if you want to drop 15% of your body weight. What’s this? That’s only 1.9 lbs on average. each month. Although there may be ups and downs, losing weight is ultimately more of a marathon than a sprint.
Don’t give up and keep in mind that small setbacks will eventually lead you in the right way.
You still eat dangerous foods in your diet.
Medication for weight loss cannot make up for poor eating habits, and weekly Ozempic injections cannot make up for excessive calorie consumption and unhealthy lifestyle choices. Steer clear of processed foods and high-sugar foods. Maintaining a balanced diet is the main priority. Whether or whether you are taking semaglutide, the principles of a balanced diet remain the same.
With your team of healthcare specialists, discuss dietary adjustments that will support healthy weight loss.
Your way of life is sedentary.
The harmful effects of bad exercise habits cannot be concealed by semaglutide, just as they cannot be eliminated by an unhealthy diet. Healthy lifestyle adjustments need effort and commitment (and yes, you will sweat), but they are crucial to jump-starting your weight loss journey. If you don’t move about often, semaglutide’s potential effects are significantly diminished.
Spending your entire day at the gym is not necessary for a consistent workout. It might be as easy as scheduling a weekly yoga class, signing up for a recreational sports team, or going for a daily stroll with friends. You don’t have to start at zero and work your way up, but you do need to develop a sensible course of action.
Why Am I Putting On Weight While at Ozempic?
If you are gaining weight while using Ozempic, in addition to not losing weight, you are undoubtedly really unhappy. What might be the reason?
You’re Putting On Muscle
Fat is less dense than muscle. Therefore, if you exercise regularly (which you should do if you’re trying to reduce weight), you might be able to develop muscle tissue that weighs more per cubic unit than fat. You shouldn’t be concerned if this is the case. Try to pay more attention to how your clothes fit and how your body feels rather than the number on the scale.
You’re Consuming More
You might be eating more calories than you were previously, despite what it might look like. Semaglutide functions best when used with a calorie-restricted diet, and such a diet necessitates careful supervision and preparation. Snacking all day without being aware of what you’re putting into your body doesn’t work, nor does eating smaller portions of higher-calorie items.
Consult a nutritionist, health coach, or medical professional for assistance if you are gaining weight while taking Ozempic and believe it may be due to your eating patterns in order to develop good eating habits.
You haven’t taken enough to make your appetite disappear.
When taking semaglutide for the first time, you will begin with a non-therapeutic dosage (often 0.25 mg) and gradually increase your body’s tolerance to the medication over the course of several weeks. So, if you’re just starting your Ozempic trip, it’s likely that you’ll see more results when your dosage is gradually increased. Keep in mind that the tapered start really aids in preventing unpleasant side effects.
You Have an Undiagnosed Illness
Your ability to reduce weight might be affected by medical illnesses ranging from thyroid or hormonal abnormalities to metabolic diseases or even mental health problems. Speak with your healthcare physician as soon as you can if you think that underlying medical issues may be the cause of your weight loss struggles.
Conclusion
Even while Ozempic can encourage healthy weight reduction, there are a lot of reasons why you might not start losing weight right away when taking it. A long-term objective, significant weight loss must be attained sustainably over time. It’s also a subjective procedure that is influenced by factors such as your own particular chemistry, genetics, medical background, way of life, and more.
Ozempic or Wegovy (semaglutide) can aid in appetite suppression and make it simpler to consume fewer calories during the day, but healthy lifestyle changes are also a significant factor. Semaglutide may or may not be the best drug to help you reach your weight loss objectives; this is a decision that only you and your doctor can make jointly.
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