Many people have started taking Ozempic, Wegovy and other GLP-1 drugs to lose weight quickly.
But some end up having to stop taking these medications because of other health problems or difficulty getting more.
This puts patients at risk of regaining the weight they lost.
Many people have started taking weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy over the past couple of years.
But fewer asked a key question: What happens if they have to stop taking their medication?
This is a situation that many people face. Sometimes patients have to stop taking the drugs because they become pregnant or are preparing for surgery, NPR reported Monday.
In other cases, medicines have become difficult to find. One patient who used Zepbound, another GLP-1 drug, to lose 35 pounds told NPR that he had to start using a rival drug after not being able to find more Zepbound.
“There will be scenarios, especially among young people, where we will have to stop taking medications whether they like it or not,” said Dr. Rekha Kumar, an endocrinologist who previously served as medical director of the American Board. of Obesity Medicine, told NPR.
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have been touted as quick ways to lose weight and avoid health problems associated with obesity, such as heart problems. The drugs rely on semaglutide, an active ingredient that reduces users’ appetite.
Some have even argued that widespread use of these drugs could lead to economic growth, as poor health imposes significant economic costs.
But many people who have started using these drugs are not obese and turn to them for their short-term effects. If patients stop taking the drug, they will likely regain much of the weight they lost, especially without careful changes in their diet and exercise, NPR reported.
A study published earlier this month suggested that users of Ozempic and Wegovy could minimize this weight gain by gradually weaning off the drugs instead of stopping suddenly. But the single study used a small sample, indicating that more research is needed to confirm the approach, Bloomberg reported.
Besides drugmakers like Novo Nordisk, which makes Ozempic and Wegovy, food company Nestlé has also jumped on the weight loss frenzy. The company announced last week that Vital Pursuit, a new frozen food brand from Nestlé, would offer small-portion meals designed for GLP-1 users starting later this year.
Read the original article on Business Insider
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