Ozempic for Binge Eating: Evidence, Eligibility, Coverage
Ozempic is not FDA approved for binge eating. It is approved for type 2 diabetes, heart risk and kidney disease in type 2 diabetes. Some doctors prescribe it when one of those uses also applies. In STEP 1, people on Wegovy lost 14.9% of body weight on average, vs 2.4% on placebo.
- Active ingredient
- semaglutide
- How it is taken
- weekly injection
- Approved for
- Type 2 diabetes, heart risk and kidney disease in type 2 diabetes
- Best result (STEP 1)
- 14.9% weight loss
A quick overview of Ozempic
Its half-life is about 1 week: after 7 d, half is gone, and after five half-lives (35 d), about 3% remains
Over 30 weeks, SUSTAIN 1 found 4.7 kg lost in type 2 diabetes, against 1.2 kg with placebo
Monthly prices in US dollars include the list price and self-pay offers, with each figure taken from the maker's price page
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), healthsystemtracker.org, prnewswire.com 1 2.
Who qualifies?
| Who sets the rule | Who qualifies |
|---|---|
| FDA label | When used with diet and exercise, this medicine lowers blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes |
| FDA label | For adults who have heart disease along with Type 2 diabetes, it lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart-related death |
| FDA label | It lowers the risk of heart-related death, kidney failure, and worsening kidney disease in adults with Type 2 diabetes who have chronic kidney disease |
| Typical commercial plan (Aetna policy) | BMI 30 or higher |
| Typical commercial plan (Aetna policy) | BMI 27 or higher with a weight-related condition |
| Typical commercial plan (Aetna policy) | first comes a 6-month diet and activity program |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), aetna.com.
Trial findings on binge eating
Not one of these trials enrolled people with binge eating alone. Everyone in the studies was an adult with obesity or overweight, and no participant had diabetes.
| Trial | Medicine | Who took part | Length | People | Main result | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEP 1 |  Wegovy | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes | 68 weeks | 1,961 | 14.9% weight loss | 2.4% on placebo |
| OASIS 4 | Wegovy | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes | 64 weeks | 307 | 13.6% weight loss | 2.4% on placebo |
Trial source: STEP 1 (FDA label (DailyMed)).
For binge eating, what changes?
| What changes | What the label says |
|---|---|
| Severe Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions | Stomach and gut side effects are common and can be severe Not recommended for people with severe gastroparesis. |
According to the FDA labels: FDA DailyMed label.
Source for the label warning: FDA label (DailyMed).
Coverage for binge eating
When a GLP-1 is used only for weight loss, Medicare Part D does not pay for it.
Where Medicaid covers weight-loss GLP-1s, prior authorization is the usual rule.
Sources: humana.com, KFF.
- Ozempic Coupon
- Ozempic Cost
- Ozempic Cost Without Insurance
- Ozempic Cost With Insurance
- Is Ozempic Covered by Insurance? Criteria, Copay, Appeal
- Does Medicare Cover Ozempic? Part D Rules and the GLP-1 Bridge
- Ozempic Patient Assistance
- Cheapest Way to Get Ozempic
- Does Medicaid Cover Ozempic? Criteria, Copay, How to Appeal
Other options for binge eating
| Medicine | For binge eating | How it is taken | Trial result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ozempic | Not a listed use | weekly injection | Not listed |
| Wegovy | Not a listed use | weekly injection or daily tablet | 14.9% weight loss |
 Rybelsus | Not a listed use | daily tablet | Not listed |
 Mounjaro | Not a listed use | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Zepbound | Not a listed use | weekly injection | 20.9% weight loss |
 Foundayo | Not a listed use | daily tablet | 11.1% weight loss |
 Trulicity | Not a listed use | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Saxenda | Not a listed use | daily injection | 7.4% weight loss |
 Victoza | Not a listed use | daily injection | Not listed |
| Byetta | Not a listed use | twice-daily injection | Not listed |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
Questions for your prescriber
- Should treatment of the eating disorder come first?
- Who else should be involved in my care?
Read the full Ozempic prescribing information on DailyMed.