Is weight loss with Ozempic and Wegovy possible without nausea? Scientists reveal the brain tricks

How to lose weight: According to the research, weight-loss medications of the future could not only be more effective but also more comfortable, helping people stay healthier and improving their living (Image: Pexels)

Ozempic and Wegovyhave become well-known names for people trying to manage obesity or type 2 diabetes. They are effective at reducing appetite and helping with weight loss. But many users experience nausea, vomiting, or other discomfort, which can make it hard to stick with the treatment. Scientists are now starting to understand why these drugs work, and why they sometimes make people feel sick.

These medications mirror a natural hormone that your body releases after eating. This hormone sends signals to the brain to reduce hunger. It also affects areas of the brain connected to cravings, pleasure-driven eating, and thirst. Research in mice and rats has begun to map the circuits that control these responses.

The tricky part is that the same brain regions that help the drugs curb appetite also trigger nausea. That’s why weight loss and feeling unwell often happen together.

Recent studies suggest there are ways to separate the benefits from the side effects. For example, combining a lower dose of tirzepatide, a dual-action GLP-1 drug, with the hormone oxytocin in obese rats nearly doubled the weight loss while avoiding nausea or vomiting. Other experiments have pinpointed brain regions like the area postrema (the “vomit centre”) and the central amygdala, which control appetite, cravings, and pleasure-based eating. Targeting these circuits could allow for weight loss without the unwanted side effects.

Also read | Ozempic weight loss might cost you muscle strength, says new study

According to the research, weight-loss medications of the future could not only be more effective but also more comfortable, helping people stay healthier and improving their living.

Major takeaways from the research:

• GLP-1 drugs curb hunger and help with weight loss, but can also cause nausea and vomiting.
• The brain’s area postrema controls both appetite suppression and nausea.
• Combining tirzepatide with oxytocin in rats improved weight loss without gastrointestinal issues.
• GLP-1 receptors in the central amygdala affect pleasure-driven eating by lowering dopamine signals.
• The drugs can reduce thirst, linked to brain regions like the median preoptic area.
• Understanding these circuits could lead to safer, more effective weight-loss treatments.
• The findings may also help treat binge eating and addictive behaviours.

Also read | Ozempic: A miracle weight-loss drug or dangerous trend? We examine

Scientists now know that these drugs do more than control blood sugar or appetite. They influence brain circuits linked to reward, pleasure, and motivation. By understanding these pathways, future treatments could keep the weight-loss and craving-reducing benefits while avoiding nausea. Hormones like oxytocin may even boost the effects, opening the door to smarter, easier-to-take combinations.

Ozempic and Wegovy mimic a natural hormone that reduces appetite by sending signals to the brain, aiding in weight loss.

Common side effects include nausea and vomiting, which can make it difficult for some users to continue treatment.

The same brain regions that reduce appetite also trigger nausea, leading to simultaneous weight loss and discomfort.

Combining lower doses of tirzepatide with oxytocin has shown improved weight loss in rats without causing nausea.

Understanding brain circuits involved in appetite and nausea could lead to safer, more effective weight-loss treatments with fewer side effects.