A woman lost 82 pounds on semaglutide. It stopped her getting weight loss surgery that can cost up to $30,000.

• Elizabeth Wood wanted to lose weight to increase her chances of getting pregnant in the future.
• She was going to have bariatric surgery but instead tried a "game-changer" weight loss drug.

A woman who lost almost 100 pounds on the weight loss drug semaglutide said it prevented her from spending $30,000 on bariatric surgery.

Elizabeth Wood, 26, from St. Louis, Missouri, wanted to have weight loss surgery because she struggles with weight gain as a symptom of polycystic ovary syndrome, as well as irregular menstrual cycles and facial hair. PCOS can affect fertility and overweight women with the condition have higher risk of pregnancy complications. Wood would like to have children in the next few years, she said.

"I worry about being able to conceive when we're ready so I wanted to lose weight for that reason and just to be healthier," Wood, who works at an eye clinic, told Insider, referring to her partner.

Her doctor recommended the weight loss drug semaglutide to lower her BMI and she started taking it in October 2022. She lost 82 pounds in the first five months.

"It's amazing, everybody should try it if they're trying to lose weight," Wood said.

Semaglutide was originally developed for diabetes under the brand name Ozempic but was approved by the FDA for weight loss in 2021 under the name Wegovy. It works by suppressing appetite and has been so popular that there have been shortages amid rumors that celebrities use it.

Confusingly, Ozempic has become the byword for the once-weekly shot regardless of what brand the person is using or why they're taking it.

Wegovy costs $1,349 a month while Ozempic is $892, Insider's Gabbby Landsverk reported. While semaglutide isn't cheap, it's worth it for Wood. And when compared to surgery, which can cost as much as $30,000, it's not too bad, she said.

"But if you're talking about being on it forever, then yeah, it could add up to that," she added. How semaglutide should best be used for long-term weight management remains to be seen, as many people who stop taking the drug have regained the weight.

Wood didn't want to eat after three months on semaglutide

Unlike many people on semaglutide, Wood hasn't experienced any negative side effects, she said. Common side effects include nausea, constipation, and diarrhea.

She thought she felt a change in herself from day one, but acknowledges that might have been placebo effect as she was consciously trying not to eat too much because she wanted the drug to work.

By month three it was definite though, Wood said she didn't feel hungry at all. "I didn't want to eat," she said.

Because Wood has such a small appetite, she wants to make sure what she is eating is nutritious and she has nearly entirely stopped buying junk food. Wood's diet now prioritizes protein, so a meal might be three slices of turkey and a cheese stick.

Sometimes at the end of a week, as the semaglutide wears off, she feels cravings and indulges, but she doesn't eat very much.

Wood still goes out for dinner with her friends, but she will usually take half her food home and she's saving a lot of money as a result, she said.

Wood feels more confident

Wood wants to lose a further 80 pounds, but said she already feels a lot more confident.

"I don't hate people looking at me like I did before, I'm less insecure," she said, adding she's enjoying fitting into her old clothes again.

Wood has regular check-ups with her doctor to monitor her progress and is unsure what she will do when she gets to her goal weight. She's nervous about her appetite rushing back if she comes off the drug completely, she said.

However, having wanted to lose weight for so long, she doesn't see herself ever letting herself gain the weight back.

"If I were to get off it and then start gaining weight, I feel like I would do something about it," Wood said.