Help me understand Ozempic

[Anonymous]

I was listening to a podcast in which the host was debating taking it for weight loss. His concern was, what happens when he stops taking it? And his host said he can take it forever, which diabetics do. But my understanding of how it works is that it delays gastric emptying, which causes a feeling of fullness and nausea if you try to eat more. That’s why diabetics often report early weight loss. But gradually they get used to the feeling and so they stop losing weight.

If they’re still eating the way they always did (and why would they stop eating that way since they’re taking the drug for diabetes, not weight loss), they put the weight that they lost back on. Often this is a good thing because you don’t want to be underweight either.

So for people taking it for weight loss, what happens when the feeling of nausea from eating goes away?

[Anonymous]

It suppresses your appetite. That’s what makes you eat less.

I don’t know about taking it for life but that’s true of any weight loss plan. If you stop the diet, you gain back the weight.

[Anonymous]

I know a diabetic who lost over 100 lbs on it in about a year and a half. He no longer has to give himself insulin shots twice a day and his BP is now normal so none of those meds either. His doctor said he still needs to take the Ozempic but I believe at a lower dose. I don't know what would happen if he stopped completely but he has definitely modified his eating habits and is happy with that. Maybe he would gain the weight back, maybe not.

[Anonymous]

Its not the nausea that causes the weight loss. The drug impacts hormones in your body that send signals of satiety to your brain...basically it sends hormonal signals to your brain that tells your brain you do not want to eat. People lose the weight because they are not eating nearly as much because their brain is saying it doesn't want to eat, plain and simple.

Studies show the vast majority of people will eventually gain all the weight back if they discontinue the drug. The only way to not do so if to work very hard on lifestyle changes while on the drug and ensure they are sustainable after stopping. For most this likely requires therapy, work with a dietician, and exercise plan. Sometimes this is even challenging as the role genetics play in obesity can't always just be overcome because you want to.

[Anonymous]

This is why rushing out to get this drug to lose 10-30lbs is not a smart idea. For massive weight loss, it might make more sense. But for smaller goals, it may make sense to wait and see how people do when coming off it. And, as always, exhausting other options first.

[Anonymous]

I lost weight through another drugs side effects. I think about 26 lbs. It took many years (30) for that weight to return. Worth it for me.

[Anonymous]

Why do you care?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was listening to a podcast in which the host was debating taking it for weight loss. His concern was, what happens when he stops taking it? And his host said he can take it forever, which diabetics do. But my understanding of how it works is that it delays gastric emptying, which causes a feeling of fullness and nausea if you try to eat more. That’s why diabetics often report early weight loss. But gradually they get used to the feeling and so they stop losing weight.

If they’re still eating the way they always did (and why would they stop eating that way since they’re taking the drug for diabetes, not weight loss), they put the weight that they lost back on. Often this is a good thing because you don’t want to be underweight either.

So for people taking it for weight loss, what happens when the feeling of nausea from eating goes away?

I've been taking it for 5 weeks, lowest dose. I don't feel nauseous. I'm just not hungry. People taking it often remark on how it turns off the "food noise," which has definitely been my experience. Even when I lost a lot of weight with WW and kept it off for 5 years, I was constantly thinking about food: what I could and couldn't eat, when I could next eat, etc. Now I just don't think about food at all. I have to consciously plan healthy meals to make sure I get enough food, which is a much better mental space to be in: eating for fuel and health.

I am working with a weight loss coach: she has given me a variety of strategies I'm trying to ingrain in myself, including exercise and sleep habits. But I was working with the coach for 3 months before starting the meds, and I didn't lose any weight during that period.

I don't know whether I will ever have to stop taking it, but I hope that my body will settle at a new "set point" weight and I'll be able to take a low maintenance dose or none at all. My goal weight is on the upper end of a normal BMI, nothing extreme.

[Anonymous]

The nausea effect wears off. Faster for some, slower for others. The full-feeling, appetite-suppressant effect continues.

