Wegovy vs Ozempic: Pros and Cons for Weight Loss Treatment
Ozempic and Wegovy are both used for weight loss—but only one is FDA-approved as a weight loss drug. "As with any drug, you always have to weigh the benefits and risks," Dr. Cecilia Low Wang, a UCHealth expert in endocrinology, tells UCHealth Today. "Even though this can be an amazing drug for many people, each person is unique, and you need to make an informed decision." Here are some pros and cons of Ozempic Vs. Wegovy, according to experts.
Semaglutide Active Ingredient
Ozempic and Wegovy both contain semaglutide. "Semaglutide mimics a naturally occurring hormone called GLP-1 that is released in the gut when we eat," Richard D. Siegel, co-director of the Diabetes and Lipid Center and a doctor at the Weight and Wellness Center at Tufts Medical Center, tells Friedman School of Nutrition. "GLP-1 prompts the body to produce more insulin and has actions in the appetite pathway in the brain. The doses of these medications are much higher than what the gut makes naturally. They seem to reduce cravings and dull the desire to eat."
PRO: Ozempic Has Been Around For Longer
Ozempic has been around longer than Wegovy. "Ozempic has been used to treat type 2 diabetes since 2017, so we have a lot of data showing this class of drugs is safe, at least at lower doses," Dr Siegel says. "A lot of people are taking Wegovy and Ozempic now. That means we are gathering a lot of additional real-world information about side effects and safety."
CON: Ozempic Is Not a Weight Loss Drug
Ozempic was created specifically to treat type 2 diabetes, not for weight loss. "As a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, I am concerned about the health of our patients living with diabetes who are unable to receive their prescribed medications, such as Ozempic, due to shortages," Shana Nicholson, Manager at the Baptist Health Diabetes Management Programs, tells Baptist Health.
RELATED: What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Taking Ozempic
CON: Ozempic is For Diabetes Primarily, so is it for You?
Some experts recommend actual weight loss drugs—such as Wegovy—over diabetes drugs. "Ozempic is used to manage blood sugar from diabetes," Nicholson says. "I urge those with prescriptions for Ozempic for weight loss and not for diabetes management to contact their healthcare provider to be switched to a comparable FDA-approved medication for weight loss."
PRO: Wegovy For Weight Loss
Wegovy is specifically designed and approved to deal with obesity. Not only does the drug encourage weight loss, it can also help prevent major cardiac events. "The thinking is that if obesity is treated early, these cardiovascular-related benefits will start to occur even in the first three years," says Harlan Krumholz, MD, SM. "This could mean that even more benefit will accrue over the long-term."
CON: Ozempic Side Effects
Ozempic may have unpleasant side effects for some people, including nausea and GI issues. Vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation have also been reported from people taking both Ozempic and Wegovy.
CON: Wegovy Side Effects
Wegovy side effects are also unpleasant, maybe even moreso, as Wegovy contains a higher level of semaglutide. "Common side effects of Wegovy may include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach (abdomen) pain, headache, tiredness (fatigue), upset stomach, dizziness, feeling bloated, belching, low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, gas, stomach flu, heartburn, and runny nose or sore throat," says Wegovy.com.
RELATED: 20 Possible Ozempic Side Effects
CON: "Ozempic Face"
Ozempic face is a term used to describe the sagging skin and aged appearance of someone who has lost weight too quickly. The term is usually known as Ozempic face and not Wegovy face, as Ozempic is the better known drug in popular culture.
CON: Potential Ozempic Side Effects
Ozempic comes with some potential side effects. "Your blood sugar can drop too low, for example. You can have dizziness, you can have vomiting. If you have a history of thyroid cancer, it can reintroduce that cancer into your body," Dr. Janette Nesheiwat said during an appearance on Mornings with Maria. "But why it's making headlines now is it's found to cause what's called intestinal obstruction. And that's not a common thing, but it's important that you're aware of these potential side effects. Intestinal obstruction could be life-threatening."
CON: Potential Wegovy Side Effects
Wegovy, like Ozempic, carries risk. "Wegovy also contains warnings for inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), gallbladder problems (including gallstones), low blood sugar, acute kidney injury, hypersensitivity reactions, diabetic retinopathy (damage to the eye's retina), increased heart rate and suicidal behavior or thinking," says the FDA. "Patients should discuss with their health care provider if they have symptoms of pancreatitis or gallstones."
RELATED: 20 Incredible Ozempic Success Stories of All Time
PRO: Ozempic Weight Loss
Ozempic might not technically be a weight loss drug, but it does work. "Ozempic can help people lose weight, which can reduce the risk for many other serious health conditions, such as heart problems," says UC Davis Health. "Semaglutide treatments can also be used as an alternative to bariatric surgery for some patients who are obese."
PRO: Wegovy Works
A study funded by Novo Nordisk shows that Wegovy can help obese adults lose weight. "The study showed that when Wegovy was used for 15 months with lifestyle support from a professional to follow a calorie-reduced diet and to get more active, people lost on average 15% of their body weight," Specialty Registrar in Cardiology at St Bartholomew's Hospital Dr Mihir Sanghvi tells the British Heart Foundation.
CON: Wegovy and Insurance
Because Wegovy is specifically designed for weight loss, it is harder to get covered than Ozempic, making it very expensive. "Wegovy is a once-weekly injection approved by the FDA in 2021 for chronic weight management. It's the first drug approved for this purpose since 2014," says UC Davis Health. "One other difference is that Ozempic is typically covered by health insurance, while Wegovy is often not covered."
RELATED: 20 Things You Need to Know About Ozempic and Weight Loss
Should You Take Either?
Both Ozempic and Wegovy are effective weight-loss drugs, but anyone interested in taking them must talk to a health professional first to weigh the risk vs reward. "Ozempic and Wegovy have different intended uses; however, both medications work by slowing digestion and reducing appetite," according to DrugWatch. "As a result, doctors may prescribe either for weight management."
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Wegovy. Vs. Ozempic: The Bottom Line
While both Wegovy and Ozempic contain the same active ingredient—semaglutide—Wegovy has a higher concentration, which can make side effects more severe. Ozempic is not approved for weight loss, and using it for weight loss reasons could prevent people with type 2 diabetes from having access to the drug.
💪🔥Body Booster: Both Wegovy and Ozempic must be prescribed by a medical professional who can explain possible outcomes both good and bad.
