What is Ozempic? The Facts Behind the Famous Weight Loss Drug

You may have already seen the buzz around how celebrities and influencers are obsessed with the weight loss results achieved with Ozempic. So, what is this medication exactly, why is it making everyone lose weight, and should you consider taking it? Let us examine the facts around this phenomenon!

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Current State of Knowledge 

Ozempic is the trademark name given to semaglutide, a drug that, as initially designed, is a type 2 diabetic medication. It falls under a class termed GLP-1 receptor agonists, so named due to their action as an agonist to a hormone, produced by the body naturally in the gastrointestinal tract, termed glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, for short (Kommu and Whitfield).

GLP-1 has a number of crucial functions in the body. It promotes the release of insulin as a result of an increase in blood sugar concentration following a meal. On the other hand, it indirectly reduces the secretion of a hormone known as glucagon, which works opposite to insulin by increasing the amount of glucose released by the liver into the bloodstream (Müller et al.).

Interestingly, GLP-1 also slows gastric emptying, resulting in an enhancement of feelings of fullness. It affects the central nervous system to diminish hunger and food intake. It was the other properties that aroused interest in the use of GLP-1 agonist semaglutide as an anti-obesity drug (Shah and Vella).

A clinical trial published in “The New England Journal of Medicine” in 2021 established that participants undergoing semaglutide treatment achieved an average of 14.9% lowering of their initial body weight, as opposed to 2.4% achieved by participants undergoing placebo treatment. The trial targeted 1,961 adults with either obesity or overweight. The trial was a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. The trial, known as the STEP 1 trial, is a high quality trial given its research design. The randomized part facilitates comparing the two groups equally at the beginning, the placebo controls for the act of taking any medication, and the double-blinding minimizes bias due to either participants or researchers (Wilding et al.). It should be noted, however, that the participants underwent lifestyle modification, including counseling, as well. The participants, therefore, could not attribute their weight loss solely to semaglutide. It's likely that trial participants may not fully represent a diverse population that may end up utilizing the drug.

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Three Viewpoints:

Mainstream Medical View

The medical community sees semaglutide as a valuable asset in the fight against obesity and its related diseases. The American Diabetes Association recommends GLP-1 Receptor Agonists as a treatment option, including semaglutide, for managing blood sugar levels, as they are associated with a beneficial effect on body weight. Northwestern University praises semaglutide when they wrote, “The drug, semaglutide, taken once a week at 2.4 mg, works by suppressing appetite centers in the brain to reduce hunger and calorie intake. It could be a gamechanger for those who struggle with obesity, which impacts more than 40% of adults in the U.S. Obesity is associated with multiple complications such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, arthritis, sleep apnea, some forms of cancer and decreased life expectancy” (Samuelson, 2021).

However, according to medical professionals, semaglutide should not be viewed as a ‘magic weight loss drug.’ It is stressed that semaglutide should be taken alongside a lower-calorie meal and greater physical exercises. There are concerns regarding the sustainability of the results as well as side effects that could be produced by this medicine. Just like all other medications, there is a certain criteria to meet when it comes to taking a new drug. Always consult your healthcare team to see if you are a good candidate for Ozempic, or any other similar medication. 

Holistic Approach/Alternative Outlook 

Some practitioners in the wellness community are cautious when approaching pharmacological approaches or alternatives to achieve a weight loss program. They are often big on modifying lifestyles as a cornerstone of managing weight effectively.

As an example, a program presented by physician, Dr. Mark Hyman, wrote the book “Food Fix: How to Save Our Health, Our Economy, Our Communities, and Our Planet One Bite at a Time” as an effort to promote healthier eating habits. He recognizes the part that medication could play but shows the importance of managing the causes relating to high blood pressure, like weight gain. Read more about Dr. Hyman and his use of using food as a fix in this interview: Conversation With Mark Hyman, MD (Benson, 2020). People may feel that a drug, including semaglutide, could rather be a quick fix as opposed to providing an appropriate solution to problems that could contribute to obesity, including a low quality of meals, insufficient physical activity, stress, and disturbances related to sleep.

Influencer/Public View 

Social media circles have been filled with stories by people who have been utilizing semaglutide as a weight loss drug. Reality TV stars are believed to have taken semaglutide to reduce their weight in such a short amount of time.  

Additionally, there are many TikTok or Instagram accounts that share their journey on using weight loss drugs, often showing drastic before and afters. These videos are also part of the new rise in why people want to begin to start using this medication. 

