6. Ozempic can result in greater weight loss than metformin. As mentioned above, Ozempic can cause weight loss as a side effect. In addition to the way it affects your stomach and makes you feel full, Ozempic also acts on areas of the brain that help regulate appetite.
Ozempic may be prescribed for weight loss, as it helps reduce appetite and promotes feelings of fullness. Metformin is not specifically approved for weight loss, but it may be prescribed off-label for this purpose in some cases, particularly for people with insulin resistance.
While taking metformin for weight loss won't deliver the same impressive results as Ozempic (dropping 15-20 percent of your body weight), it can help you shed around 5 percent of your body weight within the first year. For a 200-pound person, that's 10 pounds.
Commonly, however, in trials with longer follow-up periods, weight loss generally starts after 4 weeks of treatment with metformin and occurs mainly during the first 6 to 12 months of continuing metformin therapy.
Even though metformin may lead to some weight loss, the amount you lose may be far less than expected. On average, weight loss after one year on the drug is only six pounds, according to past research.
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Fiber-rich foods like vegetables, leafy greens, beans, legumes and whole grains can help regulate blood glucose levels and keep you feeling fuller longer. “This supports metformin's job of stabilizing blood sugar and reducing fat storage,” Dr. Pobee explains.
"Metformin, however, can cause lactic acidosis in conditions where lactic acid production is high and the disposal of lactic acid is reduced. In conditions such as circulatory failure, sepsis, and anoxia or hypoxia, metformin use may result in lactic acidosis and should be avoided.
Metformin may also reduce weight by decreasing the amount of visceral fat in the liver and muscle tissue. Visceral fat is stored within the abdominal cavity, which contains several internal organs, including the liver, stomach, and intestines.
Most people will lose at least 5% of their body weight when taking semaglutide for over a year, alongside healthy lifestyle changes. Clinical trials suggest that, on average, a weight reduction of 5% happens between weeks 6-12 of using semaglutide.
The bottom line. Managing diabetes with metformin includes avoiding certain foods that can prevent your medication from working as well. Some foods like high-sugar, high-fat foods can make your blood sugar spike quickly or make it hard for metformin to be absorbed.
The main reasons you're not losing weight on Ozempic might be that you're not eating in a calorie deficit, you've hit a weight-loss plateau, or the current dose that you're on isn't high enough to lower your hunger to the point where you're eating less.
An analysis of 143 studies revealed that phentermine-topiramate and GLP-1 receptor agonists (like liraglutide and semaglutide) are among the most effective medications for reducing weight in people with obesity. The typical body weight reduction with these medications is 6% to 11%.
In a recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers compared Ozempic and Mounjaro in real-world conditions and found that people who took Mounjaro lost significantly more weight than those who took Ozempic.
Dapagliflozin is mainly used to treat type 2 diabetes. It can also be used to treat heart failure and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dapagliflozin is usually prescribed if: you have type 2 diabetes and cannot take metformin.
How much weight can you lose in a month on Ozempic? Research suggests Ozempic supports weight loss of around 1kg or around 1.1% of body weight after one month. After two months, it's around 2kg or 2.2% of body weight.
Swap simple carbohydrates (sugary foods, white bread, pasta, rice) for complex carbs (wholemeal pasta, brown rice, whole grains) Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables (at least half of your dinner plate should be vegetables) Eat more lean protein (turkey, white fish) than fatty proteins (red meat)
How fast you can lose 20 lbs on semaglutide (Wegovy) depends on your starting weight and other factors. If you weigh 232 lbs at the start of Wegovy treatment, you can expect to lose 20 lbs in around 16-20 weeks (4-5 months).
Losing 30 pounds on metformin monotherapy may not be possible. Weight changes on metformin are modest at best.
Key Takeaways
Metformin is usually the first-line treatment due to its long-standing safety profile and affordability, while Ozempic may be considered when additional blood sugar or weight management is needed.
PCOS belly occurs when you develop excess fat or weight gain around your abdomen. This symptom often occurs due to an underlying diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome. Hormonal imbalances and insulin resistance due to PCOS can influence your weight, causing you to gain unwanted weight.
This is because metformin can build up in the body if your kidneys aren't able to get rid of it properly. Other health conditions, such as liver disease and heart failure, can also increase your risk of lactic acidosis, a potentially severe but rare metformin side effect.
“Because the metformin helps your cells absorb sugar like they should, I've noticed an increase in energy and the ability to actually feel satisfied and not want to snack so much because my body's utilizing sugar like it should,” Steve says.