Ozempic for weight loss: Pros & Cons

Ozempic is an injection which will stunt your appetite, which in turn helps you lose weight. The only downside being that you won’t be able to enjoy all the foods you would normally eat. Can Ozempic reverse your type2 diabetes? Is a reduced appetite the only downside of this drug or are there any other side effects to be concerned about? And is it even legal?

In this blog we will examine the good and the bad of Ozempic the weight loss jab. Let’s see if this is the ultimate answer to control weight loss and type2 diabetes.

What is Ozempic?

Ozempic is a drug that can assist your pancreas to produce more insulin which helps people manage their blood sugar level which is particularly useful for those living with type 2 diabetes. Medical professionals know Ozempic by the drug class termed glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist (GLP1a). GLP1 is a hormone naturally produced in our gut whose action Ozempic effectively mimics. GLP1 is a hormone that helps regulate our appetite by telling our brain when we are full. This is the main reason that people who are not diabetic choose to use this drug, because by reducing their appetite it assists in managing their weight. But the drug can only be prescribed for 2 years meaning that the benefits only temporary.

When the drug is stopped, the weight will likely pile back on and the initial benefits will be lost. In addition in the UK it is only prescribed for people with type2 diabetes, NOT weight loss alone.

Is Ozempic a “quick fix”?

It can help if you allow sufficient time for the drug to work. Generally it takes a couple of months before the appetite reduction leads to significant weight loss. So, while its not an “instant” it does produce a noticeable weight loss over 8 weeks. But there are so many other ways to lose weight (and improve the outlook for people with pre-diabetes and type2 diabetes) without the need for medications like Ozempic. Jus take a look at the success stories from many of our ProLongevity clients and ask yourself would you prefer the short-lived benefits of an injection or the long terms sustainable benefits of a life-change program:

https://www.prolongevity.co.uk/success-stories/

How is Ozempic administered?

Ozempic is administered as an injectable pen each week. This will be typically injected into your abdomen by a medical professional. Like any injection it is not completely painless, but the pain of the injection is pretty minimal.

The benefits of a reduced appetite

Despite the downsides of this drug (more on that later) it will likely reduce your appetite which can help you lose weight because you will be consuming less calories. However you will need to at least maintain your daily routine of activities otherwise you might burn fewer calories and thus not lose as much weight as you hope.

The disadvantages of losing your appetite

Losing your appetite has downsides as well as upsides. If your diet is already short on nutrients (which is NOT the same as calories) you could end up with frank malnutrition. Remember that most of us are currently getting 60% of our energy from ultra-processed foods which are heavy on the calories but light on the micro-nutrients (vitamins, minerals, protein) which are vital for maintenance and repair of our cells. So a reduction in food intake comes with a further reduction in the essential nutrients your body needs. So while Ozempic is designed to help you lose weight its by far a risk-free or healthy weight-loss strategy.

You will lose weight

As we’ve suggested within a couple of months after starting Ozempic you WILL lose weight which might well seem to be a good thing. However, when losing weight there is a good type and a bad type of weight loss. The good type of weight loss is losing excess fat. By contrast a bad type of weight loss is when you lose muscle. This is the last thing you want to happen because losing muscle mass can lead to long-term health problems such as Sarcopenia. Muscle loss is an inevitable part of ageing which is why maintaining muscle mass as we get older is a key predictor of long-term health and longevity.

Since maintaining muscle mass is vital it is important that you stay active to ensure you are losing weight in a healthy way. We recommend resistance or strength exercise and to uprate the protein content in your diet. 

Dr Peter Attia who is a world leading authority on longevity spoke about Ozempic when he was invited to the Megyn Kelly show. He commented that 2/3 of the weight lost by people using the drug is loss of muscle mass. This illustrates how ineffective Ozempic actually is: you end up becoming lighter but fatter overall. And of course the muscle is lost permanently whereas the fat piles back on when you stop the drug and regain the weight you have lost

Peter Attia’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cq3qieTLHDD/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D

Is Ozempic an insulin shot?

Ozempic is not an insulin shot: if you have been prescribed insulin you will still need to continue with your insulin injections on top of Ozempic. Ozempic is a Glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP1) receptor antagonist. Mimicking your body’s naturally occurring hormone Glucagon-like-peptide-1 which is released when we eat, thereby regulating blood sugar and appetite.

What are the side effects of Ozempic?

Most common side effects of Ozempic are Nausea, Diarrhoea/constipation and stomach pain. Fortunately, not too serious but you still are at risk of the less common symptoms which can be much more serious:

• Pancreatitis which is where the pancreas becomes inflamed which can lead to further health complications and can become life-threatening in some cases.
• Vision issues Ozempic can cause blurred vision and people with diabetic retinopathy can have the condition worsen because of this drug.
• Kidney disease Ozempic can have a massive impact on your kidneys leading to kidney damage, disease or in the worst cases cause kidney failure.
• Hypoglycaemia this is when your blood sugar drops to low.
• Thyroid cancer Ozempic can increase the chances of a person developing thyroid cancer.
• Gallbladder disease Ozempic can increase your risk of gallbladder diseases.
• Allergic reaction some people might have an allergic reaction to this drug which is why it is important that you speak to a medical professional before using Ozempic.
  

Conclusion

The side effects and long-term health problems that Ozempic can cause are in our opinion too many and the benefits too few for us to recommend it for MOST people. Yes you’ll lose weight in the short term but you are storing up health problems in the long term due to the loss of muscle. Ultimately Ozempic will leave most people worse off (less healthy over all) than if they had never started it in the first place. You want to lose weight, you want to look good and feel good. Of course we get that. But the meagre benefits of this drug can so easily be replicated without the need for medication. If that’s your goal we can help!

If you are concerned about weight gain, type2 diabetes or prediabetes why not book a FREE 15-minute consultation with one of our clinical team. We will talk you through your symptoms and address your health concerns.

Book a free 15-minute consultation here: https://www.prolongevity.co.uk/booking-form/

And download a free e-book about Prediabetes here:

https://www.prolongevity.co.uk/prediabetes-ebook/