- A study analysing online reviews found that many people keep taking Ozempic for weight loss if they feel it is working, even when side effects continue.
- Stomach-related symptoms were very common, but they did not seem to be the main reason people stopped.
- Instead, people were more likely to discontinue when weight loss was limited, plateaued, or when other side effects felt harder to tolerate.
Ozempic (semaglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist first approved for type 2 diabetes, but it is also used off-label for weight loss.
Because of social media attention and the promise of significant weight reduction, some people seek it out for cosmetic weight loss rather than a medical need.
Semaglutide can reduce appetite and slow stomach emptying, which can support weight loss.
Trials have reported meaningful reductions in body weight, alongside improvements in measures like blood glucose and blood pressure.
But side effects are common, particularly gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhoea.
That creates a trade-off for many people: do the benefits feel worth the downsides, and for how long?
To explore this, researchers used a mixed-methods approach that combines qualitative and quantitative analysis.
They examined user-generated reviews posted on Drugs.com and looked for recurring themes linked to satisfaction and stopping treatment.
Reviews were collected in June 2023 and covered posts dated February to June 2023.
Out of 78 reviews available, 60 were analysed in detail until the researchers felt no new themes were emerging.
People could leave a narrative review and a 1 to 10 effectiveness rating.
The reviews did not include demographic details, and dosing and duration were often unclear.
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Three main themes emerged from the narrative comments.
These were weight-related outcomes, side effects, and decisions about whether to continue.
Weight-related outcomes were the strongest driver of satisfaction.
About two-thirds of reviewers reported some reduction in weight, appetite, or cravings, and weight loss was the most frequently mentioned benefit.
Some people described strong appetite suppression and less interest in sugary or fatty foods.
Those reviewers tended to rate the experience highly, even when they also reported unpleasant symptoms.
A smaller group reported minimal weight loss, a plateau after early progress, or weight regain.
These reviewers were much more likely to give low ratings and to say they planned to stop.
Side effects were reported by most people.
Gastrointestinal symptoms were common, but they appeared in both the “continue” and “stop” groups.
Other physical symptoms were also described, including headaches, dizziness, dehydration, and gallbladder-related problems.
These non-gastrointestinal issues were more closely tied to dissatisfaction in the analysis than nausea or constipation alone.
When reviewers explicitly mentioned their plan, continuation was strongly linked to perceiving clear weight-related benefits.
In contrast, those planning to discontinue often said results were not worth the downsides.
Ratings were strikingly polarised.
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More than half of the reviewers scored Ozempic either 1 out of 10 or 10 out of 10, suggesting very different personal experiences.
The authors highlighted important limitations.
Online reviews are self-selected, anonymous, and not medically verified, and details like dose, duration, and medical background are often missing.
Even so, the findings point to a practical message for clinicians and patients.
Expectations about likely weight loss, plateaus, and side effects need to be discussed early, with clear support for managing adverse effects and deciding when to continue or stop.
If you are considering semaglutide for weight loss, do it with proper medical supervision.
Severe or persistent symptoms, especially signs of dehydration, gallbladder issues, or mood changes, should be assessed urgently.
Study reference: Journal of Medical Internet Research (2026), “Patient Perceptions of Ozempic (Semaglutide) for Weight Loss: Mixed Methods Analysis of Online Medication Reviews”, DOI: 10.2196/78391.
