There’s always a trending weight loss method. The current red-hot trend are the various injectables. They seem to be everywhere right now. In fact, chances are you know several people taking them whether they admit or not. Some of the prescription injectable weight loss medications available include: Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy. They were designed as diabetes drugs originally, and now used to treat obesity. The demand for these drugs are skyrocketing — the U.S. saw shortages this year that made access difficult for patients who rely on them. According to Elon Musk’s own twitter post, he gives credit to Ozempic/Wegovy as part of his 30lb weight loss. Are these drugs just another part of the endless weight loss hype, or are they legit? And what about the side-effects? We decided to follow someone locally and see how they progressed. Here’s what we found out.
About Town does not encourage or discourage anyone from taking any of these injectables, and as with all medications, you should always consult a physician.
The Basics
In it’s most simple terms, these drugs work by reducing your appetite. Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy are three of the most popular. Wegovy and Ozempic are two names for the same drug: semaglutide. Ozempic is the name of the drug as prescribed for people with diabetes. The FDA approved Ozempic for people with diabetes in 2017 and approved Wegovy for people who have obesity or are overweight and have additional health problems in 2021. According to their website, Mounjaro is an injectable prescription medicine that is used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose) in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It was first approved in May 2022. (Our volunteer took Mounjaro.) They are injected once a week (usually in the stomach). The needle is not a traditional syringe but more like an insulin pen with a very small needle.
They only come with a doctor prescription, and may not be covered by your health insurance plan. If not, they are very expensive. A typical monthly dose will cost around $1000-$1400, but coupons can be found which could cut the cost in half. Reports suggest that the next major innovation coming to these weight-loss drugs will be their availability in pill form. They will have the effectiveness of injectables at potentially far lower costs.
Most people who have taken these injections say it crushes their cravings, and while not having a sense of repulsion towards food, they feel full easily. Food becomes something you just don’t think about. Patients have also said that after several months their taste buds change, and they find themselves craving healthier foods.
How They Work
Dr. Mohini Aras at New York Presbyterian says, “First, it’s important to understand that our brain is designed to defend against starvation and retain our weight. When we lose weight, naturally occurring hormones send a message to our brain to increase hunger and cravings and slow our metabolism down. Our brain even makes our muscles more efficient, so we don’t burn as many calories with the same activity; this is a starvation response. As a result, people tend to yo-yo: They will lose, regain, lose, and regain weight. Weight loss medications activate the hormones that we naturally produce to regulate weight. These medications target appetite and hunger, helping people feel full sooner and stay full longer. They may also impact cravings, thoughts of food, and binge eating.”
Chances are you know several people taking them, whether they admit or not.
Our Volunteer
Our subject is a female in her mid-40s. She is not diabetic, and as stated above she has been using Mounjaro. Her goal is to lose 35lbs. She has been taking it for 2 months and has lost 14lbs. She has not altered her exercise routine from where she was before she started. As she explains, “Pure and simple, my main goal was to lose weight. Secondary goal was to get back into shape, but I felt like I needed to lose some weight before I could get my body moving properly. When I talked to the doctor about my goals, she completely got it and we moved forward with her suggestion of using Mounjaro. As a mid-40s woman, it is harder to lose weight – you eat all protein, you fast, you do WW and nothing stuck or was sustainable. I had other friend who had done the injections and, even though I thought I was “cheating”, I wanted to try.” It’s worth noting that our volunteer began taking Mounjaro at the beginning of Summer, and was not on her usual routine. This meant vacations and off-time that presented many temptations to splurge on food and alcohol.
Reservations and Fears
“(1) Physical side effects. You hear horror stories about people who can’t leave the bathroom because of an upset stomach – whether it is diarrhea or nausea. Will it affect me that way? Will it even work for me and HOW? After taking the first injection I was very aware of everything going on with me – do I feel sick? Is my stomach hurting? This fear subsided after the 2nd shot, and I’ve experienced no side effects.”
“(2) Society shame. Will people judge me for this? I am taking a shot to lose weight – it can be seen as a cop-out. Will people think I just don’t want to put in the work to lose weight? Truth is, I was tired of how I felt and looked and I wanted some help. I made sure I was eating well and I kept in contact with the doctor who prescribed the injections to make sure I was on track. I’ve heard rumors of moms who have given this to their high school aged daughters so they could lose weight before an event. That scares me!” According to Mounjaro, it has not been approved for people under 18.
Side Effects
Some reports have said the side effects of semaglutide are more serious. Our volunteer, who used Mounjaro, hasn’t experienced any side effects. “I had no initial or on-going side effects. When I started the injections, I tried to make a point to just eat well, but eat like normal and see what happened.” But, some of the side effects that are listed, and can be experienced by others, are nausea, dizziness, headaches and an elevated heart rate.
Effect on Energy Level
“This might have been the main thing I noticed at the beginning, I was so tired. I wasn’t exercising any more than usual, or even that much at all, but I was so tired. I was eating less (that is the result of the shots), therefore I wasn’t fueling my body with as much food. I had to make some adjustments, for example, even though I wasn’t always hungry for a breakfast, I would have some eggs to have the protein, or part of a bagel to fill with carbs. This helped and my body adjusted over time.”
Effect on Cravings
“You just are not interested in food – sweets, salty, doesn’t matter. I didn’t notice a direct resistance to any particular type of food, I just didn’t have a desire to reach for chips in the afternoon, have a dessert, or park by the appetizer dish. What’s so great is that I can eat with my family. My preparation isn’t different than their’s. I just eat less of whatever they’re eating. With other diet plans I’ve done in the past meant, I had to eat particular foods. This makes a busy lifestyle a lot easier.”
Moving Forward
A down side from any injectable can be the ‘crash’ when you come off the drug. Many people who go on injectables suffer from significant weight gain when they stop taking them. “Obviously taking a shot each week isn’t a logical on-going scenario, so I have been very conscious about learning portion control. Order what you want, just have a little of it. When you are full, stop. I make a point to eat healthy, but don’t fear a little bite of sweet here and there – keep it small.”
About Town will have an update soon.
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