Ozempic curbs your appetite to a degree by slowing your digestive process — an effect some people get more than others. However, Ozempic doesn't usually make you not want to eat at all.
As mentioned above, Ozempic should be used in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased exercise. For those starting with Ozempic, health professionals may recommend beginning with 150 minutes per week of physical activity, such as walking.
Ozempic can cause nausea and vomiting if taken after eating foods high in fat or sugar. It is recommended that you take Ozempic before meals, rather than after, to minimise any potential side effects from eating high-fat or high-sugar foods.
Still, Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications will be most effective for weight loss and blood sugar control when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Generally, eating healthy foods and avoiding foods high in sugar, calories, and unhealthy fats while taking Ozempic helps.
Patients trying to lose weight with either drug should work with a dietitian for a guided meal plan, but in general, they should aim to eat 1,200 to 1,800 calories a day depending on their initial weight, Rubin says.
Ozempic is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1) agonist. It helps the body release more insulin after eating. And it stops the liver from making more sugar. Ozempic also slows how fast the stomach empties, and this can make you feel fuller longer and lower your appetite.
Protein-rich foods, whole grains, nuts, and legumes, support the benefits of Ozempic and may help you reach your health goals.
Once you begin using Ozempic, some people can find it takes several weeks to see any weight loss, yet others may see some weight loss within a week or 2. While it can be difficult, try to remain patient — change looks different for everyone.
It's used to lower blood glucose (sugar) levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes. The starting dose of Ozempic is 0.25 mg injected once weekly for 4 weeks. Then, your dose is moved up to 0.5 mg once weekly.
Losing weight with Ozempic can be a great way to jumpstart your health journey. But keeping the weight off can be a challenge for many people. While it takes commitment and lifestyle changes, maintaining weight loss after using Ozempic is possible.
A study found that at the highest dose of Wegovy (2.4 mg), patients lost on average 15% of their total body weight after 1 year. In patients with diabetes, one study showed that taking Ozempic at the highest dose of 2 mg led to on average ~15 lbs (6.9 kg) weight loss after 40 weeks.
Common doses of Ozempic are either 0.5 mg or 1.0 mg once weekly and can be taken with or without food. Always consult your doctor before increasing or changing your prescribed dose of Ozempic, as doses will vary by patient.
Ozempic is also used off-label for weight loss. In particular, it can help reduce the amount of belly fat. This is because Ozempic works by making you feel fuller for longer, which can help you resist overeating by controlling cravings and hunger.
On average, people lose about 3% of their total body weight in the first month of Ozempic treatment for weight loss. The amount of weight lost can vary from person to person, depending on several factors including: Your starting weight and body mass index (BMI).
It can boost your metabolism, lower your cholesterol, and improve hormone levels related to obesity. This substance may also help lower your blood sugar by reducing how much carbs your body absorbs.
Ozempic starts working within the first week of beginning your maintenance dose.
However, Ozempic and alcohol lower your blood sugar. So, drinking alcohol during your Ozempic treatment may cause severe hypoglycemia. So, with alcohol either raising or lowering our blood sugar levels, Ozempic will not work as well as usual if alcohol is consumed at a higher-than-moderate level.
Ozempic is not usually known to cause weight gain, although some people may experience some initial bloating during the first few weeks.
You Will Regain Weight
Because people stop feeling full and their food cravings return when they stop Ozempic, weight gain is likely, Kushner says.
On average, a user can lose about 3 to 5% of their body weight after using Ozempic for a month regularly. This equates to about 4 to 6 pounds on average. Using a higher potency of the drug may result in more weight loss, but it isn't recommended that you start taking it right away.
A dose of 0.5 to 1 mg per week (double the maximum approved diabetes dose) seems to provide the maximum weight loss benefits for many people using Ozempic off-label.
Most patients will start Ozempic treatment at the lower 0.25 mg dose injected once a week for 4 weeks. The 0.25 mg dose is not used as your final maintenance dose to lower your blood sugar.