Dr. Ahmed
How long does it take to lose weight on Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus? Weight loss may be observed as early as within the first few weeks.
But is it true weight loss or just water loss? True weight loss is visceral and subcutaneous fat loss which may take months.
However, the water loss in the first few weeks can motivate the person to continue the treatment.
Alongside Ozempic treatment, a low-calorie diet and regular exercise can make the weight loss journey swift and easy.
Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus?
Ozempic is a newly approved drug for the treatment of diabetes. Although not approved for the treatment of obesity and weight management, people have witnessed significant weight loss effects associated with Ozempic.
Weight loss is considered a desirable side effect of Ozempic when used in obese diabetic patients. High-dose Semaglutide injections, Wegovy, have been approved primarily for weight loss.
Ozempic is similar to Wegovy as it has the same drug formulation, however, the dose used in Ozempic is about one-third the dose of Wegovy.
Ozempic is given as a 0.25 mg injection weekly for four weeks, followed by 0.5 mg weekly. The maximum recommended dose of Ozempic in diabetics is 1 mg subcutaneous injection once a week.
On the other hand, Wegovy is the same drug, but the dose of Semaglutide is 2.4 mg once weekly.
Rybelsus is an oral formulation of Semaglutide. It is only approved for the treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2.
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How Long Does it Take to Lose Weight on Ozempic?
So, when should you notice the weight loss effects of Ozempic?
Unlike the A1C, which may take at least four weeks to come down to normal, the weight loss effects of Ozempic may be noticed soon after treatment initiation.
It may take as little as one week to at least two months when you may start noticing the weight loss effects of Ozempic.
In clinical trials, weight loss associated with Ozempic was 9 to 12 pounds after one year of treatment using 0.5 mg and 1 mg Ozempic injections respectively [Ref].
Data from real patients who posted their weight loss stories on social media observed weight loss soon after treatment initiation.
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To answer the question, we collected data from the social media of people who have been using Ozempic and evaluated the weight loss effects of Ozempic.
Here are the results:
Data of patients who observed weight loss using Ozempic:
Data from a total of 43 patients who were using Ozempic was analyzed.
Gender and Duration of Ozempic Treatment:
67.4% (29) of the participants were women while 32.6% (14) were men.
Participants were using Ozempic injection for a mean duration of 9.17 weeks (+/- 10 std) ranging from 1 to 52 weeks.
Dose of Ozempic:
Out of a total of 38 participants who mentioned the dose of Ozempic, most were using a 0.25 mg injection.
Since Ozempic is advised in a dose of 0.25 mg weekly for four weeks followed by 0.5 mg weekly up to a maximum dose of 1 mg weekly, most patients were using it in a dose of 0.25 mg per week.
Less than 4 weeks |
More than 4 weeks |
|
| 0.25 mg | 19 | 1 |
| 0.5 mg | 0 | 10 |
| 1 mg | 0 | 7 |
One patient was using Ozempic at a dose of 0.25 mg beyond four weeks. One patient was using a supratherapeutic dose of 1.7 mg.
20 participants were using 0.25 mg, 10 were on 0.5 mg, and 7 were on 1 mg. Data collected at this point was probably too early to analyze as most patients were just started on Ozempic. Secondly, patients who reported their weight loss using Ozempic were either too apprehensive or too excited.
Weight Loss with Ozempic:
The mean weight loss in the study was 17.44 lbs +/- 16 ranging from 0 to 60 lbs. In clinical trials, Ozempic resulted in a weight loss of about 11%. Weight loss in clinical trials has been documented after at least 3 to 6 months.
A weight loss of 17 lbs is a little too much for Ozempic, especially during the early stages of treatment initiation.
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Duration of treatment and weight loss:
The following table shows the duration of Ozempic use by the patients and the estimated weight loss.
It can be observed that weight loss is more evident after 4 weeks of treatment and is the highest at 24 to 48 weeks.
Duration of Treatment in Weeks |
Percentage of patients |
Mean weight loss (lbs) |
| One week | 7 | 10 |
| 2 weeks | 16.3 | 5.27 |
| 3 weeks | 16.3 | 8.71 |
| 4 weeks | 9.3 | 4.25 |
| 5 weeks | 9.3 | 23.87 |
| 6 – 12 weeks | 16.3 | 22.29 |
| 12 – 24 weeks | 20.9 | 33.33 |
| 24 – 48 weeks | 2.3 | 35 |
Below is the graphical presentation of the same findings:
It can be seen that the weight loss effects of Ozempic can be noticed soon after treatment initiation. Even after a single dose of Ozempic, people started noticing significant weight loss.
However, as the duration of treatment is extended beyond four weeks, significant weight loss can be observed.
It is important to note that the first four weeks of treatment is considered the priming period where people get used to the drug so that the drug-related adverse reactions can be minimized.
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In conclusion:
Ozempic treatment has been associated with significant weight loss. The weight loss effects can be observed soon after treatment initiation.
However, as the duration of treatment is extended and the dose of Ozempic is increased, significant weight loss can then be observed.
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