IS OZEMPIC A SMART CHOICE FOR WEIGHT LOSS?

Quick and easy cures for obesity have been the product of pitchmen for decades, most especially since the 1930s. Rarely did they work. In fact, most of those sold as “miracle pills” have long since been pulled off the market in most countries. An article in the National Library of Medicine recently identified twenty-five such anti-obesity medications that are no longer available on the open market. They were removed because of their connection to various heart and lung problems, and also to addiction and psychiatric disorders. Many proved to be actually toxic, capable of causing even death.

Besides all that, none of these “miracle pills” ever really addressed the actual underlying cause of obesity. Without determining why we gain excessive weight, and dealing with it, we merely treat the symptoms. That approach is palliative, and will never turn the tide of this genuine health epidemic. Losing weight is one thing, keeping it off permanently is another.

The only effective way toward a permanent solution lies in our ability to understand and reverse insulin resistance, a condition that results from our over-consumption of foods high in sugar and refined carbohydrates. We have unfortunately become culturally addicted to sweetened drinks and processed foods. Our excessive intake of sugar triggers the continual production of insulin, which works to clear the glucose from our blood. Our cells slowly become tolerant of it, and eventually actually become insulin resistant. The glucose then no longer fuels our muscle cells efficiently. Our bodies are forced to store it as fat. When the fat cells themselves become resistant, we become a type 2 diabetics and, most likely, grossly obese. Unless we address the true causes, we might mask our problem but never really overcome it. Three years ago Ozembic, a medication approved for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, was made available to be prescribed off-label. Off-label use means a drug is able to be prescribed for a use other than the purpose for which it was first allowed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Ozembic is now commonly being prescribed - off label for obesity.

Ozembic works by mimicking a hormone released by the digestive tract called glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1). This particular hormone slows the secretion of glucose into the bloodstream and stimulates the pancreas to increase the production of insulin. It basically works to balance less glucose with more insulin. As part of that process it slows the emptying of the stomach. It’s this particular effect that has led to it being prescribed for weight loss. At sufficient strength it promotes a feeling of fullness. While people have indeed lost weight while on the medication, it’s not a permanent solution, and there are serious concerns that should not easily be dismissed.

First of all, there are side effects. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozembic - as it is as well in Rybelsus and Wygovy - may commonly cause stomach disorders, such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, and abdominal pain. It can also cause more serious conditions, such as hypoglycemia (low blood glucose), gastroenteritis (infectious diarrhea), pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), and other stomach and bowel disorders. There is also a far darker side to the drug that goes beyond the adverse physical effects. There is evidence of severe depression and suicidal behavior. In fact, between January and November of 2023 the poison control centers in our country received over 3000 calls related to semaglutide, a 1500% increase over the prior four years.

And then there’s the fact that such medications to be effective must be taken for life. The moment you stop taking them, your body reverts to its previous condition, and you will begin to regain the weight you lost, and possibly even more. Incidentally, these drugs are also very expensive, nor are they cosmetically satisfactory.

Over 40% of the weight loss on Ozembic is muscle loss, and not fat. This muscle loss is most evident in the sagging and premature aging of the face. An “Ozembic face” is not the weight loss most people want. A healthier and more effective way to achieve what you need and desire is - without any doubt - to address what caused your weight gain in the first place. Reverse your insulin resistance and you will reverse the primary cause of your obesity, and your eventual type 2 diabetes. You’ll feel good, and look good as well.

There’s much to think about here, and it may seem challenging. Dr. Mark Augello of