Ozempic for Weight Loss

Ozempic is not currently FDA-approved for weight loss. Ozempic is approved to treat Type 2 diabetes. It’s also FDA-approved to reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack or death in adult patients with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

People taking Ozempic have experienced weight loss, leading to a high demand for semaglutide drugs. This has also resulted in misuse or compounded drugs that potentially raise the risk of side effects. As with all prescription medications, you should only use Ozempic under the direction and care of a qualified physician to lower your risk of adverse effects.

When health care providers prescribe medications for unapproved uses, it’s known as an “off-label use.” Some off-label uses of medication can have benefits for patients, but there are also potential risks.

The FDA is clear that unapproved uses are up to providers. However, the agency warns, “If you and your health care provider decide to use an approved drug for an unapproved use to treat your disease or medical condition, remember that FDA has not determined that the drug is safe and effective for the unapproved use.”

Ozempic is not FDA-approved for weight loss, but losing weight is often a beneficial side effect of how the drug works to lower A1C, which measures average blood sugar levels over three-month periods. Ozempic mimics the hormone GLP-1, produced naturally in the body to make you feel full. It also slows down your digestion.

Ozempic manufacturer Novo Nordisk also produces semaglutide-based Wegovy, which is FDA-approved for weight management. While Ozempic can lead to weight loss in Type 2 diabetes patients, results are typically more significant with Wegovy than Ozempic due to Wegovy’s higher dosage of semaglutide (the same active ingredient found in Ozempic).

Studies have shown that certain medications like Ozempic — called GLP-1 agonists — can help with weight loss. For example, Wegovy helped people lose an average of 15% of their body weight over the course of a year, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Some newer GLP-1 medications (like tirzepatide) might help people lose even more — up to 20% or more of their total weight, according to Scientific American. Additionally, around one in three people taking these medications can expect to lose about 10% of their body weight, according to Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center.

Ozempic injections come in pre-filled pens delivering dosages of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg or 2 mg. Doctors generally prescribe the lowest effective dose for managing blood sugar levels. Higher doses typically lead to more significant weight loss.

If you and your doctor decide that off-label Ozempic for weight loss is right for you, your doctor will consider your medical history and health goals to determine the appropriate dose. Never adjust your dose or stop taking Ozempic without consulting your doctor.

American Journal of Cardiology Study

An April 2024 study published in the American Journal of Cardiology evaluated semaglutide injections for weight loss in people with obesity who don’t have diabetes. Participants using semaglutide lost an average of 12.1% of their body weight (about 27 pounds) compared to a placebo group.

Additionally, about a third of those on semaglutide lost at least 20% of their original body weight, versus only 2.2% in the placebo group. Most side effects were mild to moderate stomach issues that were usually short-lived.

Nature Medicine Study

A May 2024 analysis published in Nature Medicine examined the effects of semaglutide on weight and body measurements over four years. Results showed that participants taking semaglutide lost an average of just over 10% of their body weight and had a waist reduction of about three inches.

In comparison, those on a placebo lost only 1.5% of their body weight and saw minimal changes in waist size. The weight loss with semaglutide was consistent over the first 65 weeks and maintained throughout the entire study, with an average weight loss of 11.7% reported by the end.

Cleveland Clinic Study

A September 2024 Cleveland Clinic study published in JAMA Network Open examined long-term weight loss with semaglutide and liraglutide. One year after starting semaglutide, 37.4% of patients taking the drug for obesity lost 10% or more of their body weight, while only 16.6% of those taking it for Type 2 diabetes lost this much weight. On average, patients taking semaglutide for obesity lost 12.9% of their body weight within the first year, compared to a 5.9% weight reduction for those taking the same medication for diabetes.

Weigh the benefits and risks of off-label Ozempic use with your doctor. Be sure to discuss your lifestyle and medical history. The more information your doctor has, the better they can make specific recommendations for you. The only safe way to get Ozempic is via a prescription through a reputable doctor.

GLP-1 medications have shown success in helping people manage their weight. However, not everyone will see the same results. A 2021 trial indicated that about 14% of users may not lose a “clinically significant” amount of weight even with the medication. Furthermore, many people tend to regain weight once they stop taking it.

Additionally, some side effects can occur, especially stomach-related problems, which are usually more intense when starting the treatment. Researchers are still studying the long-term effects of these medications and how long patients should take them.

As Dr. Gail A. Van Norman of the University of Washington wrote in an article published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology’s Basic to Translational Science, there are risks associated with off-label prescriptions.

Dr. Van Norman also highlights a historic example of serious issues that arose from off-label use of weight loss drugs. She explains that in the 1970s, two drugs — fenfluramine and phentermine — were each individually FDA-approved for weight loss.

The weight loss results of these drugs weren’t as significant as patients hoped, and sales were underwhelming. However, when an article described a combination of the two drugs with a more substantial weight loss effect, off-label prescriptions for this combination — known as Fen-Phen — soared. Eventually, annual prescriptions for Fen-Phen exceeded 18 million in the U.S.

Just as Fen-Phen grew in popularity, reports of serious complications emerged. Nearly one-third of people taking the off-label drug combination experienced lung and heart damage. Of the injured patients, about 21% required heart surgery, and Van Norman recounts that “many experienced disability and/or death.” The FDA requested the withdrawal of the drugs in 1997 after more than 20,000 personal injury lawsuits and a $21 billion settlement with the manufacturer, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

Ozempic’s label warns the drug could potentially cause serious adverse health effects and includes a boxed warning about the possibility of increasing the risk of thyroid cancer. More common Ozempic side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and constipation. These are typically mild and taper off over time.

The more serious adverse health effects have led to Ozempic lawsuits claiming personal injury. These lawsuits involve those who experienced gastroparesis and gallbladder issues during or after taking Ozempic.

Always take prescription drugs exactly as your doctor prescribes. Talk to your doctor about any symptoms you experience and their severity to get the best possible health advice and treatments.

New research may link Ozempic to vision loss. A 2024 study published in JAMA Ophthalmology reported that patients who took semaglutide-containing drugs had a significantly higher risk of developing nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) compared with patients not on a GLP-1 agonist.

NAION is an incurable condition that occurs when blood flow to the optic nerve stops. According to the study, GLP-1 drugs could affect the optic nerve, leading to the development of the eye condition.

The study also says that people with Type 2 diabetes who took semaglutide had a more than fourfold higher risk of developing NAION. Additionally, people who are overweight or have obesity and took semaglutide for weight loss had a nearly sevenfold higher risk.