Are you considering Ozempic for weight loss, or have you regained weight after stopping it? Semaglutide can be an effective tool in the treatment of certain people with obesity or type 2 diabetes. But understanding how it works, when it is indicated and what happens afterwards is just as important as knowing its benefits.
What is Ozempic and how does semaglutide work?
Ozempic is a brand of semaglutide, a medication that acts on GLP-1 receptors, a hormone involved in regulating glucose, appetite and satiety.
Its effects include reduced appetite, an increased feeling of satiety and delayed gastric emptying. In some people it also reduces so-called food noise: preoccupation or recurring thoughts about food.
Semaglutide is administered as a weekly subcutaneous injection. The dose is gradually adjusted according to the indication and each person's response and tolerance.
Are Ozempic and Wegovy the same?
Both contain semaglutide, but they have specific indications, formulations and dosing schedules. Ozempic is used for certain indications related to type 2 diabetes. Wegovy was developed to treat overweight and obesity in people who meet the relevant criteria.
They should not be interchanged or used as if they were equivalent products at any dose. The indication must be based on each patient's clinical situation and the authorisations in force in Uruguay.
Who may benefit from treatment?
Semaglutide is not indicated simply to lose a few kilos for cosmetic reasons.
When treating overweight and obesity, the usual criteria for considering pharmacotherapy include:
- • A body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or higher.
- • A BMI of 27 kg/m² or higher when there is at least one weight-related complication.
The specific criteria depend on the medication, its prescribing information and medical evaluation. BMI alone does not describe a person's entire health situation.
Before prescribing treatment, it is important to assess medical history, current medications, associated conditions, weight history, habits, nutritional status and possible contraindications or precautions.
Semaglutide can be a valuable tool, but it is not suitable for everyone. It should not be used independently, without a prescription and medical follow-up, or obtained from products of questionable origin.
What are the side effects of Ozempic and Wegovy?
The most common adverse effects are digestive, especially when starting treatment or increasing the dose:
- • Nausea.
- • Vomiting.
- • Diarrhoea or constipation.
- • A feeling of fullness or early satiety.
- • Abdominal discomfort or pain.
These symptoms improve over time in many people, although tolerance varies. Symptom severity, hydration, food intake and changes in nutritional status should be part of follow-up.
There are also less common but potentially important adverse effects, such as gallbladder problems or pancreatitis. Severe and persistent abdominal pain, especially with vomiting, requires urgent medical assessment.
Treatment choice should consider expected benefits and individual risks. Increasing, reducing or changing the dose without consulting the prescribing professional is not recommended.
What happens when you stop Ozempic or Wegovy? Do you regain weight?
This is one of the most important questions about treatment.
Obesity is a chronic and complex disease. When a person loses weight, the body activates biological mechanisms that can increase hunger and favour regaining lost weight. Semaglutide acts on some of these mechanisms; when it is stopped, its pharmacological effects gradually disappear.
Scientific evidence shows that weight regain after stopping treatment is common, although it does not happen in the same way for everyone.
In an extension of the STEP 1 study, participants treated with semaglutide regained, on average, approximately two-thirds of the weight they had lost during the year after stopping. It is important to remember that this is the average of a study group, not an individual prediction.
Regaining weight does not mean you have failed or lack willpower. Appetite and weight regulation depend on multiple biological mechanisms, as well as psychological, environmental and social factors.
That is why, before starting treatment, it is also worth discussing its duration, costs, expected benefits and strategies for maintaining results.
Not everyone needs the same approach or should stop medication in the same way. If you are considering stopping it, it is important to plan this with your doctor.
How can you protect muscle mass and maintain results?
During substantial weight loss, it is not only the amount of body fat that changes: lean mass may also be lost. The goal should therefore not only be a lower number on the scale, but improved health and preserved function.
Comprehensive treatment may include:
- • Adequate, personalised nutrition: meeting energy, protein, vitamin and mineral needs, adapted to each person.
- • Strength training: helps preserve or improve muscle mass and function.
- • Regular physical activity: adapted to individual fitness, preferences and circumstances.
- • Sleep and stress management: relevant factors for well-being and appetite regulation.
- • Clinical and nutritional follow-up: makes it possible to assess progress, detect difficulties and adjust the plan.
There is no single diet or universal strategy that guarantees weight maintenance after stopping medication. Planning should be adapted to each patient's medical history, body composition, habits and goals.
“I have tried every diet”: why do I keep regaining weight?
Many people come to consultations after years of dieting, periods of weight loss and subsequent regain.
Obesity cannot be explained solely by what a person eats or how much exercise they do. Appetite regulation, genetic predisposition, sleep, stress, medications, the food environment, associated conditions and other factors are involved.
An individual evaluation therefore helps identify which aspects may be making treatment difficult and choose the most suitable tools.
In my approach to clinical nutrition, the goal is not to apply the same diet to everyone, but to understand their metabolic, nutritional and clinical situation to build a realistic, sustainable strategy.
Treatment may include dietary changes, physical activity, behavioural approaches and, when appropriate, medication. The priority is to improve health, quality of life and the ability to sustain results in the long term.
How much does semaglutide cost in Uruguay?
The price varies, but is around 12,000 to 20,000 Uruguayan pesos per month, depending on the doses and the benefits offered by each pharmacy.
In addition to medication costs, it is important to consider the consultations, check-ups and nutritional support needed to use it safely.
Before starting, it is worth confirming the current price, availability and dispensing conditions at a licensed pharmacy.
Frequently asked questions about Ozempic and Wegovy
Can Ozempic help me lose weight if I do not have diabetes?
Semaglutide can be used to treat obesity in people who meet the relevant clinical criteria, but it is essential to distinguish the indications of each brand and formulation. Today, both Ozempic and Wegovy are available in Uruguay, making it easier to use semaglutide appropriately.
Will I regain all the weight if I stop semaglutide?
Not necessarily. Weight regain is common, but its extent varies between people. The decision to stop treatment should be accompanied by individualised planning and follow-up.
Do I need to follow a diet while using semaglutide?
Medication does not replace nutritional care. An appropriate diet helps meet nutrient needs, protect muscle mass and support improvements in metabolic health.
Can I start or stop the medication on my own?
No. Prescribing, dose adjustments and decisions about stopping treatment must take place with medical follow-up.