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Wegovy and other semaglutide drugs have been in the spotlight lately. Many celebrities like Khloe Kardashian and Oprah have denied using it to help them lose weight. However, according to Elon Musk, Wegovy is nothing to be ashamed of.
The world has had its eye on Elon Musk for some time now. Whether he is revolutionizing electric vehicles, launching a rocket into space or taking over one of the most popular social media platforms, many of us want to know what he is up to. More recently, Twitter exploded when Elon Musk was asked how he got so "fit, ripped, and healthy," and he very bluntly replied, "Fasting… and Wegovy."
When asked again later about "what's made the most difference" in his ability to lose 30 lbs, he gave a similar reply stating, "fasting + Ozempic/Wegovy + no tasty food near me."
It is refreshing that Musk was not shy to admit that it wasn't some unachievable diet or intense workout program, but rather simple fasting, self-control, and semaglutide.
Wegovy is a semaglutide, a GLP1 agonist, that has been FDA-approved for weight loss. Other semaglutide therapies that have been gaining attention include the popular brand names Ozempic and Rybelsus which have traditionally been used as a medication for those with type-2 diabetes. These are not yet FDA-approved for weight loss but have been prescribed off-label to help patients lose weight. Wegovy contains a slightly higher dose of semaglutide than Ozempic, but they work the same way in the body.
The active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide, an artificial form of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, which mimics the activity of a hormone in the body called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). GLP-1 is a peptide hormone produced in the intestines that helps to regulate blood sugar levels and hunger. When blood sugar levels are high, it helps the pancreas release the appropriate quantity of insulin. Insulin aids in the transport of sugar from the bloodstream to various body tissues, where it is utilized for energy. Semaglutide also works by delaying the passage of food through the stomach, which can reduce hunger and promote weight loss.
For Elon Musk, Wegovy and fasting are what helped him lose weight, but is this the best way to utilize this new weight loss drug? While Wegovy has been shown to lower patients' weight by an average of 35 lbs, patients are going to have the most success when also following a nutritious diet and getting some exercise. For most doctors, the goal of prescribing Wegovy is to bring patients to the point where they have made lifestyle changes that make it easier to maintain their weight without the medicine.
During clinical trials, adults taking Wegovy lost nearly 15% of their starting body weight on average. In a separate trial, adolescents lost about 16% of their starting body weight on average. The Wegovy website explains that about 1 in 3 adults achieved 20% weight loss, an average of 46lbs calculated from a starting weight of 232 lbs.