You’ve undoubtedly heard a lot about Ozempic® (semaglutide) lately and probably have a few questions. Is Ozempic® right for me? Is it too good to be true? Does it work? How does it work? Is it just another weight loss fad? Keep reading to learn why semaglutide poses an opportunity for real and lasting weight management as one of several safe, well-tolerated medications, finally available to Canadians living with overweight or obesity.

It used to be that we would tell people that in order to lose weight they just had to “eat less and move more”. And that if they couldn’t do it, then they must lack the willpower to succeed. But we’ve long known there must be more to the story than that. In clinical practice, we see that the problem generally isn’t the ability to lose weight, it’s the ability to keep it off over time. You probably know from your own experience, that most people who lose weight, gain most of it back.

Fortunately, the last 10-15 years have been a time of incredible growth in our understanding of obesity as a chronic disease, the human appetite system, and the complex interplay of genetics, hormones, and the environment that conspire to defend our highest weight. Following weight reduction, the body 'fights back' with changes that favour weight regain. Specifically, weight loss increases appetite, reduces fullness, and decreases metabolic rate. An abundance of research over the years has proven that dieting and exercise alone are not enough to manage weight long-term. But it’s important to know that effective long-term treatments do exist.

Medications are commonly used alongside behavioural interventions. They are considered a long-term treatment option and have been demonstrated to significantly improve the likelihood of long-term success because they target the root cause of weight regain. At the Medical Weight Management Centre of Canada (MWM), our obesity-expert physicians and dietitians will work with you to develop a treatment plan specific to your needs which could include the use of medications, focused on sustainable results. To learn more about our Foundation Program™ and pricing visit mwmcc.ca/program.

Still not sure if the program is right for you? Contact us to schedule a no-obligation, free consult with a program physician to learn more.