Ozempic’s Surging Popularity – Will It Last?

May 19, 2023

The type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic has been making headlines in recent months for its use as a weight loss treatment. Many people have touted the injectable drug – also FDA approved for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy – as a surefire way melt away unwanted pounds quickly, and everyone from celebrities and TikTokers to our friends and neighbors are eager to access this so-called miracle drug.

But what can explain the sudden popularity of this medication, especially considering the many other weight loss drugs available on the market? According to University Hospitals Comprehensive Weight Management and Bariatric Surgery Center’s Latonya Fore, DNP, the main reason is the incredible results that Ozempic offers, which are similar to those seen with some weight loss surgeries.

“Users can expect to lose up to 20 percent of their total body weight,” says Fore. “This is very close to the weight loss expected from the gastric lap-band surgery. The average weight loss for most other FDA-approved weight loss medications is 5 – 10 percent.”

How Ozempic and Wegovy Work

Ozempic and Wegovy both contain the active ingredient semaglutide, which suppresses the appetite and slow the movement of food from the stomach into the small intestines, Fore explains. Wegovy offers a higher dose of semaglutide for weight loss, and both drugs require weekly injections. Unlike other weight loss medications on the market, Ozempic and Wegovy are well tolerated by most people, with only mild gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and constipation.

Wegovy is approved for patients with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 27 with weight-related complications, or a BMI greater than 30 without weight-related complications. Weight-related complications include conditions such as hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol. Wegovy users are also expected to follow lifestyle modifications such as a reduced calorie eating plan and physical activity. Ozempic is FDA approved for type 2 diabetes only, so any use for weight loss is considered off-label.

The Drawbacks

While Ozempic and Wegovy can help take weight off rapidly, you need to keep taking the drug in order to maintain that weight loss. People who stop taking it may find they gain the weight back rather quickly. And because insurance may not cover it unless you meet certain criteria, the drug can be expensive – more than $1,000 a month without insurance. Compounded over months and years of long-term use, the drug can be cost-prohibitive for many people.

Another consideration is the supply issues created by Ozempic and Wegovy’s surging popularity. The company that manufactures both drugs, Novo Nordisk, recently announced that it would be limiting the supply of Wegovy’s lower starter doses as demand outpaces their manufacturing capacity.

Alternatives for Weight Loss

Fore says there are several other FDA-approved weight loss drugs available for patients looking for alternatives to Wegovy or Ozempic. These include:

Liraglutide (Saxenda)
Phentermine/topiramate (Qsymia)
Bupropion/naltrexone (Contrave)
Orlistat (Alli)
Phentermine (Adipex-P or Lomaira)
Diethylpropion (Tenuate)

The considerations for weight loss medications and their risks/benefits should be made between a patient and their medical provider.

Fore believes the popularity of Wegovy and Ozempic will decline once other weight loss drugs are approved and introduced to the market. The drug manufacturer Lilly is expected to produce a new weight loss medication with similarly promising results by the end of 2023 or early 2024.