During her Christmas dinner, Jenny Burriss recalls only being able to eat a single bite of beef before feeling full. This was a result of increasing her dose of semaglutide, a drug used for diabetes and obesity, which is commonly known as Ozempic or Wegovy. As a side effect of the drug, she also lost her taste for alcohol. With a vacation to Disney World approaching, Burriss decided to skip a dose of the medication in order to fully enjoy the food during her trip.
Skipping the dose did make Burriss hungrier, but not excessively so. At the Biergarten buffet in Epcot’s Germany pavilion, where she would have previously piled her plate high, she found satisfaction in just sampling a small portion of everything. In the French pavilion, she indulged in a Grand Marnier orange slush. Although she didn’t lose weight at Disney World, she also didn’t gain any.
Semaglutide works by suppressing appetite and creating a sense of fullness. However, its true power lies in its ability to alter one’s relationship with food. Doctors view the drug as a valuable tool for helping patients develop healthy long-term habits. The focus shifts from finding comfort and pleasure in eating to viewing food simply as sustenance. While this may reduce enjoyment to some extent, it is beneficial for individuals with a compulsive relationship with food, like Burriss. Semaglutide has helped her lose around 40 pounds. However, as the drug’s popularity for weight loss skyrockets, users find themselves navigating a world where food and the excitement surrounding it remain central to celebrations. Since semaglutide is meant to be taken regularly as a lifelong medication, the dilemma arises during vacations, which are typically associated with indulgence and enjoyment.
For some, the decision to skip the medication while traveling is a practical consideration. Semaglutide’s side effects usually diminish as the body adjusts, but they can range from mild inconveniences to severe discomforts such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, and sulfur burps. Nobody wants to experience a bout of diarrhea during takeoff on a plane.
On the other hand, many individuals prefer to continue taking the drug even while on vacation as it eliminates the compulsion and distraction of constantly thinking about food. They find peace in this approach. Semaglutide quiets what patients describe as the “food noise” in their minds, allowing them to wake up in the morning without immediately worrying about what to eat. They can attend weddings and parties without being concerned about overindulging. Instead of considering vacations as cheat days, doctors advise a more balanced approach to eating consistently.
However, those who choose to skip their medication during vacations exchange tips and share experiences online, often without professional medical advice. Overall, individuals like Burriss aim to find a middle ground, avoiding excessive food consumption. Sarah, who skipped a dose on her 10-year anniversary trip to the Bahamas, explains that she didn’t want to overindulge or suffer from nausea, but she still wanted to enjoy wine. Sarah, whose last name is undisclosed for privacy reasons, has always taken pleasure in researching the best restaurants during vacations. While she experienced some excitement, she practiced moderation and opted for healthier options, such as fresh fish. Allyson Gelman, who didn’t take semaglutide while on vacation in Mexico City, even had to cancel a highly anticipated 12-course tasting menu. Overeating or consuming unhealthy food on semaglutide leads to vomiting, and Gelman couldn’t risk feeling ill in a nice restaurant. In Mexico City, she could still feel the effects of the drug lingering in her system, making it impossible to go through 12 courses without getting sick.
Skipping just one dose of semaglutide doesn’t entirely eliminate its effects since it takes several weeks for the drug to clear from the body. Marnie, whose full name is also concealed for medical privacy, regularly takes her prescribed Wegovy every other week. By the second week, she notices her side effects fading and hunger returning. For her, skipping doses mainly helps manage the side effects, as the drug often leaves her feeling extremely tired. Although this may result in slower weight loss, she is content with this approach. In some cases, doctors recommend patients who don’t require the full dose for weight loss to extend the time between injections to alleviate severe side effects. Surprisingly, insurance often refuses to cover a smaller-dose injection pen, which baffles doctors like Stanford at Harvard.
The recent surge in interest in semaglutide means that doctors and patients alike are still discovering its long-term implications, not just within the next couple of years, but in the next two or three decades. How long do the drug’s effects persist, and how permanently do these new habits stick? Burriss believes that occasional indulgence, especially during special events or vacations, is acceptable. However, indulging while on semaglutide is still a far cry from bingeing without the drug.
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