GLP-1 agonists are medicines approved by the FDA to treat diabetes and obesity. They mimic a hormone that controls hunger and how much you eat.
The medicines slow the movement of food through your digestive system. This helps you eat less and can lead to weight loss.
- Ozempic®
- Rybelsus®
- Bydureon®
- Trulicity®
- Victoza®
- Mounjaro®
These GLP-1 agonists are approved to treat obesity:
- Wegovy®
- Saxenda®
- Zepbound®
Will I lose weight?
It takes more than using a GLP-1 agonist to lose weight. You must also eat fewer calories and increase your physical activity. Successful weight loss requires a change in your lifestyle.
Clinical trials show that you can lose weight if you take a GLP-1 medicine AND make lifestyle changes.
These changes may include:
- Eating fewer calories
- Adding more fruits and vegetables to your meals
- Eating smaller portion sizes
- Working up to 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity 5 days a week
- Making sure you get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night
- Managing stress in a way that works best for you (meditation, prayer, community, time outdoors)
What are the side effects?
You may have common side effects such as:
- Feeling sick to your stomach or vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Heartburn or acid reflux
- Feeling very tired
Severe side effects may include:
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- Severe slowing or stopping the movement of food from your stomach to your small intestine (gastroparesis)
- Gallbladder disease (cholelithiasis, cholecystitis)
- Allergic reactions
Side effects are most likely in the first four weeks after you start a GLP-1 agonist. Side effects may also occur as your dose increases. Slowly increasing your dose over time helps prevent side effects.
Will I keep the weight off?
You are likely to have a rebound weight gain when you stop taking the weight loss medicine if you do not maintain your lifestyle changes.
Most people gain half of their weight back in the first 2 to 3 years after stopping a medicine for weight loss. Many people gain most of their weight back in 5 years.
One recent study showed people regained nearly 2/3 of the weight they lost 1 year after stopping Wegovy®.
Will insurance cover the cost of these medicines?
It depends. Your cost will vary by insurance plan. These medicines are very expensive.
Most plans require a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes before they will cover a medicine like Ozempic or Trulicity.
Often they also require 3 to 6 months of lifestyle changes before approving a medicine for obesity.
Medicare does not cover medicines for weight loss.
You can call your insurance company to ask about your coverage before you start a GLP-1 agonist.