Are new FDA-approved medications the answer to obesity?

Treating obesity is a complicated puzzle. Can new medications like Wegovy really help, or are they another fad?

Diet and exercise will always be vital pieces to the puzzle, but another factor must be considered: the hormones required for your brain and stomach to communicate clearly.

It’s easy to brush hormones off as fertility and sex-related substances. In reality, they act as full-body chemical messengers. They dictate nearly every process, from thyroid function to sleep and (of course) weight loss.

Wegovy (approved in 2021 for weight loss) and Ozempic (approved in 2017) help patients treat chronic weight management by impacting certain hormones. When used with dietary and lifestyle changes, it can offer dramatic results to help regain health.

How do Wegovy and Ozempic work?

Wegovy and Ozempic are both semaglutide medications, which means they can curb your appetite and balance out hormones like insulin. They act as a GLP-1 agonist, allowing the body to deliver necessary messages regarding appetite and food intake to the brain.

Suppose the hormones in your stomach have difficulty sending your brain messages to regulate food intake. In that case, Wegovy can aid in telling your body how much food it needs and how slowly to digest that food, as well as impact the brain’s reward center response to food.

What’s the difference between Ozempic and Wegovy?

Wegovy is FDA approved as a weight loss medication, whereas Ozempic is FDA approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Though both drugs mirror one another’s active ingredients, the amount in Wegovy’s dosage is slightly more substantial.

Wegovy is getting more attention for being the new kid on the block, but either option can be effective.
Is everyone a good candidate for weight loss medications?

Though Wegovy is approved to treat obesity and excessive weight for adults and teenagers, it’s not necessarily appropriate for every patient. By working with a qualified medical provider, you can discuss the possibility of Wegovy and discover if you’re a candidate.

Will Wegovy or Ozempic alone treat obesity and excessive weight?

Neither option is a magic weight loss button, but they can be a vital tool in helping patients who have struggled with chronic obesity. Both are shown to be highly effective medications when used in conduction with long-term lifestyle changes.

How should Wegovy or Ozempic be prescribed?

There are numerous avenues for acquiring a prescription for this medication, including primary care physicians and online options.

To succeed, though, long-term weight loss success requires a plan. Effective treatment involves behavioral counseling, lifestyle changes, and proper management of a medication if prescribed. Patients serious about success should work with a clinic specializing in obesity treatment.

Will my insurance cover this?

Insurance can be tricky. You can use the online tool provided by Novocare or contact your insurance directly to determine an estimate of coverage.

Alaska Premier Health patients can elect to have a prior authorization done, which will help us get to the bottom of your insurance coverage.

What’s next?

If you want to learn more about treating obesity or excessive weight through a new weight management medication like Wegovy or Ozempic, along with dietary and lifestyle changes, we’re happy to help. Simply request a free consultation, and we’ll help you do the rest.