I stopped for a while and my old appetite and eating habits returned. Back on for the long term.

[Anonymous]

On a sister drug, I can't see how you'd eat "normally" on these drugs. I've been on for months and eating heavily inevitably makes me terrible and full to the point of not eating most of the following day.

I'm sure once I go off that my snacking and the portion control that is possible on the med will be difficult again. As a PP mentioned, I have restricted my diet in the past, but, food is always on my mind and a constant exercise in self-control.

Likely on for life, for better or worse.

[Anonymous]

Gastric sleeve is the only permanent weight lost but you can override it with soft foods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gastric sleeve is the only permanent weight lost but you can override it with soft foods.

Disagree. I think these drugs are great for people that struggle. I also think you don’t have to alter you body through man man procedures or drugs to have permanent success. YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was listening to a podcast in which the host was debating taking it for weight loss. His concern was, what happens when he stops taking it? And his host said he can take it forever, which diabetics do. But my understanding of how it works is that it delays gastric emptying, which causes a feeling of fullness and nausea if you try to eat more. That’s why diabetics often report early weight loss. But gradually they get used to the feeling and so they stop losing weight.

If they’re still eating the way they always did (and why would they stop eating that way since they’re taking the drug for diabetes, not weight loss), they put the weight that they lost back on. Often this is a good thing because you don’t want to be underweight either.

So for people taking it for weight loss, what happens when the feeling of nausea from eating goes away?

I’m not aware of any study indicating weight re-gain in diabetic populations. Can you please share your source on this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was listening to a podcast in which the host was debating taking it for weight loss. His concern was, what happens when he stops taking it? And his host said he can take it forever, which diabetics do. But my understanding of how it works is that it delays gastric emptying, which causes a feeling of fullness and nausea if you try to eat more. That’s why diabetics often report early weight loss. But gradually they get used to the feeling and so they stop losing weight.

If they’re still eating the way they always did (and why would they stop eating that way since they’re taking the drug for diabetes, not weight loss), they put the weight that they lost back on. Often this is a good thing because you don’t want to be underweight either.

So for people taking it for weight loss, what happens when the feeling of nausea from eating goes away?

I've been taking it for 5 weeks, lowest dose. I don't feel nauseous. I'm just not hungry. People taking it often remark on how it turns off the "food noise," which has definitely been my experience. Even when I lost a lot of weight with WW and kept it off for 5 years, I was constantly thinking about food: what I could and couldn't eat, when I could next eat, etc. Now I just don't think about food at all. I have to consciously plan healthy meals to make sure I get enough food, which is a much better mental space to be in: eating for fuel and health.

I am working with a weight loss coach: she has given me a variety of strategies I'm trying to ingrain in myself, including exercise and sleep habits. But I was working with the coach for 3 months before starting the meds, and I didn't lose any weight during that period.

I don't know whether I will ever have to stop taking it, but I hope that my body will settle at a new "set point" weight and I'll be able to take a low maintenance dose or none at all. My goal weight is on the upper end of a normal BMI, nothing extreme.

Yes! I am only on week 2, but I notice this. Last night, I was up late watching TV, and after I ate dinner, I never really thought again about getting a snack. That NEVER would have happened with me before. If it works for me, I think it will be a gamechanger. I have battled my weight since I was a teenager and now can stand to lose 40-50 lbs. I am active and healthy, but I am really tired of thinking about food all the time and what I should and shouldn't eat. I really hope it works.

[Anonymous]

I have a family member in her 20s who took it for 6 months solely for weight loss. During that time she also worked with a nutritionist and a personal trainer to change her diet and her lifestyle routine as she had been overweight her whole life despite many attempts to lose weight. The combination of all 3 was successful and she lost the excess weight. She went off the Ozempic but continued the diet and exercise program. She gained back about 5 pounds but has now maintained that weight (a healthy weight now) for a year.