Ozembic miracle weight loss drug or not?

[QuarterMillionMan]

People rave about it but $25/month to $1250/month. Why does not insurance cover it? I say there’s no magic bullet. Diet & exercise still reigns supreme.

[kork13]

Too good to be true? Check. Wildly expensive? Check. Totally unbacked by legitimate science? Check. Yep, you've got yourself another scam.
I know nothing about what you're referring to. But even knowing nothing, the signs are clearly evident that there's nothing to see here. Anything with truly revolutionary & legitimate results is going to become widely known, and quickly. This, and all the other scams like it? Never heard of them.

[ua_guy]

Oh oh, O-ZEMPIC!!! I can hear the dang song in my head.

The TV commercial claims one potential side effect is up to 15 lbs of weight loss. I'd believe it. But as I understand, weight loss wasn't the drug's primary purpose.

Certain medications cause people to lose weight intentionally, or unintentionally. We have a doctor here who I'm sure will chime in!

I don't see why prescription drugs can't supplement a diet and exercise commitment. Some people need the help, so, why not?

[rennigade]

Another non financial thread started by qmm, on a site specifically designed for finance topics. Niiicceeee.

Mods, legitimate question. Since this is the new norm here...discussing things that aren't finance related and everyone loving it, can another section be created for everything non financial? Let that section be the wild west.

[disneysteve]

Another non financial thread started by qmm, on a site specifically designed for finance topics. Niiicceeee.

Mods, legitimate question. Since this is the new norm here...discussing things that aren't finance related and everyone loving it, can another section be created for everything non financial? Let that section be the wild west.

I think that’s a very good idea. I’ll talk to James about making a non- financial section. Topics like this are interesting but have nothing to do with personal finance.

[rennigade]

I think that’s a very good idea. I’ll talk to James about making a non- financial section. Topics like this are interesting but have nothing to do with personal finance.

Thanks. Obviously these non finance topics are a big hit and could potentially generate more traffic/users. I just wish they would have a home of their own.

[disneysteve]

As for Ozempic, it is one in a class of drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes. Part of how it works is by suppressing the satiety center in your brain, so it makes you think you're full sooner. A side effect of that is weight loss since it makes you eat less.

The problem with Ozempic, and every other weight loss drug in existence, is that the effect is temporary. It only works while you are taking the medicine. As soon as you stop, you regain the weight.

Diet drugs are just temporary quick fixes. Don't use them. Ever. The only effective way to lose weight and keep it off is through diet and exercise (and surgery).

[QuarterMillionMan]

CNBC has a special on Ozempic, Mounjaro Wegovy, and other GLP-1 drugs. Look for the title "Big Shot" on CNBC.

[bjl584]

Diet and exercise. A pill might make you lose weight, but it won't make you strong or have stamina. And I'm sure the side effects are a treat as well.

[crazyliblady]

People rave about it but $25/month to $1250/month. Why does not insurance cover it? I say there’s no magic bullet. Diet & exercise still reigns supreme.

For my own reasons, I am skeptical of any and all drugs that claim to be cure alls of anything. Drugs have side effects. I used to take that thought lightly until a doctor lied to me, telling me that a certain drug had none. Now, I am much more cautious and take care of myself better through hydration, diet, exercise, and mindfulness.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I watched the show on CNBC which featured a family of 4 who all take Ozempic, mid-50's husband & wife and mid-20's son & daughter (in medical school). Only the husband's Rx was covered by insurance. The other 3 family members pay $12,000 a year (I think).

[disneysteve]

I watched the show on CNBC which featured a family of 4 who all take Ozempic, mid-50's husband & wife and mid-20's son & daughter (in medical school). Only the husband's Rx was covered by insurance. The other 3 family members pay $12,000 a year (I think).

People are insane. Everyone has been searching for the miracle weight loss cure forever when we already know the answer: eat less and exercise more.

[ua_guy]

Categorizing obesity as a disease sells a lot of weight loss surgery and other miracle cures which do help patients drop weight. Keep it off? Well, the statistics are a little less clear on that. Appears to work for some people, and others go back to old habits. At what point should providers in healthcare offer interventions when "will power" doesn't work?

[kork13]

I am, in general terms, very wary of weight loss drugs or anything that seemingly removes the need for intentional effort when people are trying to improve themselves in some way.

That said, my step-mother has been very successful with some kind of weight loss drug, not sure what it is. She's lost >50lbs over the past year (guessing maybe around 270-300lbs to start?). But she has also made significant lifestyle & diet changes to get there ... walking a few miles daily, less calorie-dense meals, and so on. Honestly, I don't know how much of her success has been the drug vs. her changes & the motivation to improve herself. Maybe the drug served more of a motivation role to help her believe that it was possible. Whatever the case, I really have been impressed because she didn't just rely on the drug to solve her weight problem, but very intentionally changed her life to get better. I think that's the most important piece of any self-improvement. If you don't get behind it & trust a surgery or drug to fix your life, no medical marvel will fix the problem -- you have to do that yourself.

[disneysteve]

I am, in general terms, very wary of weight loss drugs or anything that seemingly removes the need for intentional effort when people are trying to improve themselves in some way.

That said, my step-mother has been very successful with some kind of weight loss drug, not sure what it is. She's lost >50lbs over the past year (guessing maybe around 270-300lbs to start?). But she has also made significant lifestyle & diet changes to get there ... walking a few miles daily, less calorie-dense meals, and so on. Honestly, I don't know how much of her success has been the drug vs. her changes & the motivation to improve herself. Maybe the drug served more of a motivation role to help her believe that it was possible.

I think you're exactly right. I'm not saying weight loss drugs and other medically supervised weight loss plans aren't a useful tool, but they are just that. They are a tool to help the process along. If you don't do the diet and exercise part, any weight you lose due to the drug is going to come right back when you stop it. If the drug helps motivate you to improve your lifestyle, that's great. Use it for a few months until you're on the right track and have taken off those first 10 or 15 or 20 pounds, then stop the drug and keep it up on your own. The drug should never be viewed as a long-term plan.