Is Ozempic/Wegovy a Miracle or a Pharmaceutical Nightmare?
A diabetes drug is now the biggest thing in weight loss, but it is NOT a quick fix; rather, it is a long-term tool for helping certain people with weight management. The big question is whether this drug is beneficial or a sheep in lamb’s clothing.
Semaglutide is a long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist that people inject weekly, and which was originally developed to help treat Type 2 Diabetes in the late 2000s. It is now sold under the brand names of Ozempic and Wegovy.
Semaglutide works by mimicking a hormone made in the small intestine called GLP-1, which helps curb appetite and slow digestion.
The drug works by suppression. It slows the food traveling through your gastrointestinal tract, thus reducing hunger. It helps signal the brain that you are satiated, and it helps extend the time until you are hungry again.
But this drug is not a long-term solution; in fact, it is not a solution at all because there is no root cause healing. Metabolic health expert Dr. Robert Lustig refers to the drug as an adjunct, not a replacement, for major food/diet and lifestyle changes.
Semaglutide can produce large, clinically meaningful weight loss and cardiometabolic improvements when used under medical supervision, but the known side effects are hefty, and little is known about the long-term implications because the drug is too new.
Because there is a lot of debate and discussion over Ozempic and Wegovy, the rest of this article focuses on the pros and cons of considering one of these medications for weight loss so that readers can make a more informed decision.
Note: Sources are included at the end of the article.
Pros of Semaglutide Brands
1. Significant Weight Loss. Both anecdotal information and research studies demonstrate that people who took the drug all lost weight. More specifically, once-weekly semaglutide (2.4 mg dosage) produced mean weight losses of about 15 percent body weight at 68 weeks of usage, which equates to about 1-2 pounds weekly. Of course, some lost less and some lost more.
2. Improves Cardiometabolic Risk Factors. Studies have shown that people who are overweight/obese and have established cardiovascular disease (without diabetes) show a statistically significant reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events. Other studies have shown a positive cardiovascular benefit in people with type 2 diabetes who take the drug.
3. Aids in Appetite Control. Studies show that the drug helps reduce hunger and excessive calorie intake, reducing both snacking and meal sizes.
4. May Help With Addiction. Because the drug interacts with the brain reward pathway and the release of dopamine, it may help people reduce their dependency on drugs, alcohol, etc.
Cons of Semaglutide Brands
1. Ignores the Root Cause. Most people can achieve weight loss by changing their diet to real foods and low refined carbs, and adding daily (and some intense) movement and exercise. As Dr. Lustig states, “you’re bypassing the problem. … No one has GLP-1 deficiency.”
2. Causes Muscle Loss. People do not just lose fat on semaglutide; one side effect not often discussed is the loss of muscle, raising concerns that long-term use can seriously reduce muscle mass as well as strength and stability, which are essential parts of health, especially as we age. Some experts say that as much as 39 percent of lean muscle mass can be lost during semaglutide treatment, especially when people are not active. Furthermore, muscle is needed to support healthy bones, especially for menopausal women and all older people.
3. Hijacks the Reward System. As mentioned previously, the drug interacts with the brain reward pathway, so there is some concern about decreased dopamine levels, resulting in depression, anxiety, and suicidal behaviors.
4. Lifelong Treatment. Once you start the weekly drug injections, it is designed that you stay on it for the rest of your life, though some research shows some people attempting to quit after about two years (perhaps when achieving their weight goal, but…)
5. Stopping Usually Means Weight Returns. People may think these drugs are a miracle cure for weight loss, but studies show that most people gain almost all the weight back, and some gain all of it back.
6. Known Negative Effects. Some are temporary (such as abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, belching, constipation, or diarrhea), but other side effects that linger include headaches, fatigue, and hair loss.
7. Unknown Long-Term Effects. The drug is still too new to understand the long-term consequences of taking it for life, but some concerns include pancreatitis, gallstones, kidney injury, vision changes, and skin-related effects; ongoing trials are evaluating broader safety, including effects on diabetic retinopathy.
8. Costs. Regardless of the actual price of the drug, rarely do healthcare providers calculate the cost of a lifetime of injectables; there are also concerns about equity when the costs are prohibitive.
Questions to Ask Your Provider About Semaglutide/GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
Am I a candidate based on my medical history (current medications, age, thyroid cancer family history, kidney health, pancreatitis, gall bladder issues, pregnancy plans)?
Am I a candidate based on my mental health history? And is there support available, if needed?
Given my age and stage of life, how concerned should I be about potential muscle and bone loss from taking the medication?
Can I achieve my weight loss and health goals plan with diet and lifestyle choices alone?
What side effects should I expect, and how will we manage them?
How long will I likely need to take it, and what happens if I stop?
How will this drug interact with my other medications (especially glucose-lowering drugs)?
What are the costs, and are there safer, FDA-approved options/formulations available to me?
What diet and lifestyle modifications do I need to pursue to help keep me healthy?
Can you explain how some of your other patients are doing using this medication?
Final Thoughts on Semaglutide/GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
Are these semaglutide drugs a miracle for weight loss and better health, or simply yet another convenience product to replace the hard work required of eating better foods, getting more daily movement and exercise, reducing chronic stress, and obtaining better sleep?
I agree with many experts that for a small percentage of the population, this medication can indeed be a miracle that takes them from the brink of chronic disease. However, for the rest of the population, this medication has too many known side effects to justify the risks (including the unknown long-term risks). Of course, everyone needs to decide for themselves; be their own health advocate.
Finally, you may also want to read this person’s experience: 15 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting Wegovy: A Brutally Honest Wegovy Review.
Additional Research on Semaglutide/GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
Dr. Randall Hansen is an evangelist, educator, and thought-leader... helping the world heal from past trauma and the poor food system. He is founder and CEO of EmpoweringSites.com, a network of empowering and transformative Websites, including EmpoweringAdvice.com.
He is the author of the groundbreaking Triumph Over Trauma: Psychedelic Medicines are Helping People Heal Their Trauma, Change Their Lives, and Grow Their Spirituality and the well-received HEAL! Wholeistic Practices to Help Clear Your Trauma, Heal Yourself, and Live Your Best Life.
The third book in the Wholeistic Healing Trilogy is the game-changing The HEALing Revolution Diet: A Science-based Approach to Heal Your Gut, Reverse Chronic Illnesses, Lose Weight, Clear Your Mind, and Increase Longevity.
Dr. Hansen's focus and advocacy center around true health and healing journeys that results in being able to live an authentic life filled with peace, joy, love. Learn more by visiting his personal Website, RandallSHansen.com. You can also check out Dr. Randall Hansen on LinkedIn.
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