Semaglutide (Wegovy and Ozempic) FDA Approved for Weight Loss In Patients With and Without Diabetes

What Is Wegovy?

 

Semaglutide, also known by its trade names of Wegovy and Ozempic, was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss in both diabetics and non-diabetics. Most obesity and metabolic health experts have found this medication to be a very effective intervention for patients seeking to lose weight. This includes patients who have not been successful losing weight with diet and exercise alone. 

Semaglutide is reported to be the most effective medicine ever approved by the FDA for weight loss. Semaglutide is a “GLP-1 receptor agonist” which has been used for many years to safely lower blood sugar in diabetics. It does not cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in patients who are not diabetic. Semaglutide is administered by a once weekly patient self-injection.

This medication has been assessed in studies involving over 4,000 patients. Participants of these studies averaged weight loss of about 10% of body their body weight after about a year of treatment. This weight loss, for the study populations, was generally between 15 and 30 pounds. Obese patients and patients with diabetes sometimes lost up to 20% of their body weight. Most patients had significant reductions in body weight in the first 20 weeks of treatment. Other metabolic health parameters, such as cholesterol, blood glucose, and blood pressure also improved for most patients.

How Does Wegovy Work For Weight Loss?

This drug’s mechanism of action is that it affects several gastrointestinal hormones. This includes the hormone leptin, which slows emptying of the stomach. By slowing stomach emptying, leptin allows the stomach to feel fuller sooner when eating, and for a longer period of time after a meal or snack. This lessens the urge to eat more, and also has a tendency to increase the length of time between meals and snacks. Semaglutide also indirectly affects neurotransmitters in the brain, to cause a feeling of “satiety”. Satiety is the mental feeling of being “satiated” or satisfied that you are full and do not need to continue to eat. 

Like most medications, semaglutide can have some side effects. These include mostly transient abdominal bloating, nausea, and possibly either diarrhea or constipation. Most patients experience at least minor side effects, however these side effects usually go away within a few weeks.

Wegovy and Ozempic is covered by commerical insurance with a copay of $25/month for diabetics and nondiabetics. The semaglutide GLP1 injection medications can be quite expensive without insurance coverage at around $1500/month. Some Medicaid and Medicare plans may cover these medications depending on previous treatment and current medical conditions.

Wegovy and Ozempic (semaglutide) and Continuous Glucose Monitoring is a successful approach to long term, sustainable weight loss.

Wegovy has been found to be an effective supplemental approach for weight loss in a majority of patients. However, we at Metabolic MD we have found that this approach in combination with a low carbohydrate diet can be very effective in both losing weight and sustaining that weight loss. We have found that integration of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) with semaglutide as part of a physician directed low carbohydrate weight loss program can be very effective. The CGM provides the patient and their physician (through remote monitoring) 24/7 feedback of the patient’s blood glucose. If blood glucose can be kept at a moderate level, the body can then preferentially burn fat for energy (instead of blood glucose) causing weight loss. With this approach blood sugar elevations and “spikes” are avoided. We have found that CGM is a very effective tool to guide diet and is also a great behavioral tool in helping a patient adhere to their new dieting and lifestyle regimen. The combination of semaglutide and a CGM achieves meaningful and sustainable weight loss in nearly all the patients we have treated.

Wegovy and Ozempic is covered by commerical insurance with a copay of $25/month for diabetics and nondiabetics. The semaglutide GLP1 injection medications can be quite expensive without insurance coverage at around $1500/month. Some Medicaid and Medicare plans may cover these medications depending on previous treatment and current medical conditions.

In summary, semaglutide (trade names Ozempic and Wegovy) can be a great supplemental aid to weight loss for some patients. However, most patients have very good weight loss success with a medically managed low carbohydrate diet guided by continuous glucose monitoring. For those patients who do not achieve their target weight goals with the low carbohydrate and CGM approach alone, we add semaglutide to help these patients reach their goals.

MetabolicMD is a physician managed weight loss and optimal metabolic health program for patients in Ohio, Indiana and Florida who wish to utilize the latest technology, FDA approved medications and individualized treatment approach while following a low carbohydrate diet and lifestyle. Our program consists of physician visits, biweekly nutrition coaching and continuous glucose monitoring to motivate and encourage healthy dieting and lifestyle habits. The Metabolic Program can be done completely virtually, all in office or a mix of both. We help patients lose weight (and keep it off) while reversing metabolic syndrome and other chronic medical conditions.

Interested to learn more about Wegovy for weight loss? Live Chat with us now or call/text 937-800-4CGM. Someone is always available to answer your questions or get you scheduled for a new patient consultation!