Weight Loss Drugs: Is Wegovy Better Than Ozempic?

According to figures from the World Health Organization, obesity rates worldwide have tripled since 1975, with more than 1.9 billion adults considered overweight or obese. In the United States alone more than 42% of American adults are considered obese and another 31% overweight, based on figures from the CDC. Obesity is a health epidemic and can lead to a wide variety of related health issues including but not limited to cancers, heart disease, other cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and even mental health conditions such as clinical depression.

However, due to a mix of both genetic and lifestyle factors, it has become noticeably more difficult for average individuals to both lose weight and maintain a healthy weight over long-term periods. As a result, pharmaceutical companies have begun developing a variety of medications intended to support weight loss alongside a healthy diet and consistent exercise. But with a variety of options and limited detail, it can sometimes be challenging to discern the best choice, and the influence of social media personalities and celebrities can further complicate the situation.    

Recently, Ozempic took both news outlets and social media by storm as a revolutionary weight loss drug favored by some of the world’s most famous celebrities. It was presented as a low-effort but a potentially high-reward method of losing weight that reduces cravings and helps you feel fuller after your last meal for longer. However, within days, opposing news stories were published detailing not only the extensive side effects that Ozempic can cause but also the supply risk posed to diabetes patients who have often been prescribed the drug for their potentially life-threatening illnesses.

What cannot be denied, however, is Ozempic’s results. Due to its effectiveness, a new related drug, under the brand name Wegovy, was greenlit by the FDA in late 2021. But many are asking the important questions: what is the difference between Ozempic and Wegovy, and which is better for weight loss?

Below we assess the merits of each, before providing guidance on which drug is better suited for your weight loss journey.

What is Ozempic?

Ozempic is a brand name for the type 2 diabetes treatment drug, semaglutide, marketed by Novo Nordisk. Designed to lower blood sugar levels and prevent cardiovascular events in patients, Ozempic was first approved in the US in 2017 and is taken as a subcutaneous injection, with a device similar to the standard EpiPen.

Ozempic injections can contain 0.25, 0.5, 1, or 2mg of semaglutide and are generally prescribed at the lowest dosage first, allowing patients’ bodies to become accustomed to the medication before moving on to higher doses. Dosage is specific to each patient, and while 2mg is the maximum, many patients may be prescribed long-term treatment on a lower dose.

One injection lasts an entire week but must be taken at the same time every week, usually for a period of 4 weeks per dosage. The medicine itself does not contain insulin but does act directly on the pancreas, the liver, and the stomach, assisting the body in producing more insulin, stopping it from releasing too much sugar, and slowing down the digestive process.  

After a short time in circulation, researchers began to see additional effects from the drug in patients. They observed reduced hunger and cravings, alongside significant weight loss. Those regularly taking the drug found they felt fuller for longer, and that the overall amount of food they felt they needed to consume was reduced.

Clinical trials assessing the weight loss effects specifically found that Ozempic led to better outcomes than only exercise and dieting in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, both the company that produces the drug and medical professionals stress that Ozempic is not a weight loss drug, and should only be taken by patients with type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular conditions.   

What is Wegovy?

On the other hand, Wegovy is the brand name for a drug also marketed Novo Nordisk, which also contains semaglutide, but is specifically designed for chronic weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or more, whether or not they suffer from type 2 diabetes. Similarly to Ozempic, it is taken as a subcutaneous injection using a single dose pen.

Wegovy injections can contain 0.25, 0.5, 1.7, or 2.4mg of semaglutide. Patients normally start by taking the lowest dosage first, to ensure their bodies become accustomed to the medication before the dosage is increased. Unlike Ozempic, the aim with Wegovy is to increase the dosage to 2.4mg weekly for the duration of the weight loss treatment. The treatment can be long-term, but the exact time frame should be decided on a case-by-case basis with the advice and oversight of a medical professional.

While Wegovy works in a similar way to Ozempic, as a GLP-1 analog, its focus is targeting appetite and digestion specifically, assisting with weight loss by making patients feel fuller both for longer periods of time and in response to smaller portion sizes. It is frequently prescribed to a wider variety of patients and there are no contraindications that suggest it should not be used by individuals who do not suffer from type 2 diabetes.

Why is Wegovy the better choice for weight loss?

Considering both advice from Novo Nordisk and medical professionals, Wegovy is straightforwardly the medication that should be used for weight loss efforts across the board. As set out above, although both medications have the same active ingredient, Wegovy has a significantly higher dose, resulting in different effects. While the main results of Ozempic are to lower blood sugar levels by stimulating insulin production, with feelings of fullness as a side effect, Wegovy is designed to reduce individuals’ appetites and increase feelings of fullness as a primary function.

Therefore, while Ozempic can be used for weight loss, it is unlikely to be as effective as Wegovy.  

Additionally, as Ozempic is a medication designed for the management of type 2 diabetes, using it in a contraindicated manner, in this case for a purpose other than treating the aforementioned illness, can prevent diabetes patients from accessing the medication they need.

When looking for an effective weight-loss drug that can be safely utilized alongside a controlled diet and regular exercise, Wegovy should always be the first choice.