As weight loss injections surge in popularity, FUTURE WOMAN’s lead nutritionist Francesca Lyon examines their impact on women’s hormonal health. Beyond the headlines and hype, she investigates whether medications like Ozempic could help with PCOS and menopause-related weight gain – and what that means for long-term health.
Ozempic Weight Loss: Worth The Hype?
I’m getting so many questions about Ozempic and other weight loss injections lately! So I wanted to take a deeper look at the research, as well as see what the implications are for women’s hormone health.
Let’s start by understanding what they are and how they work.
What Are Weight Loss Injections?
Weight loss injections (specifically I’m referring to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists or GLP-1RA agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy) have emerged as a seemingly miraculous solution for those struggling with obesity and weight issues over the last couple of years. And they are now being investigated not just for weight loss, but for their potential impact on hormonal conditions like PCOS and managing insulin resistant weight gain during perimenopause and menopause.
While these medications may have short-term results such as dramatic weight loss and changes to appetite, mounting evidence suggests there is a more complex relationship between these interventions and long-term health.
I really believe we need to question and explore what these medications are actually doing to our bodies and whether natural alternatives can achieve the same end goal without the scary side effects.
So let’s take a look.
How Do Weight Loss Injections Work?
Essentially the mechanism of action is that the GLP-1RAs mimic the action of the endogenous GLP-1 receptors in the pancreas to enhance insulin release and inhibit glucagon release.
This essentially means that these medications can:
- Regulate blood sugarÂ
- Decrease appetite
- Impact the central nervous system to delay gastric emptying
What can Ozempic and weight loss jabs do for specific women’s hormone issues like PCOS and menopause?
Ozempic and PCOS: Specific Considerations for Insulin Resistant PCOS
I am seeing an increasing number of clients with insulin-resistant PCOS who have been prescribed GLP-1RAs in order to help address the metabolic aspect of PCOS including supporting weight loss and blood sugar balance.
This is really interesting as those with PCOS have higher rates of insulin resistance, which can impact symptoms such as unwanted weight gain and lead to higher androgen levels which in turn cause irregular cycles, body hair growth, mood changes and fertility issues.
The short term benefits of weight loss injections like Ozempic for PCOS appear to be providing significant weight loss, improved insulin sensitivity, balanced glucose levels and reduced androgen and testosterone levels. This can lead to more regular menstrual cycles and regular ovulation. We have seen this first hand with clients as well as reported decreased food cravings, reduced inflammation, and improved energy levels within the first few months of treatment.
However, as I cover in more detail below, there are many concerns long term for use of weight loss injections.
It’s also worth noting that even though insulin resistant PCOS is the most common type of PCOS, PCOS itself is more complex than just having insulin resistance. It is a complex interaction between inflammation, gut health, genetics, trauma, adrenal health, hormone levels and more. Therefore simply addressing weight and blood sugar with a drug like GLP-1RAs is not addressing the root driver of all PCOS cases and it is not addressing it long-term. Furthermore, many of those with PCOS have lean PCOS which means they are not overweight.
Some early research has suggested that the GLP-1RA’s may directly impact the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis which may directly impact the key mechanism (high pulsatility LH) of high androgens, but much more research is needed in this area.
Perimenopause & Menopause: Can Ozempic Support Weight Loss?
We have seen many clients in perimenopause and menopause on GLP-1RAs to support blood glucose and weight loss. Typically these clients didn’t start having problems losing weight and managing weight until they hit perimenopause.
This is because menopause and perimenopause are times of increased insulin resistance. Especially when oestrogen lowers in later perimenopause and menopause, as it boosts insulin sensitivity. This means it can be harder to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight during this time.
But remember this is only one part of the picture. Perimenopause and menopause have many other factors that contribute to weight gain including inflammation, HPA axis dysregulation and cortisol changes. Therefore GLP-1RAs only address part of the picture.
What about the downsides of Ozempic and other weight loss jabs?
There are some serious risks associated with weight loss injections like Ozempic, as well as some long term impacts that are very concerning.
Let’s start with some of the short term side effects:
- Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation. Research has reported that up to 50% of patients will experience nausea
- Pancreatic inflammation and pancreatitis
- Increased heart rate
- Allergic reaction – in some studies up to 70% of patients developed antibodies to their medication. Each medication has a different rate but there is a risk of reaction in all medications
- Respiratory tract and urinary tract infections
And longer term it’s even more worrying… Let’s look at the top 4 long term adverse effects.
1. Rebound Weight Gain
Since weight loss injections don’t address the underlying cause of weight gain, food cravings or blood glucose dysregulation, the same issues are still there upon cessation of the drug.
Studies have suggested that one year after cessation of the weight loss injection participants had regained two-thirds of their weight back. Further research indicates that potential downregulation of natural GLP-1 production could make patients more susceptible to rapid weight regain after stopping.
This “rebound effect” can be particularly problematic for PCOS patients, as their underlying hormonal imbalances may worsen with the metabolic stress of weight regain.
There’s also concern about long-term dependency, as the body may become less efficient at managing blood sugar and appetite regulation naturally, potentially exacerbating the insulin resistance that’s already central to PCOS.
2. Muscle Loss and Bone Fracture
Research has begun to shed light on the potential adverse impact that weight loss injections and medications have on muscle quantity, composition and function. This is especially concerning as research shows the importance of high muscle mass on stabilising glucose levels and having a protective impact on insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.
Therefore if muscle mass is reduced via GLP-1RAs then it may impact the body’s long-term ability to regulate glucose and insulin. Research suggests that the decline in muscle mass with GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy is several times greater than what would be expected from age-related muscle loss.
Muscle loss also has implications for bone health, particularly in women – some studies also show an increased risk of bone fracture.
3. Cancer Risk
There is some extremely concerning research emerging about the increased risk of certain cancers after exposure to GLP-1RAs. In particular, being exposed to the GLP-1RA’s for 1-3 years showed an increased risk in thyroid cancer by 50%-78%.
4. Central Nervous System Changes
Finally, it has been suggested that the GLP-1RA’s may lead to hormonal adjustments that lead to the central nervous system being incompetent at regulating weight due to constant exposure to GLP-1RA’s.
So what is the alternative?
If you don’t want to risk the adverse effects of GLP-1RAs and want to get to the root drivers of your hormone related weight gain for long-term change then you are in the right place!Â
It is absolutely possible to use diet, lifestyle and personalised supplementation to reverse both PCOS symptoms and insulin-resistant weight gain in perimenopause and menopause. We have seen this time and time again at FUTURE WOMAN. And the bonus is that not only does it lead to long-term change but there are also no adverse side effects!
How I prefer to approach weight loss
We’ve had a lot of success in helping clients to lose weight long term through our unique combination of hormone testing and personalised health plans.
Here’s what I’d recommend to any clients on a weight loss journey.
- Test your hormones to understand the drivers of your weight gain. Alongside insulin resistance, common reasons for stubborn weight gain or difficulty losing weight include dysregulated cortisol, high androgens, high oestrogen, poor oestrogen metabolism, thyroid imbalances, high oxidative stress and inflammation. We assess all of these in our Advanced Hormone Test.
- Get targeted support for your diet and lifestyle from an experienced practitioner. All our tests come with a personalised plan to address your results and reverse your symptoms. For weight loss that includes tailored protein recommendations, a personalised exercise regime, specific dietary interventions and, of course, supplements to support underlying hormone imbalances.
