Its been hailed as a miracle weight loss drug for people living with obesity.
But, as with many medications, it only works for as long as its used.
As soon as someone stops their regular course of semaglutide, their weight is likely to come right back.
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Theres a warning here: You take this drug and you lose a lot of weight.
But you’re gonna wanna stay on it for the rest of your life.
Are you willing to do that?
The trial was funded by Novo Nordisk, the company that makes Ozempic and Wegovy.
This rebound phenomenon is more than Ive seen in the past.
What Happens to Your Body When You Take Ozempic or Wegovy?
Semaglutide works by boosting the bodys level of the hormoneglucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1).
This hormone stimulates the release of insulin.
GLP-1 drugs help to lower blood sugar and delay stomach emptying, making people feel full longer.
When a person takes semaglutide, they are able to eat less food without the body entering starvation mode.
In the weeks after a person stops taking semaglutide, those reactions should go away.
Biologically, it affects your drive to consume alcohol in addition to consuming food.
When you stop it, that drive to go back to that behavior goes back to normal.
We dont have data to show that it gets worse, Fitch said.
What Should You Do If You Want to Stop Taking the Drug?
If someone chooses to stop taking semaglutide, theres no need to gradually reduce their dose or cadence.
If not, they could be losing muscle rather than shedding pounds of fat.
Is Ozempic a Sustainable Weight Loss Solution?
Losing weight, even if only temporarily, can have health benefits.
The Novo Nordisk study followed people who took semaglutide for 68 weeks and then stopped.
However, regaining weight is usually not as beneficial as keeping it off.
Weight cycling is when a person fluctuates between high weight and relatively lower weight multiple times.
Besides, for some people, the experience of losing weight only to regain it can be psychologically trying.
Im very concerned about this rage for these GLP-1 agonists, Heymsfield said.
Weight loss problems generally dont resolve after a few years, Heymsfield said.
For people living with obesity, its a lifetime consideration.
Semaglutide may be just one part of a long-term health plan.
Keep focusing on those lifestyle changes.
If you want to stop the treatment, consult a provider about how to handle the transition period.
