Ozempic is a new approved diabetes drug that some non-diabetics are taking to lose weight. It reduces appetite causing people to restrict their food intake and experience mild weight loss as long as people continue using it.
Ozempic is a drug that acts on both the brain and the digestive system to regulate how full you feel after a meal. It makes you feel fuller for longer and reduces your cravings for more food.
Story: Person makes appointment with GP.
Patient: Hello doctor. I need to lose weight. I have heard about Ozempic. Can you write me a script?
Doctor 1: You don’t have diabetes. The authorities have asked doctors to restrict short supplies to those with diabetes only, so the answer is No.
Patient pays for short doctor consult. Patient books with another doctor elsewhere.
Patient: Hello doctor. I need to lose weight. I have heard about Ozempic. Can you write me a script?
Doctor 2: You don’t have diabetes. They have asked doctors to restrict short supplies to those with diabetes. But, as you are not on any other medication, and are not pregnant, and not breastfeeding, I will give you a script.
Note: The patient may have said something like “I’ve tried every diet and exercise program and nothing works for me. If I did lose any weight, I put it all back on, and more.”
Patient pays for doctor consult. Takes script to pharmacy. Gets advice on self-injecting and starts with 4 weekly injections at .25 mg per shot, plus 5 pages of injecting instructions.
Advice includes if you experience hypoglaecemia (low blood sugar) to take some sugary food or drink. Cost (for non-diabetics) is around $149 per script (in addition to doctor payments). Initial weight loss is typically small, and the dose is increased (usually every 4 weeks) to .5 mg and then 1.0 mg if there are no negative side effects. Repeat scripts typically requires extra doctor visits, and further cost.
Known Side Effects reported by the manufacturer Novo Nordisk A/S
Serious side effects: Acute panceatitis, allergic reactions like shortness of breath, skin rashes, swelling of the face, lips tongue or throat with difficulty swallowing. Fast pulse. Sweating. Acute kidney injury.
Less serious side effects: headache, vomiting, indigestion, burping, farting, constipation, heartburn, stomach pain, fast heartbeat, feeling tired, feeling dizzy, changes to vision, unpleasant taste sensations, low blood sugar, feeling sick, feeling weak, feeling sleepy, feeling nervous or anxious.
If you choose to take this drug, and have side effects, you should immediately report this to your doctor and the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Side Effects reported in a study – Effects of Antidiabetic Drugs on Muscle Mass in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Of the studies identified, 18 randomized controlled trials (1, 363 subjects) satisfied the eligibility criteria. In all studies, the effects of these drugs on fat-free mass (FFM) were evaluated. They showed a significant decrease in FFM compared with the placebo. They lost muscle tone and strength. Conclusion: Although semaglutide, dapaglifrozin, and canagliflozin have a weight loss effect, it is important to pay attention to muscle loss because a decrease in FFM was observed.
In plain English… if you take a drug that kills your appetite so you just eat less, you will be losing fat and lean muscle. Unfortunately when you’ve lost weight your metabolism will be lower (due to less muscle) and so the likelihood of weight regain is higher. Also, you’ll have a less toned, weaker body.
All the celebrities who have shown off their weight loss, only talk about loss of weight, but not the detail about loss of lean muscle tissue.
Taking Ozempic for weight loss has become quite popular lately but there are serious risks and side effects associated with doing so, such as gastroparesis, pancreatitis, and biliary diseases. Read more HERE.
Weight loss? In a UK trial, after 1 year of treatment, up to 63% of patients lost 5% or more of their body weight and up to 27% of patients lost 10% or more of their body weight. These weight loss results are very poor compared to an effective lifestyle program.
Further thoughts: While losing weight, your program should take specific steps to prevent or minimise the loss of metabolically active muscle tissue. Loss of muscle may slow metabolism and lead to weight regain. Avoid any weight loss method that leads to greater muscle loss.
ICT Story
What’s ICT? ICT is a unique weight loss program developed here in Australia and is available also in New Zealand. It has a proven 10+ year history of helping thousands of women and men lose weight without hunger.
ICT is not a drug. ICT stands for Individual Carbohydrate Tolerance. The weight loss works this way. Once you learn what is your body’s individual carb tolerance, and what that represents in everyday foods, drinks, and meals, you naturally find you eat less and lose weight without hunger, or the unsustainable deprivation associated with “diets”.
Like Ozempic, ICT acts on both the brain and the digestive system to regulate how full you feel after a meal. It makes you feel fuller for longer and reduces your cravings for more food. However, you do not need a doctor’s visit and prescription, do not have to buy an expensive drug, and do not have to inject yourself.
Importantly, the ICT food plans prioritise proteins and encourage resistance exercise (at home or in-centre). The synergy of the protein and resistance exercise protects your muscles against atrophy whilst losing weight. You improve tone and strength for long term health.
Finally, lifestyle programs have a poor long term success rate (sustainability) without ongoing coaching, support, community, and accountability. With the ICT program the member has a private one-on-one weekly 15 minute check-in with their coach – in person or remotely via Zoom – for as long as you need support and accountability.
Being food-based it is virtually side effect free. Common (good) side effects include the cessation of bloating, clearing of head fuzz, increased energy, better sleep and reduced joint pain. Typical weight loss is around 2 kg per month. Often males lose at a faster rate due to their greater muscle mass.
People who say, “I’ve tried everything”, have not tried the ICT program with the weekly coaching.
If you’d like some information, complete the form below and a coach will be in touch.