How much weight will I lose with Ozempic? About a third of people who take Ozempic for weight loss will lose 10% or more of their body weight. Most people should expect to lose at least 5% of their starting body weight when using Ozempic for weight loss.
Ozempic is a once-weekly injectable medication formulated to help adults with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar. Although not officially a weight loss drug, research suggests that people who take Ozempic may lose modest amounts of weight while on the medication.
Recommended Dosage
Start OZEMPIC with a 0.25 mg subcutaneous injection once weekly for 4 weeks. The 0.25 mg dosage is intended for treatment initiation and is not effective for glycemic control. After 4 weeks on the 0.25 mg dosage, increase the dosage to 0.5 mg once weekly.
Seeing results. Ozempic starts working within the first week of beginning your maintenance dose. Your blood sugar levels will start to decline during this time. Reaching the steady state can take about four to five weeks of once-a-week Ozempic doses.
During a 40-week study, people receiving the 1 mg Ozempic dose lost an average of 13 lbs. And people receiving the 2 mg Ozempic dose lost an average of 15 lbs.
How can I maximise my body weight loss on Ozempic? You can assist Ozempic by lowering your overall calorie intake, moving your body where possible and limiting your alcohol consumption.
How much weight can you lose on Ozempic or Wegovy? In randomized clinical trials, patients receiving the 2.4 milligram dose of semaglutide lost a mean of 6% of their weight by week 12 and 12% of their weight by week 28, researchers reported.
You'll likely notice some changes in appetite and reductions in food cravings within the first week.
The prescription drug Ozempic helps people with diabetes control their blood sugar. But its wild popularity is due to a side effect: rapid weight loss.
Results showed that patients lost on average up to 14 lb (6.4 kg), although some people also gained weight. Study 1: Patients using Ozempic 0.5 mg dose lost on average 8 lb (3.6 kg), those using 1 mg dose lost 10 lb (4.5 kg), and those taking placebo (an inactive treatment) lost 3 lb (1.4 kg).
Adults with type 2 diabetes taking Ozempic® lost up to 14 pounds. Ozempic® is not a weight-loss drug. In 2 different studies looking at A1C, adults with type 2 diabetes lost on average: Ozempic®: 8 lb (0.5 mg) and 10 lb (1 mg) vs placebo: 3 lb.
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. At 1 mg weekly, average weight loss of 3% (6-8 pounds) over 6 months may be achieved when combined with lifestyle changes.
Ozempic is only intended and approved for people with type 2 diabetes. You should not take it solely for weight loss. Doing so may prevent patients who require the medication for blood sugar management from getting it.
Some individuals may actually gain more weight after stopping an obesity drug than they initially lost, Conde-Knape added. Studies have similarly shown weight rebound in people who stop taking Ozempic.
Nausea was the most common side effect reported by people taking the drug in clinical trials. For most people, the nausea was mild and temporary. You're more likely to have nausea when you first start Ozempic treatment or after your doctor increases your dose.
So, on average, with the recommended starting Ozempic dose of 0.25 mg, a 500 to 1000 calorie reduced diet, and exercise 3 times a week, you can expect to lose 3-5 pounds in the first month of treatment, which works out to about 3% of body weight for most overweight or obese individuals.
If you miss a dose of Ozempic®, use it as soon as possible within 5 days after your missed dose. If you miss a dose for more than 5 days, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.
Ozempic works by binding to GLP-1 receptors and stimulates insulin release from the pancreas when you need it. It helps to lower your blood sugar levels and A1C. It also helps to reduce the amount of sugar released by your liver and slows down food leaving your stomach to help prevent blood sugar spikes.
High fat foods or sugary foods
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.
Bottom Line. Your blood sugar levels should start to fully decline within the first week after you start using Ozempic (semaglutide) at your regular maintenance dose. However, the full effects can take 8 weeks or longer, as this is a long-acting medication that is injected only once per week.