Today, individuals who have struggled with weight loss and need medical intervention to achieve success have other options besides surgery. Some of the least invasive options are prescription medications and these have become available fairly recently.

We often get questions about these medications, particularly semaglutide, under the name brand Ozempic, because it has been used for several years to help individuals with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels. This same medication is now approved for the treatment of obesity and weight management under the brand name Wegovy, and it is also available in a compounded form.

Today, we are going to answer a few questions that we are often asked that are really the same question, but just asked in a different way: “Why is semaglutide not working for me? or “Why am I not losing weight on Ozempic?” We will talk about some of the reasons you may be experiencing unexpected results when using semaglutide for weight loss, how to handle a semaglutide plateau, and some important things to keep in mind as you navigate a weight loss journey that includes prescription medication.

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How Is Semaglutide Supposed To Work?

Semaglutide can help with weight loss because it mimics a hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), which is naturally produced in your digestive tract when you eat. It works with your metabolism to make it work more efficiently and enhances the regulation of your appetite and your blood sugar levels. Some of the ways it helps you lose weight include:

1. It helps curb your appetite: It communicates with receptors in your brain to reduce food cravings and hunger.
2. It slows digestion: It causes food to stay in your stomach longer, which keeps you feeling full and satisfied for longer so you eat less frequently.
3. It helps keep your blood sugar regulated: It improves insulin sensitivity and helps stabilize your blood sugar levels, which helps your body burn fat for energy instead of storing it and causing weight gain.

Why Ozempic (Semaglutide) Might Not Be Working For You

You May Be Taking The Wrong Medication For YouIf you have been on weight loss medication and have been asking yourself, “I’m on Ozempic and not losing weight; what is wrong?” It is important to understand that medications work differently for different individuals, so if a medication is not working for you, it may be necessary to work with your doctor and find another one that may be more suited to your needs and circumstances.You Have Not Yet Reached The “Effective Dose” For YouAll the GLP-1 medications, including Ozempic, start at a low dose, and then this dose is increased until the “effective dose” is reached, meaning the dose that triggers weight loss for you. This will be different for everyone; some may begin to lose weight on the lowest dose, and they may never have to increase the strength, and others may take a few months to begin to see weight loss until they have increased their dose a few times. It is not unusual to see no progress in the early days when you begin the lower doses of semaglutide.

The purpose of beginning your prescription medication treatment with a low dose is to allow your body to become accustomed to the medication and alleviate the severity of common side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

You Need To Allow The Medication Time To WorkIt can be frustrating to be putting in the work and not seeing immediate results when you are trying to lose weight. You may have read claims on social media of people experiencing rapid weight loss, but this is not typical. The average weight loss for most individuals is around one to two pounds a week. Also, it might seem like nothing is happening in the early stages of your journey, but it is very common to become bloated and constipated when you first begin the medication. You may be losing weight and eliminating fat, but it is just not yet being reflected on the scale.You Are Not Using The Medication CorrectlyIf you are not using the medication as your doctor prescribed, it can affect your rate of weight loss. It is recommended that when you are using once-weekly semaglutide injection, you administer it on the same day of the week and at the same time for the best results.You Are Taking Other Medications That Are InterferingSometimes, routine medications that you are taking can prevent you from losing weight or even cause you to gain weight. When you are discussing your weight loss program with your doctor, make sure to let them know of any medications you are on or herbal supplements you take, so they can take this into consideration when choosing the correct weight loss prescription medication for you.You Are Expecting The Medication To Do All The WorkIn order for Ozempic to work the most effectively, your body must be in a calorie deficit, so if you have not reduced your calorie intake since you started your medication, you will not experience weight loss. You need to look at your daily routine and determine if you have made the lifestyle changes necessary to promote weight loss. Watching your calorie intake and increasing your physical activity are two key elements that can make a big difference in your weight loss results.Chronic StressMany people do not realize that unmanaged stress can thwart any weight loss attempts and actually cause weight gain. Excess stress causes your body to produce a hormone called cortisol, which sends signals to your body that it needs to go into the fight-or-flight mode, and your body begins to deliberately store fat. It is important to find an activity or some way to relieve the majority of your stress on a regular basis to reduce the cortisol levels in your body.Inadequate SleepAnother key thing that can affect how well your body responds to a weight loss program is the amount of sleep you get each night. Not getting an adequate amount of sleep can cause your body to develop an imbalance in the hormones leptin and ghrelin, which can lead to overeating and cravings for unhealthy foods. It can also reduce the efficiency of your metabolism and make it harder for your body to reach the calorie deficit it needs to lose fat. Lack of sleep leaves you fatigued, which can affect decision-making, and you are more likely to eat unhealthy snacks and less likely to get in your physical activity for the day if you are overtired.Underlying ConditionsSometimes individuals have underlying conditions such as a thyroid condition, PCOS, a hormone imbalance, etc., which makes it harder for them to lose weight. Working with an expert in obesity medicine like Dr. Steven Batash will help uncover and overcome these challenges.

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Things To Keep In Mind

• Work closely with your doctor: If you think your Ozempic is not working anymore, it is important to talk to your doctor so they can adjust your weight loss program, dosage, or change your medication if needed.
• Slow weight loss is more sustainable: Experts agree that losing weight more slowly is much safer than undergoing rapid weight loss. It is also easier to sustain a healthy weight when the process does not happen too quickly. There are also fewer side effects, such as hair loss or gallstones, associated with slower weight loss.
• Maintain your muscle mass: While you are creating your calorie deficit, you need to keep in mind that you do not want to lose muscle while you are burning fat. To prevent this from happening, it is important to make sure you are eating enough protein, and you want to include resistance training in your exercise routine. Muscles weigh more than fat, and they also help burn fat at a faster rate. Keep in mind that if you are doing this properly, you may be losing inches in certain places but gaining muscle, so the scale may not reflect weight loss.
• Weight loss plateaus are normal: At some time during your weight loss journey, you, like everyone else, will most likely reach a plateau. If you find you have hit a semaglutide plateau and you are no longer losing weight, it is time to speak to your doctor and your weight loss team about strategic steps you can take to successfully navigate your way to the other side of it. This can occur because your body is attempting to adjust to your lower intake of calories by slowing your metabolism down. Your body may also go through some hormonal changes that make you feel hungrier and less satisfied. It is especially important to stay strong during these downtimes and keep up your exercise routine to build muscle mass in order to help your metabolism catch up.

How Can I Make Semaglutide Work Better?

Depending on your weight loss goals, you might benefit from using semaglutide along with a non-surgical weight loss procedure such as Suture Sculpt ESG (endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty). This outpatient procedure reduces the available capacity of your stomach using strategically placed stitches that are administered from the inside. An endoscope is used to access the stomach, so there is no need for abdominal incisions or a stay in the hospital.

In a clinical study that tested the effectiveness of combining semaglutide with ESG, the average patient lost about 89% of their excess weight in just a year. So if you are looking for ways to speed up weight loss on Ozempic, and you have a significant amount of weight to lose, set up an appointment to speak with Dr. Batash at Batash Endoscopic Weight Loss Center in New York City.

This world-renowned center has helped people from all walks of life and many different countries achieve sustainable weight loss and improved quality of life. Dr. Batash and his team of professionals will be with you every step of the way from the onset of your weight loss journey and beyond. Make today the first day on your path to better health and set up your consultation today.

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