THOSE WHO have weight problems have probably heard of Ozempic, the so-called “weight loss drug”. Ozempic shows good results and soon after its approval it became known all over the world. In Croatia last year, there was even a shortage of this drug, which was primarily intended for those suffering from diabetes.
Ozempic was developed by the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, and was initially approved in a number of countries for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Its active ingredient semaglutide binds to hormone receptors that control blood sugar, stimulating the release of insulin when glucose levels are high. But it also reduces appetite.
It has been shown that it can help people with weight problems to lose more than 10% of their body weight within 6 months, which is an amazing result. But what will happen when a person stops taking it, will the excess weight come back?
“When you stop taking the medicine, the weight comes back”
The answer is – probably yes. Namely, most people regain weight after stopping semaglutide. “Tirzepatide or semaglutide can help you reduce fat tissue. However, this does not solve the real problem, i.e. the causes of obesity, because obesity is a chronic and complex condition. When you stop taking the drugs, the weight comes back,” says doctor Natasha Yates from Bond University in Australia.
“The treatment of high blood pressure lasts a lifetime. It’s the same with obesity. Medicines work, but only as long as you take them,” she added. Yates therefore suggests that we look at Ozempic as part of the treatment, which is not enough by itself, and that other lifestyle habits should be changed along with taking the drug.
Research shows that between 6% and 13.5% of patients stop taking “diet for weight loss”, primarily due to side effects. But there is also the problem of high prices and frequent shortages on the market. Therefore, it is important to know how to proceed in case of “removal” from Ozempica.
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What happens when we stop taking a weight loss drug?
“When you stop using tirzepatide or semaglutide, it takes a few days, or even a few weeks, for them to leave your system. Then you start feeling more hungry again,” explains Yates.
“Blood sugar also goes up because the medicine is no longer working on the pancreas. Whether you have diabetes or not, you may need to eat low-glycemic foods to stabilize your blood sugar,” she added.
“Most of the weight you’ll gain is fat. While you were on the drug, you lost less muscle than fat. Losing muscle is inevitable when you lose weight, whether you’re on medication or not. The problem is that when you stop taking the drug, your body prefers to store fat,” she explained.
Given that obesity has many causes, it is necessary to change some lifestyle habits to prevent the accumulation of unwanted pounds again. Yates advises plenty of quality sleep, exercise, a healthy diet and smaller portions.
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