Recently, The Atlantic published an article by Sarah Zhang that claimed the science behind Ozempic—one of today’s most popular weight-loss medications—was “wrong.” The article argues that Ozempic works mainly by affecting the brain to control appetite, instead of acting on the gut to slow digestion as scientists once thought. This explanation is way too simple—and could even be misleading.
The truth? Ozempic works through a combination of effects on the gut, brain, and more. Let’s break it down.
How Ozempic Actually Works
Ozempic is part of a group of medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists. While her article specific talks about Ozempic her observations can apply to other GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Mounjaro, Zepbound or Wegovy. These drugs were originally made to help people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar, but they’ve also become a powerful tool for weight loss.
Here’s what makes them special:
- It Slows Down Digestion.
Ozempic helps food stay in your stomach longer, so you feel full sooner and eat less. This gut-based effect is just one key to why it works. Slower digestion impacts appetite and helps to decrease over eating. - It Balances Blood Sugar.
Ozempic helps your pancreas produce the right amount of insulin while reducing another hormone, glucagon, that raises blood sugar. This keeps your energy steady and supports weight loss. These medications also appear to have a protective effect on these pancreatic cells which can be damaged in the case of people with diabetes. - It Talks to Your Brain.
Yes, Ozempic also works in your brain by signaling that you’re full and reducing cravings.
Why Oversimplifying This Matters
Saying the science behind Ozempic was “wrong” is misleading. It’s a great hook for an article though. Honestly, it is the whole reason I read it. But saying that the science is “wrong” is actually – WRONG. (lol) Science being wrong would mean that data was falsified or that the methods used to collect or interpret the data were flawed. That’s not necessarily the case here, nor is that the point that Zhang is trying to make. One of the greatest challenges with science is assigning real-world meaning to what has been observed in study.
Here’s why that matters to you:
- It Can Cause Confusion.
If people think Ozempic only works on the brain, they might not understand why they feel side effects like nausea (which happens because it slows digestion). It’s important to know the full picture. - It Could Lead to Unrealistic Expectations.
Ozempic isn’t a “magic brain drug.” It’s a tool that works on multiple parts of your body, and results take time and effort. It might also dissuade somebody from using a treatment that could end up making a big difference in their health all because of an over-simplification of what the results mean. GLP-1 medications are proving to be of significant benefit to many people and appetite control isn’t the only reason. - It Can Hurt Trust in Science.
Science is always learning and improving. Just because we know more now doesn’t mean past research was “wrong.” It just means we’re building on what we already knew. What she reported on just shows that maybe one effect is more significant than others but it doesn’t mean that GLP-1 medications like Ozempic are one-trick ponies.
Why This Matters for Your Health
At Body of Health Chiropractic & Wellness Center, we think you deserve clear, balanced information about your health. Weight loss, like any other health journey, is rarely about just one thing. Controlling Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome or Insulin Resistance is not about just one thing. It’s about how your body, mind, and habits all work together. That’s why it’s important to avoid oversimplified ideas about how medications like Ozempic work.
Your health is too important for half the story!