{"id":49406,"date":"2022-03-06T17:44:44","date_gmt":"2022-03-06T22:44:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=49406"},"modified":"2025-11-18T17:14:19","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T22:14:19","slug":"ozempic-weight-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/ozempic-weight-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Who can take Ozempic for weight loss?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes, affecting more than <\/span>11% of the U.S. population<\/span><\/a>. Because obesity is a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, losing weight can help improve blood sugar control. <\/span>Ozempic<\/span> (<\/span>semaglutide<\/span>) is approved by the <\/span>Food and Drug Administration<\/span> to help manage <\/span>blood sugar<\/span> levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. It is also prescribed off-label for weight loss.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll discuss Ozempic’s efficacy, safety, and alternatives for weight loss.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Get Ozempic without insurance<\/b><\/a>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Does <\/span>Ozempic<\/span> cause <\/span>weight loss<\/span>?<\/span><\/h2>\n

In the <\/span>SUSTAIN<\/span><\/a> clinical trials<\/span>, <\/span>semaglutide<\/span> consistently demonstrated <\/span>blood sugar<\/span> control and <\/span>weight loss<\/span> in participants with <\/span>Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>obesity<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Semaglutide<\/span> Treatment Effect in People with <\/span>Obesity<\/span> (<\/span>STEP<\/span><\/a>) program was conducted to study people who were either overweight or <\/span>obese<\/span> but did not have diabetes. The study used <\/span>once weekly semaglutide<\/span> dosed at 2.4 mg. The results showed a <\/span>weight loss<\/span> of 14.9% from baseline after 68 weeks (about 16 months) of <\/span>semaglutide<\/span> and <\/span>lifestyle changes<\/span>. More specifically, about 70% of participants achieved a <\/span>weight loss<\/span> of at least 10%, and about 50% achieved a <\/span>weight loss<\/span> of 15% or more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These findings are important because <\/span>weight loss<\/span> of 10% to 15% (or more) is recommended in overweight and <\/span>obese<\/span> people with associated complications (such as prediabetes, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea). The current study results suggest that the recommended goal of <\/span>weight loss<\/span> and <\/span>obesity treatment<\/span> can be achieved with <\/span>semaglutide<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

How does <\/span>Ozempic<\/span> help you lose weight?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Ozempic, like all GLP-1 agonists, works by:<\/span><\/p>\n

While <\/span>Ozempic<\/span> lowers <\/span>blood sugar<\/span><\/a>, it also can help with weight loss. The FDA does not approve Ozempic for weight loss, but it is often prescribed <\/span>off-label<\/span><\/a> (for an indication not FDA approved) for this use. What\u2019s more, Ozempic contains the ingredient semaglutide\u2014as does the medication <\/span>Wegovy<\/span><\/a>, which is FDA approved for weight management. Average weight loss with Ozempic will vary based on individual factors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n