Ozempic for weight loss?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), There are about 43% of obese adults above the age of 18 and about 42% of Americans are also facing the problem of obesity. It is becoming more prominent daily because it is now double compared to the percentage of obesity in 1999.
Obesity-related problems are heart problems, stroke type-2 diabetes, and cancer which causes premature deaths.
For a long time, people have been struggling to address the problem of weight loss and obesity by applying different types of methods and medications.
In 2012, a group of scientists developed a drug for Type-2 Diabetes called Semaglutide which is given the brand name Ozempic. Some physicians also suggest ozempic for weight loss.
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic is a drug used for Diabetes therapy, especially for Type-2 Diabetes given once a week as a longer-acting medicine. It is the alternative to Liraglutide. It is also known as Semaglutide.
This drug was approved for Diabetes Type-2 in 2017 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is to be prescribed only to adult patients with Type-2 Diabetes.
Some people use Ozempic for weight loss while FDA doesn’t approve it for weight loss but for the treatment of Type-2 Diabetes.
How Ozempic is given?
Ozempic is present in the form of an injection pen and is given once a week in the Arm, Thigh, or Abdomen under the skin. It should not be injected into a vein or muscle. It can be given before or after the meal. It should be kept in mind that you should take it at the same time and same day of the week to get maximum benefits.
How Ozempic works?
Ozempic functions by imitating a hormone that is found naturally in the body called Glucagon like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1). Your brain receives a message from that hormone indicating fullness when your hormone levels rise. Additionally, it prolongs the time it takes for food to exit the body, which slows down digestion. This is comparable to the outcome of weight loss surgery called Bariatric Surgery.
Is Ozempic for Weight Loss Effective?
The active ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide, which slows stomach emptying, and may reduce hunger even though Ozempic is not licensed for weight loss while Wegovy is an FDA-approved weight reduction medicine. Ozempic has a smaller amount of semaglutide than Wegovy.
Semaglutide may help people lose weight and lower their risk of diabetes (especially Type-2 Diabetes), cardiovascular disease, and cancer when used in conjunction with diet and exercise. This is especially true for those who are obese or overweight. Hence Ozempic for weight loss can be used with the proper prescription and direction.
Is Ozempic safe or not?
Ozempic is a beneficial drug that is safe to use. 80% of patients with type 2 diabetes also have obesity at the same timeframe. Therefore, these individuals receive dual benefits for the management of their obesity and diabetes.
Along with several additional advantages, Ozempic has also been demonstrated to lower serious unfavorable coronary events, such as heart attacks and strokes.
Even yet, doctors recommend avoiding taking Ozempic unless a person has type 2 diabetes. Speak with your healthcare practitioner about beginning Wegovy instead of using Ozempic for weight loss.
Along with all these benefits, people with the following conditions should avoid using Ozempic:
- Inflammation of Pancreas (pancreatitis)
- Nephrogenic problems (Kidneys)
- Under 18 age
- Breastfeeding woman
- Pregnant ladies
- Type-1 Diabetes patient
- Diabetic Retinopathy (damage of the retina due to high glucose content in blood for a long time).
- Problem with vision
In the case of taking Ozempic for weight loss or any other drug, you should consult your health care provider or doctor to guide you and prescribe you the proper dosage.
Dosage of Ozempic for weight loss?
Ozempic for weight loss and obesity is given once per week. According to the company, the maximum dose for a person per week is 2 milligrams and should be given on the same day as the previous week. it should be given regularly every week.
It is present in 0.25 milligram, 0.5 milligram, 1 milligram, and 2 milligrams doses in the pharmaceutical store. It is recommended to start with a 0.25 milligram dose for four weeks and then gradually increase the dosage over the next four weeks.
How much time ozempic stay in our body?
According to the data given by the FDA, ozempic lasts approximately for about 5 weeks after the last dose in our body. It will perform its function for about 5 weeks but will decrease with time and will end eventually.
How long ozempic for weight loss be used?
Ozempic is a long-term treatment for chronic conditions like Type-2 Diabetes, but discontinuing use may cause weight regain and cardiometabolic health decline. Before starting ozempic for weight loss, the patient should consult with their healthcare provider.
