'Game changer' painless injections to shed pounds | Weight Loss Wednesday

“It's simple. It's painless, and it was a miracle. In three weeks I lost 18 pounds, and by three months, I had lost 38 pounds..."

For several years Ozempic has been on the market to treat type 2 diabetes. It improves the way the body handles excesses of the hormone insulin. A side effect was that patients lost 15 percent of their body weight. So last year, in June of 2021, it was reformulated and approved for weight loss for patients, who are not diabetics, under the name Wegovy.

“This drug is not a stimulant. It simply makes you feel full. We know that it affects your brain. It mimics a hormone that affects the satiety centers in your brain,” explained Bariatric Surgeon Dr. Matthew French.

Dr. French of Surgical Specialists of Louisiana, says about 20 of the clinic's patients have used Wegovy.

“And they say they just don't get hungry. They don't want the food. They don’t have the craving. And that's a powerful tool for losing weight,” explained Dr. French.

“And I wasn't hungry, which was great. The best thing about this drug is it made alcohol taste horrible,” said Hare who noted she packed on part of her weight from the sugary calories in beer and wine.

But after six months, Ramsey is no longer on Wegovy. Her cost-saving coupon ran out. Most Louisiana insurance companies don't pay for weight-loss medication like hers. Despite the long-term cost savings when people maintain ideal weight, companies don't include it in their coverage. The other problem is the drug is in high demand and can be difficult to get.