However, not all experiences are positive. Some patients have negative experiences related to side effects, which include nausea, vomiting, and digestive problems. Then, there are concerns regarding the high price associated with limited availability. There are also a lot of mental health issues that come into play, such as body dysmorphia, when taking the drug. Since a lot of weight is lost in a short period of time, the user may sometimes feel as though they cannot recognize themselves anymore. It does not help that the current media glamorizes the idea of being thin, which leads to many people wanting to use a weight loss medication not for health, but to fit societal standards. 

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Conclusion

The primary approach among medical practitioners appears encouraging, as a resourceful remedy, particularly among those experiencing complications due to their condition. Nevertheless, the concern regarding an exclusive reliance solely on medication is valid.

The approach advocated by alternative medicine offers a crucial reminder that pharmacology alone will never bring about long-term weight loss or improvements to a person's health condition. Some may underestimate the challenges involved in making and sustaining big lifestyle modifications.

The interest expressed by the general public in semaglutide highlights the thirst for an efficient weight loss strategy. The obsession with instant and dramatic weight loss as expressed by a number of postings may, however, be unrealistic, failing to consider difficulties involved with maintaining weight loss.

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Future Directions

• Combination approaches: Exploring how semaglutide could be effectively combined with behavioral, lifestyle, and other approaches to treating obesity.
• Long-term efficacy and safety: Performing clinical studies to evaluate weight maintenance and potential side effects with long-term semaglutide medication intake.
• Accessibility and Affordability: The potential development of accessible and affordable strategies to reduce the prevalence of obesity by effectively treating its causes.
• Precision medicine: Studying predictive markers of response to semaglutide and other anti-obesity medications to make better-informed, individualized treatments.
• Strategies for prevention: It is paramount to point out that, although the improvement of the treatment of obese patients is vital, a great emphasis should also be placed on prevention strategies.

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Closing Summary: 

Ozempic, or semaglutide, is exciting due to its potential for achieving a substantial amount of weight loss and in maintaining blood sugar. Nevertheless, this drug should be part of an extensive strategy focusing on a healthy lifestyle as well, rather than solely relying on this treatment as a potential solution to managing obese patients. Like all prescription drugs, semaglutide has both potential benefits and risks, which should be carefully assessed among individual patients. Semaglutide is not magic, as changing habits related to food, exercise, stress, and sleep are a tricky but crucial process.

Going forward, it will be essential to continue studying semaglutide and other therapies for obesity, as well as making sure they are accessible and affordable. It will be vitally important, however, not to forget the crucial component, prevention, and the creation of environments that support healthy habits.

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What is Ozempic's LyfeiQ? 

Scientific Evidence in Humans: 8/10, well-conducted clinical trials proving substantial weight loss).

Safety Profile: 7/10 (tends to be safe, but gastrointestinal side effects are often prevalent)

Risk-Benefit Ratio: Beneficial for obese patients and those with related conditions, under medical care

Medical Consensus: It is increasingly being accepted as an adjunct to lifestyle modifications in the management of obesity 

LyfeiQ Score: 8/10 

Ozempic appears to be a promising agent in the management of obesity when carefully administered under strict medical supervision alongside lifestyle modifications. However, it is surely not a magic bullet and awaits further research into its long-term safety and efficacy results.

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Disclaimer: Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any weight loss medication. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Speak with your doctor about whether Ozempic may be appropriate for your individual circumstances, and carefully weigh the potential benefits and risks.

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References:

Benson, Dick. “Conversation with Mark Hyman, MD.” Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal, vol. 19, no. 5, Oct. 2020, p. 44, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7815255/.

Kommu, Sharath, and Philip Whitfield. “Semaglutide.” PubMed, StatPearls Publishing, 11 Feb. 2024, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK603723/.

Müller, T.D., et al. “Glucagon-like Peptide 1 (GLP-1).” Molecular Metabolism, vol. 30, Dec. 2019, pp. 72–130, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6812410/, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2019.09.010.

Samuelson, Kristen. “New Anti-Obesity Medication Almost Twice as Effective as Most Currently Approved Weight-Loss Drugs.” Northwestern.edu, Northwestern Now, 10 Feb. 2021, news.northwestern.edu/stories/2021/02/anti-obesity-medication. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.

Shah, Meera, and Adrian Vella. “Effects of GLP-1 on Appetite and Weight.” Reviews in Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders, vol. 15, no. 3, 1 Sept. 2014, pp. 181–187, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11154-014-9289-5.

Vijay Kumar Malesu. “News-Medical.” News-Medical, 27 Feb. 2025, www.news-medical.net/health/Who-Should-Take-Weight-Loss-Injections-and-Who-Shouldne28099t.aspx.

Wilding, John P. H., et al. “Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity.” The New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 384, no. 11, 10 Feb. 2021, pp. 989–1002. PubMed, www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183, https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183.

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