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Ozempic has become an increasingly popular drug and has many people asking if they can use Ozempic for obesity treatment. Ozempic is an injectible medication that’s primary purpose is to help manage blood sugar levels in diabetic patients. Although it is not labeled as a weight loss drug, Ozempic has recently garnered popularity in the mainstream media due to the weight loss many users are experiencing.
In 2017, the FDA approved Ozempic as a diabetic medication. In 2021, they approved Wegovy, a drug with a more potent dose of the main active ingredient in Ozempic (semaglutide), for patients with obesity. So, with all the talk surrounding Ozempic and Wegovy, we want to dig into what these drugs actually do and what, if any, are the long-term effects of using them.
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic is a weekly injectable medication formulated for type 2 diabetic adults. The active ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide, an FDA-approved ingredient that helps to control insulin levels by facilitating the pancreas in releasing the right amount of insulin to manage blood sugar levels. Ozempic is also believed to help adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart diseases lower their risk of cardiovascular events, such as a stroke or heart attack.
But to understand the role semaglutide plays in diabetes management, let’s first revisit what diabetes is.
A Quick Note About Diabetes
Diabetes is an endocrine (hormonal) disorder characterized by frequently high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period. Glucose (sugar) levels in the blood are tightly regulated by insulin (a hormone made by the pancreas), which is designed to keep our blood sugar levels in a reasonably narrow range. Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or the body’s cells not responding correctly to the insulin produced (type 2 diabetes).
