Topline
Actor Tracy Morgan revealed he gained 40 pounds while taking Ozempic, and experts say although it’s less common, weight gain may occur on the medication if patients have a high calorie diet, insulin resistance or are taking too low of a dose.
Key Facts
Ozempic, along with Wegovy, Zepbound and Mounjaro, is part of a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists, which manage weight loss and Type 2 diabetes by interacting with the hunger part of the brain to suppress the appetite, and lower blood sugar and A1C.
Although these medications help reduce appetite, a balanced, calorie-controlled diet and regular exercise is still needed to lose weight, according to the International Association for Physicians in Anesthetic Medicine.
A calorie deficit—burning more calories than consumed—is one of the key factors in weight loss, so although Ozempic may help curb hunger cravings, “consuming high calorie foods could easily contribute to weight gain while on Ozempic,” Sharon Giese—plastic surgeon and founder of weight loss company Elective Weight Loss—told Forbes.
Because Ozempic helps insulin development, insulin resistance may also contribute to Ozempic weight gain, according to Giese: the more insulin-resistant a patient taking Ozempic is, the more insulin is produced, which can lead to weight gain since insulin promotes fat storage.
Low dosage may also be a reason for weight gain, as some participants taking between 0.25 milligram and 0.5 milligram doses of semaglutide (the generic name for Ozempic and Wegovy) gained weight, according to a New England Journal of Medicine study.
News Peg
Tracy Morgan said on the Tonight Show on Tuesday the key to him staying in shape was taking Ozempic. However, he added that although he initially lost weight while taking the drug, he eventually “out-ate” Ozempic and gained 40 pounds. This revelation comes just seven months after the 55-year-old said on the “Today Show” in August that he lost weight from taking Ozempic. Morgan told “Today Show” host Hoda Kotb that the medication “cuts my appetite in half,” and that going to the gym every day at 10 a.m. also contributed to his weight loss.
Tangent
Though weight gain on Ozempic isn’t “common,” there is also the possibility patients can hit a weight loss plateau while taking the medication, gastroenterologist Steven Batash told Forbes. A plateau happens when patients stop losing weight, and they’re common on weight loss journeys. “Initially, significant weight loss may occur with Ozempic use,” he said. “However, as the body adjusts, progress may slow or temporarily stall,” which can last for weeks or months. The best way to get past a plateau is through exercising more and maintaining a healthy diet, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Further Reading
What To Know About Ozempic: The Diabetes Drug Becomes A Viral Weight Loss Hit (Elon Musk Boasts Using It) Creating A Shortage (Forbes)
Diabetes Drug Mounjaro Expected To Be Approved For Weight Loss Soon: What To Know And How It Compares To Similar Drugs (Forbes)
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