Not Everyone Taking Ozempic, Other GLP-1 Drugs Will Lose Weight, Experts Say

Not everyone who takes Ozempic is going to lose weight. Yes! However much shocking it may sound, researches have concluded that these drugs only work on 1 out of 5 people. Ozempic, like Wegrovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound, is a Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1 Receptor Agonist) drug that is primarily used to control blood sugar levels of Type 2 Diabetes patients. Weight loss is just a side-effect. However, with celebrities like Elon Musk, Kim Kardashian marketing it openly, it has gained immense popularity as a weight loss drug.

Clinical Trials Show Low Success Rate

In clinical trials, most participants taking Wegovy or Mounjaro to treat obesity lost an average of 15% to 22% of their body weight — up to 50 pounds or more in many cases. But roughly 10% to 15% of patients in those trials were "nonresponders" who lost less than 5% of their body weight.

These results are supported by obesity experts, who speaking to The Associated Press, said that nearly 20% patients may not respond well to these medications. They explained that these drugs do not work on one-size-fits-all principle. "It's all about explaining that different people have different responses," said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity expert at Massachusetts General Hospital.

GLP-1 Drugs Suppress Brain Chatter About Food

GLP-1 (a hormone secreted by your intestine) travels to your pancreas, prompting it to produce insulin. It also travels to the hypothalamus in your brain, which gives you the feeling of being full or satiated. These GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic drugs imitate this hormone, thereby, silencing the food chatter in the brain. Interestingly, for some people, this food chatter is really quiet ( people with low appetite); for others, it is an outburst (people who binge eat.) So with drugs like Ozempic, silencing this self-talk in the brain, people tend to lose their appetite and eventually weight.

There are multiple reasons that can prevent weight loss in a person consuming GLP-1 drugs. Medical conditions such as sleep apnea along with certain common medications, such as antidepressants, steroids and contraceptives can hamper the process of shedding extra pounds. Research shows that it is usually clear within weeks if they will work or not. Another major reason that can hamper weight loss are the side-effects of these drugs that can prompt a person to halt their prescription mid way.

What Are Side-Effects Of Consuming Ozempic?

As reiterated by doctors and health care experts, Ozempic is a drug that is tasked to help diabetic patients manage their blood sugar levels and weight. However, recent research has shown its effectiveness in mitigating various addictions like alcohol and drugs by inhibiting hormones. But what people ignore are its side effects, which include:

Nausea is a frequent side effect, especially when starting Ozempic or increasing the dose, and vomiting may occur along with nausea.

Diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort also show up in people using Ozempic, but they generally resolve as your body adjusts.

Ozempic can reduce appetite but may also lead to unintended weight loss or reduced food intake, causing discomfort for some people.

There are certain less common, but serious side effects also, like Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas.

This drug may also cause severe kidney issues, particularly if dehydration occurs from side effects like vomiting or diarrhoea.