Semaglutide Hype or Hope: Evidence-based Review in Diabesity.

India is struggling with the twin epidemics of diabetes and weight issues, holding the second position globally in the former and third in the latter. Despite multiple advancements with therapies that offer glycemic control and weight benefits, there has remained a gap for a comprehensive drug for the management of "diabesity." Semaglutide, since its global approval in 2017, has become a blockbuster, owing to the popularity of "Ozempic." While Ozempic has been traditionally approved for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), it does offer significant other benefits powerful weight loss, cardiovascular benefits, renal protection benefits, and functional improvement in peripheral arterial disease. The drug is approved in India for first-line use in adults with T2DM as an adjunct to diet and exercise. The long use of semaglutide globally and in India has ensured adequate data on efficacy and safety, ensuring confidence and trust. Gastrointestinal side effects are the most common adverse events seen with the molecule, as with other GLP-1 drugs. This review highlights the global clinical data and practicalities of the use of Ozempic in diabesity in the Indian context.

© Journal of The Association of Physicians of India 2026.