Some interesting viewpoints and experiences on this thread.
I read an interview in the FT a few months ago with the chief executive of the manufacturer and he said that he would expect Ozempic to be a bit like a drug for blood pressure in that you would expect to be on that for life. Obviously he has a vested interest in that outcome. But actually it makes sense. Ozempic is used to treat diabetes. The weight loss is secondary. So to control diabetes you would probably need to take it for life. Unless you reverse your diabetes. Which is possible. But takes a drastic change in diet and weight. Going low carb and losing excess weight has been proven to reverse type 2 diabetes. (Look up Dr David Unwin and look at the free Freshwell app.) But if someone who reversed their diabetes through diet and weight loss went back to eating how they ate before hand they will regain the weight and end up with blood sugar control issues again and become a diabetic again. So if someone who loses weight through using Ozempic stops taking it and goes back to eating the way they ate before they will obviously regain the weight.
I have been taking it for over a year and have lost three stone. It’s been really interesting seeing who it seems to work for and who it doesn’t. It seems to me to possibly work more for people who have blood sugar and insulin issues.
It is not an appetite suppressant per se. That’s a side effect. Obviously Wegovy is not yet available here but as you can take higher doses of that possibly the appetite suppression is much stronger.
In the first article @greenspaces4peace linked to the woman in it went back to eating sugar. Nowhere does it say her appetite doubled. She said she was craving sugar. If she had changed HOW she ate and cut out sugar and reduced carbohydrate intake would she have had the same issue?
In the second article @greenspaces4peace linked to the doctor quoted said you “may” regain weight.
How many of us gained weight by eating high protein and fibre and low carbs with lots of vegetables? Not many I don’t think! But that is how you are advised to eat while taking Ozempic. Most of us put weight on because we eat too much sugary and fatty foods. Processed foods. Treats. And it stands to reason if you revert to eating processed foods and sugar and carbs hey presto you will regain the weight lost. It’s not really rocket science. With the original Atkins diet you go full on low carb until you reach your goal weight. Then you are supposed to gradually reintroduce carbs. Healthy carbs that is. More vegetables and fruit and some wholegrain carbs. Not processed sugary foods and pasta etc. Even with WW and SW when you reach goal they suggest you keep going to meetings to stay on track. I think with WW for instance it’s free once you get to goal but if you lose or gain more than four pounds you start paying again. You are supposed to keep eating the way you ate to lose weight.
We are not supposed to eat a diet high in processed foods and sugary foods and high carbs. We need protein, fibre, vegetables, some fruit and some whole grains.
For me personally I was dieting and getting bigger for 30 years. Ozempic has worked for me. I’ve still got more to lose but I’m getting there. For me I think it was insulin resistance. And if I have to take Ozempic for life along with changing now I eat it’s what I have to do.
But anyone who thinks they can take Ozempic for a few months and lose the weight and then just go back to eating the way they ate before is kidding themselves.