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Ozempic trend: weight loss injections are conquering the Ostalbkreis!
In the Ostalbkreis, the prescription of Ozempic for diabetes treatment is increasing rapidly, while questions about weight loss strategies and side effects are being discussed.
Ozempic trend: weight loss injections are conquering the Ostalbkreis!
The use of Ozempic, a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, has increased significantly in recent years, particularly in Ostalbkreis. According to the Swabian Post prescriptions have doubled every year since its market launch. From 2020 to 2024 alone, the number of prescriptions increased by a remarkable 529%. One reason for this could be the inadequate treatment of diabetes, as around 9 million people in Germany suffer from type 2 diabetes, of which 1.5 million remain undetected.
Dr. Bernhard Zweigle, who treats around 3,000 patients per quarter in his practice in Aalen-Waldhausen, is monitoring this trend closely. In 2024, around 20,000 people insured with AOK Baden-Württemberg will receive Ozempic. Despite its effectiveness in lowering blood sugar levels and improving satiety in patients, Ozempic is not approved as a “weight loss injection” in Germany, and Wegovy has been available for obese patients since the end of 2023, which is approved for the treatment of obesity from a BMI of 30. Statutory health insurance companies are not allowed to cover the costs for Wegovy.
The effect and study situation
New research presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) shows the long-term effectiveness of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, in improving blood sugar regulation and weight loss in type 2 diabetes. A study of more than 23,000 participants found that semaglutide had a significant effect for up to three years. According to the Medical News Today The drug not only improves glucose control, but also protects the kidneys and heart.
Another aspect of semaglutide research involves obese patients without diabetes. A double-blind study showed that subjects who received 2.4 mg of semaglutide weekly achieved an average weight loss of 14.9%, while the placebo group lost only 2.4%. Over 86% of semaglutide patients achieved at least 5% weight loss, compared to only 31.5% in the placebo group. These results are supported by other studies, such as the STEP 3 study, which confirms the weight-loss effectiveness of semaglutide Medical Journal reported.
Criticism and side effects
Despite the great interest in these drugs, there are also critical voices. The long-term use of Ozempic and similar weight loss injections is viewed with skepticism by health insurance companies because the side effects and long-term effects have not yet been fully researched. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea and abdominal pain. There is also a warning about the risk of counterfeiting of prescriptions, especially pink prescriptions. Many patients try to pretend they are eligible to get Ozempic, but about 90% drop out when they find out they have to pay out-of-pocket.
The discussion about obesity is extensive as the body mass index (BMI) is increasingly being questioned because it does not take body composition into account. A BMI of 30 or more is considered obese, and it is noted that obese patients may benefit from a 15 kg weight reduction and this could allow up to 80% of them to achieve diabetes remission.