How Do Ozempic and Wegovy Work?
For the scores of people seeing weight loss success on prescription injectables such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda, and others, the number on the scale isn’t the only change they’re experiencing. The “food noise” in their brains—the mental distraction of feeling compelled to eat—is also getting quieter.
Robin, 49, from Baltimore, who is using her first name for privacy, started taking Ozempic in December of 2022 as a preventative measure against diabetes after she showed several signs of insulin resistance. Since then, she’s lost 20 pounds, her blood sugar and blood pressure have both stabilized—and her relationship to food has completely changed.
“I joke that the drug has taken away my last vices,” she says. “Food tastes good, but I don’t want it. I don’t crave anything, and sometimes I have to force myself to eat. The losing weight is awesome—the drug has definitely improved my numbers, like it was supposed to do. But it makes me a little sad since I enjoy food.” So how exactly are these drugs hijacking the brain space formerly occupied by the siren song of snacks? By acting like chemical messengers and telling your brain you’re full.
Excerpted from Fortune Well
