How Long Do You Take Wegovy for Weight Loss?
Medically reviewed and edited by If you’ve recently been prescribed the Wegovy injection for weight loss, you may be wondering how many pounds you will lose and how long it will take to reach your weight loss goals.
Although the results of taking Wegovy differ from one person to the next, several clinical trials have observed many people losing significant excess weight.
Wegovy is approved for use alongside certain lifestyle modifications to reach an optimal outcome. This includes increasing your physical activity and eating a balanced diet.
In this article, we’ll cover how many pounds you may expect to lose with this medication and what you can do to get the best results.
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How Does Wegovy Help with Losing Body Weight?
Wegovy is a brand name for a drug called semaglutide, which is a class of medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.
A GLP-1 receptor agonist mimics a hormone produced by the body. It helps people shed extra pounds and is used for chronic weight management in individuals with medical conditions.
Wegovy works in three main ways to help people lose weight.
Appetite regulation
Semaglutide targets the centers in the brain that are responsible for your appetite. In doing so, it can help you feel fuller for longer and curb food cravings.
This typically results in a lowered food intake, possibly leading to weight loss.
Delayed stomach emptying
Wegovy causes something called delayed gastric emptying. This means that after eating, the stomach empties at a much slower rate than usual, making you feel satiated for longer periods.
It’s worth noting that delayed stomach emptying is the main cause of the most common side effects of taking Wegovy.
Blood sugar regulation
It has been scientifically proven that regulated blood sugar levels can promote weight loss.
Wegovy helps to manage blood sugar levels by lowering the amount of glucose that is released by the pancreas after eating.
This is the main reason why Wegovy is often prescribed to people with diabetes who need their blood sugar levels to be regulated.
Who Should Take Wegovy?
Wegovy is still a relatively new weight loss drug. In 2021, Wegovy was approved to treat three groups of individuals.
People with obesity
Individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of over 30 are considered obese.
Wegovy is often prescribed to people with obesity who need assistance in losing excess fat and reaching a healthy weight.
People with weight-related health conditions
People living with health conditions related to weight, like high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol, may also use Wegovy.
A weight-related condition refers to a health problem that is caused or worsened by excess weight.
These individuals typically need to be overweight — with a BMI of at least 27 — and have a weight-related medical condition to qualify for a Wegovy prescription.
People with diabetes
As mentioned earlier, the blood sugar regulation benefits of Wegovy mean that it can be used to treat diabetes, even in people who aren’t overweight or obese.
Individuals with diabetes often have high levels of blood sugar in their bodies, and various medications are used to manage this.
Key Point: Get Wegovy Through LifeMD
Did you know that experienced clinicians may be able to prescribe you Wegovy or another medication for weight loss?
Through the LifeMD online weight management program, you can get a personalized plan to shed extra pounds and achieve your goals.
With the proper lab work and guidance of your care team, you can lose weight safely and effectively.
How Much Weight Will I Lose Using Wegovy?
In a series of 68-week-long clinical trials, adults taking Wegovy lost significant body weight compared to a placebo group.
The studies found that 83% of the people taking Wegovy lost 5% or more of their body fat.
More than 65% of participants lost 10% or more of their body fat. And 48% of individuals lost 15% of their body fat.
Based on this research, you can expect to lose between 5% and 15% of your current body fat percentage in around 60 to 70 weeks of taking this medication.
It’s important to note that not everyone will see these results.
You can use the LifeMD weight loss calculator on the site to gain an idea of how much weight you could lose by taking GLP-1 medication.
Key Point: Follow Instructions for Optimal Results
You may be tempted to increase your Wegovy dosage or the frequency at which you inject yourself to lose more weight. If you are not satisfied with the results you are seeing, it’s important to speak to your doctor first.
Always stick to the exact dose prescribed by your healthcare provider, and follow their instructions closely.
How Long Does It Take for Wegovy to Start Working?
People who take Wegovy typically start seeing results in the first few weeks of their treatment.
However, this differs from one person to the next, and you may not see any weight loss in the initial months of using Wegovy.
It’s important to view weight loss as a long-term journey. While you may see results early on while using Wegovy, it is far more effective when taken over a longer period.
In fact, some studies have found that people experienced weight regain once they stopped their Wegovy treatment.
Many people who have a lot of excess body weight to lose may start seeing results faster than others when they combine Wegovy with the lifestyle modifications discussed below.
This rate of weight loss may slow down over time too, so it’s important not to become discouraged and to continue your treatment as prescribed.
Key Point: The Most Common Side Effects of Wegovy
The side effects of Wegovy are typically mild, and they tend to subside after a few days or weeks after starting treatment.
Common side effects include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Pain in the stomach area
- Headaches
- Dizziness or fatigue
- Low blood sugar levels
Your healthcare provider may start your treatment at a lower dose and gradually increase the amount you inject to avoid these side effects.
How Fast Do People Lose Weight with Wegovy?
In a 68-week study conducted by Novo Nordisk, the manufacturers of Wegovy, participants saw noticeable weight loss within 20 weeks of taking the drug.
The study participants were instructed to reduce their calorie intake and get more physical activity in their routine.
Those in this study who took the placebo and followed a diet and exercise program gained up to 7% of their body weight — despite these lifestyle changes.
The participants who took Wegovy for 68 weeks saw around an 8% loss of body weight.
Another trial run by the manufacturer found that people using Wegovy experience an approximate loss of 4% body weight in the first 8 weeks and up to 10% in the first 20 weeks.
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What Will Affect My Weight Loss While Taking Wegovy?
It’s important to remember that weight loss is a complex process, and the results you see are highly dependent on various factors.
Your starting weight, diet, and exercise habits will all impact how you shed weight and how many pounds you lose.
Other factors that may impact how much weight you lose with Wegovy include:
Taking any medications that have weight gain as a side effect
Having a chronic condition that causes you to gain pounds, such as an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
Your age, gender, medical history, and overall health
Lastly, everyone’s metabolism works differently, and the rate at which yours functions may affect how much weight you lose.
How Can I Improve My Chances of Losing Weight with Wegovy?
It’s worth noting that when Wegovy was approved for weight loss, it was done so based on the fact that people should use this drug in conjunction with certain lifestyle modifications.
These lifestyle modifications include increased physical activity and a lowered calorie intake. Making these changes is essential if you want to maintain weight loss with Wegovy.
How much exercise should I get with Wegovy?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults should get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week.
You should also do muscle-strengthening exercises twice a week. The CDC recommends that this amount be split into 30 minutes a day for five days each week.
Here are the recommended levels of physical activity for adults:
Type of aerobic activity to get per week | 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity | 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity | An equivalent mix of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity on two or more days a week |
Muscle-strengthening activities per week | On two or more days a week | On two or more days a week | On two or more days a week |
An example of a moderate-intensity aerobic activity would be brisk walking, and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity would be jogging or running.
Twice a week, you should do exercise that strengthens the following muscle groups:
Legs
Hips
Back
Abdomen
Chest
Shoulders
Arms
How many calories should I consume while using Wegovy?
According to the FDA, to get all the nutrients you need, you should aim to eat around 2,000 calories per day.
However, this amount may be higher or lower depending on your age, gender, weight, and current level of physical activity.
Where Can I Learn More About Losing Weight With Wegovy?
If you're interested in learning more about losing weight with Wegovy, you can explore the LifeMD online weight management program. This program offers a comprehensive approach to weight loss that includes access to cutting-edge medications such as GLP-1s (if you meet the eligibility criteria), lab testing, and the expertise of top clinicians. In cases where you do not qualify for Wegovy, another medication may be prescribed to support your weight loss journey.
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