'It's bonkers' -- how Ozempic, Wegovy changes lives of those who struggle to lose weight

By Jane Roberts

'It's bonkers'  --  how Ozempic, Wegovy changes lives of those who struggle to lose weight

'It's bonkers' -- how Ozempic, Wegovy changes lives of those who struggle to lose weight

On any day, at least 25% of patients at UT Internal Medicine clinic qualify for weight-reduction injections. The medications are so common now, two-thirds of the clinic's calls for insurance pre-authorizations are for the big three: Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound.

"We've started having the patient call and ask their insurance company if they cover it because sending it and then having to request an appeal and all this stuff is overwhelming our practice," said Dr. Shelley Ost, internist and associate professor at University of Tennessee College of Medicine.

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The class of drugs, GLP-1, acts like the naturally occurring hormone in the body that regulates blood sugar. The drugs also slow down how quickly the stomach empties, regulating the speed in which food is digested and absorbed.

They are so effective, in one trial, patients who took the highest dose of Wegovy, which is only prescribed for weight loss, lost 10-17% of their weight in less than 18 months.

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