GLP-1 Weight Loss FAQ

Maybe, but probably not. Here's the breakdown:

• Wegovy & Zepbound: FDA-approved for weight loss, but many insurers don't cover them or require extensive prior authorization
• Ozempic & Mounjaro: Only FDA-approved for diabetes. Using them for weight loss is off-label, and most insurers won't cover off-label use
• Compounded semaglutide: Never covered by insurance (not FDA-approved)

Even when covered, many plans require:

• BMI ≥30 or BMI ≥27 with comorbidities
• 6 months of supervised diet attempts
• Continued weight loss to maintain coverage

This is why cash-pay telehealth at $199-499/month is popular—it's often simpler than fighting insurance.

Most people regain weight. Studies show that within 12 months of stopping, people regain about 2/3 of the weight they lost.

Why? Because these medications:

• Artificially suppress appetite—when you stop, hunger returns
• Don't cure the underlying factors that led to weight gain
• Work best as ongoing treatment, like blood pressure meds

Strategies to minimize regain:

• Build sustainable eating habits while on the medication
• Add strength training to increase metabolic rate
• Address psychological/emotional eating patterns
• Consider maintenance doses rather than stopping completely
• Transition gradually rather than abrupt cessation

Yes, but with caution. GLP-1s don't directly interact with alcohol, but:

• Alcohol stays in your stomach longer (delayed gastric emptying)
• You might get drunk faster and feel worse
• Alcohol on a sensitive stomach can cause severe nausea
• Alcohol is empty calories that work against weight loss

Many people find they naturally drink less on GLP-1s—alcohol becomes less appealing and hits harder.

Timeline varies, but here's typical:

• Weeks 1-4: 2-5 lbs (starting at low dose, body adjusting)
• Months 2-3: 1-2 lbs per week as dose increases
• Months 4-12: Peak weight loss period, 1-2 lbs per week average
• Months 12-18: Slowing or plateauing, reaching maximum effect

Average total weight loss: 10-15% of body weight in real-world use (clinical trials showed 15-22%, but real-world is slightly less).

Most people find them painless or barely noticeable. The needles are very small (similar to insulin pens) and you inject into fatty tissue (stomach, thigh).

Tips to minimize discomfort:

• Let the medication come to room temperature first
• Use a different injection site each time
• Pinch skin properly and inject smoothly
• Don't inject into a muscle (should be subcutaneous fat)

Most people get used to it quickly—it becomes routine like brushing your teeth.

No. GLP-1 medications are contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you're planning to become pregnant, you should stop GLP-1s at least 2 months before trying to conceive.

There's not enough safety data on use during pregnancy, and the potential risks to fetal development aren't worth it.

Same active ingredient (semaglutide), different FDA approvals and doses:

• Ozempic: Approved for type 2 diabetes. Max dose 2mg/week. Often prescribed off-label for weight loss.
• Wegovy: Approved specifically for weight loss. Max dose 2.4mg/week.

In practice, they're the same medication. Wegovy just comes in higher doses specifically for weight loss. Many insurers will cover Ozempic for diabetes but not Wegovy for weight loss, which is why off-label Ozempic prescriptions are common.

Technically yes, but you'd be wasting money and risking your health.

GLP-1s reduce your appetite and make it physically easier to eat less. But:

• If you don't eat enough protein, you'll lose significant muscle mass
• Without nutrition focus, you might become deficient in key nutrients
• Weight loss will be slower and less impressive
• When you stop the medication, bad habits = rapid regain

Minimum nutritional requirements while on GLP-1s:

• 80-100g protein daily (non-negotiable for muscle preservation)
• Multivitamin for nutrients you're missing from low food volume
• Adequate hydration (easy to forget when not hungry)