Move more. People taking Ozempic may start with 150 minutes of exercise per week, but exercising for longer can lead to more weight loss and maintenance. If you can, health experts recommend at least 200 minutes of physical activity per week to prevent weight gain and maintain weight loss.
Weight loss may continue for up to 2 years on Ozempic based on studies. Ozempic should be used along with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity for maximum benefit. Nausea is the most common side effect. The side effects are usually transient but can persist in some people.
To this end, Ozempic and the other GLP-1 agonists are just like any other weight loss trick: they work as long as you use them. Once you stop, without the proper plan in place to keep the weight off, there is nothing keeping it from coming back.
Studies have similarly shown weight rebound in people who stop taking Ozempic. She said it's tied to how the drugs work. They mimic a hormone produced in the gut called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when a person is full.
Semaglutide has become more and more popular as a weight loss aid, and many patients wonder what happens if you stop taking it. While it's possible to gain weight back after stopping Semaglutide or other GLP-1 agonists, it's not a guaranteed side effect.
Ozempic is not usually known to cause weight gain, although some people may experience some initial bloating during the first few weeks.
A person can stay on Ozempic® so long as they are tolerating the medication and it is deemed appropriate by their treating provider. There is no specific time frame when someone should stop taking Ozempic as it is a medication that is intended for chronic (long-term) use.
Stopping Ozempic
Meanwhile, these are “not medications that our body becomes addicted to, there are no significant withdrawals and no significant major rebound effects,” emphasized Dr. Warriner. In her patients with diabetes, Warriner has also observed a return of increased appetite over time.
You Will Regain Weight
Because people stop feeling full and their food cravings return when they stop Ozempic, weight gain is likely, Kushner says.
If you stop taking Ozempic, the weight you lost will likely return, fast. People who ceased use of semaglutide gained back, on average, a full two-thirds of the weight they had lost on the drug within one year, according to an August 2022 study, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Aim for foods and drinks that do not quickly raise or lower blood sugar. This helps keep your blood sugar steady and lets Ozempic (and other diabetes medications) work to their best ability. It's also a good idea to stick to lower fat, non-greasy foods because these are less likely to irritate the gut.
Side Effects: Diabetes treatments that are used to lose weight, like Ozempic, can reduce people's desire to drink alcohol and their obsessive thinking about food. The drugs carry serious risks including malnutrition and facial aging; going off the drugs can also take a toll.
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.
The most common side effect with Ozempic is nausea and occurs in about 15% to 20% of people. Others include vomiting (5% to 9%), diarrhea (8%), stomach-area pain (6% to 7%), and constipation (3% to 7%).
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.
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.
Weight gain and fluctuations in weight can happen for a variety of reasons. Many people progressively gain weight as they age or make changes to their lifestyle. However, fast weight gain can be a sign of an underlying health condition, such as a problem with the thyroid, kidneys, or heart.
Closely related to fried, greasy foods and snacks, highly saturated fats (including trans fats) are known to exacerbate GI issues. Every day staples like whole milk, heavy cream, full-fat cheese, butter, ice cream and most red meats may cause additional gastrointestinal distress for someone on Ozempic.
Do not overeat and when you eat, take smaller meals: Once again, semaglutide slows down the digestive process. So, limiting the amount of food you take in any one single meal could prevent you from running into uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms like bloating and indigestion.