Abstract

Intermittent Fasting (IF) has gained widespread popularity particularly due to its remarkable effects on weight loss and regulation of metabolic homeostasis. Although it became a recent trend, its benefits have been documented in a number of studies including hepatic steatosis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes as well as cancer. Ozempic®, the brand name of Glucagon like Peptide-1(GLP-1) receptor agonists or semaglutide, has attracted attention from celebrities and social media due to its “miraculous” effect of weight loss. Although it was originally developed as a treatment for Type–2 diabetes, as it mimics the hormone glucagonlike peptide-1 in the body, its side effect of weight loss has now become a more dominating feature. Although both these methods result in weight loss, however, IF focuses primarily on calorie restriction and metabolic regulation whereas Ozempic® works by suppression of appetite and inducing a feeling of fullness through GLP-1 receptor agonists. Studies have shown that IF provides a natural form of metabolic regulation through maintenance of circadian rhythm and increased insulin sensitivity, thereby reducing the insulin resistance and promoting liver health and detoxification. Evidences suggesting the effectiveness of GLP-1 receptor agonists in lowering glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in Type 2 diabetes along with its “off-label” use as a weight loss drug have gained attention and more research is being carried out to understand and comprehend the magnitude of its efficacy. This review presents a comparative analysis between IF and GLP-1 receptor agonist (Ozempic®) as a method of weight loss and illustrates upon it prevalent use worldwide.

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