Anonymous wrote:Is the purpose and function of Ozempic and similar drugs literally just appetite suppression? Meaning it works by simply making you not want to eat, but has no other benefits such as boosting the metabolism or helping your body to digest more efficiently?
Thank you, sorry to ask a dumb question.
It mimics GLP-1 by increasing release of insulin when you eat, shuttling more glucose into fat cells and muscle cells. This also slows digestion and stomach emptying, so you feel full for longer after eating and not able to eat as much at once as fast.
It also increases the release of the catabolic hormone glucagon, which increases blood glucose and triglyceride levels in the blood stream, allowing insulin to shuttle more of them around. Glucagon being a catabolic hormone, will cause weight loss from reducing fat and muscle cell size.
This results in a more stabilized blood sugar level, with less spikes after eating, when taking the drug. It's good for diabetics who have health issues and cannot exercise much.