Like any other doctor鈥檚 visit, DMV native Brigette Squire shared her current health concerns with her primary care physician, expecting the typical response of suggested blood panels and standard tips to maintain her health before being sent on her way.
It was to her surprise when the physician highlighted her slight weight gain as a point of concern, suggesting the medication Ozempic to address both her rising glucose levels and body mass index.
鈥淢y doctor told me that in just three months, I had gained seven pounds. I was like, 鈥榃ow. I actually didn鈥檛 even realize it,鈥欌 Squire told The Informer. 鈥淗e told me he would have to increase [the medication I was already using], and then suggested that I also try Ozempic.鈥
Ozempic, the prescription injection used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults, has become popular as a byproduct of losing a small to moderate amount of weight.
Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2017, Ozempic, the brand name for Semaglutide, was initially sanctioned for use by patients with type 2 diabetes to help manage their blood sugar.
The weekly injection works to lower blood sugar levels by helping the pancreas secrete more insulin, mimicking the physiological hormone, glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1), and delaying the emptying of the stomach.
Essentially, Ozempic encourages less food intake by making one feel full over a longer period of time.
Is Ozempic Effective for Weight Loss?
While pregnant with her now-12-year-old son, Squire developed gestational diabetes, a condition that occurs when the body can鈥檛 produce enough insulin to manage the extra blood sugar needs of pregnancy.聽 At the time, doctors warned that she would be at a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes in the future.聽
Although she took on an active lifestyle after the birth of her child, exercising and losing significant weight, recent years of a heavy workload have hindered her ability to keep a consistent gym and cooking routine.
When she visited the doctor earlier this year, Squire, 35, was surprised at her current doctor鈥檚 concern about her weight, as this was not an issue commonly addressed with her previous primary care physicians.
鈥淚’ve never had an American doctor say that I weigh too much. Sometimes doctors are [almost] nervous to say certain things, but he emphasized that he [wanted to prevent me having] a stroke or heart attack, or [getting] diabetes, so he’d rather I start on a low dose now instead of waiting until it gets worse and [consequently having] to be dependent on it, 鈥 Squire, a single mother, explained.
Squire said she was never looking to start Ozempic for weight loss, as it was introduced to her due to underlying health concerns.聽 However, she has successfully lost 15 pounds over the course of five months using the prescription medication.聽
Similarly, Tommy Zondo, 53, began his journey with Ozempic in February 2023. Finding himself pre-diabetic at 331 pounds, his primary care physician pushed his insurance company to cover the medication, aiming to reverse the looming comorbidities he battled at his previous weight.
Over the past year and a half, he has shed a total of 100 pounds, while lowering his glucose, falling well under pre-diabetic levels, essentially accomplishing everything he was seeking when starting the injections.
Zondo said that Ozempic helped balance his taste palate, as he developed a desire for healthier, fiber-rich foods like vegetables, while unhealthy food choices became unappetizing.
鈥淵ou can just take it and not change anything [else], and you’ll still probably lose 10% to 15% of your body weight, but that’ll be about it. Or, like in my case, you can totally change your activity, how you eat, and other things,鈥 Zondo explained. 鈥淚 just think it’s as much as you want to engage with it, your success will be based on that.鈥
Ozempic’s Side Effects, Addressing Misconceptions
Some people are leery about the drug鈥檚 rumored side effects, most commonly nausea, constipation or diarrhea, but also including concerns of gastroparesis, a chronic medical condition that slows or stops the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine.
Though she鈥檚 had success on the medication, Squire initially had some concerns when learning she would be starting the injections.
鈥淚 hadn鈥檛 heard too many good things about its side effects, so I was a little hesitant to try it,鈥 Squire told The Informer.
Both Zondo and Squire have experienced the common side effect of nausea, often experienced by those taking the injection.
While Squire likened the nausea to pregnancy morning sickness, Zondo told The Informer the discomfort is a small price to pay for the positive impact the medication has had on his health.
鈥淚 think every now and again, yes, I’m nauseous, but overall, it’s a tiny price, tiny price,鈥 said Zondo.
Dr. Fatmata Daramy Barlatt, assistant professor of Community and Family Medicine in the Howard University School of Medicine, works to clarify misconceptions on how Ozempic truly affects the body.
鈥淏ecause of how the medication works, by slowing the emptying of the gut, it does potentially pose a risk for people to develop gastroparesis, but there’s a confounding factor out there鈥 A common complication to diabetes is gastroparesis. It’s something that is well known and has been studied for decades that we know about,鈥 Barlatt told The Informer. 鈥淪o it’s almost like a chicken and the egg, which came first? Is it just that most people on Ozempic already have diabetes and are already prone to gastroparesis, or is it the medication that’s causing them to develop gastroparesis? So, we need more studies to kind of dive into it to know more.鈥
Likewise, people have coined the phrase 鈥淥zempic face鈥 to describe the sagging look that can occur from losing weight while using the drug. Barlatt also explained that side effect.
鈥淭he reason why people say you have the 鈥極zempic face,鈥 is just because of the rapid weight loss that it causes, and for people who are using it to lose weight, they are wanting to accelerate how quickly that happens. Anybody who loses weight rapidly is going to have that sagging face look,鈥 Barlatt said.
Squire said the benefits of the medication outweigh the expensive cost.
鈥淚鈥檝e been really grateful,鈥 said Squire, who uses her insurance to help pay for the injections, as without it, the cost would be closer to $1,000 a month.
Her doctor noted that even with the high cost of Ozempic, the medication is a lot cheaper than weight loss surgery.
鈥淚 feel like it鈥檚 worth it if you are concerned about losing weight and you have the means to get the money to pay for it,鈥 Squire, a full-time dental hygienist, community safety advocate, photographer and entrepreneur said. 鈥淚鈥檓 lucky that I didn鈥檛 have to, but I was considering paying cash if my insurance didn鈥檛 accept it.鈥