How does Wegovy work for weight loss?
Key highlights
- Wegovy (semaglutide) is a once-weekly injectable GLP-1 agonist medication for chronic weight management. It’s FDA-approved for adults and adolescents ages 12 and older with obesity (BMI of 30 or more) or overweight (BMI of 27 or more) and at least one weight related condition like type 2 diabetes.
- Wegovy works by mimicking the gut hormone glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP) which affects your gut, brain, and other organs that promote feelings of fullness, reduced cravings, and decreasing appetite.
- Wegovy also slows down have fast the food you eat leaves your stomach, which makes you feel full for longer, leading to reduced cravings and food intake.
- Wegovy works best when used along with lifestyle changes including a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Wegovy (semaglutide) is a popular weight loss drug approved by the FDA in 2021. It’s grown in popularity while showing an average of 14.8% body weight loss. It’s also known by the brand name Ozempic, an injectable medication for type 2 diabetes that’s made by the same company, Novo Nordisk.
Wegovy is a once-weekly injection for chronic weight management in adults and adolescents ages 12 and older with obesity (BMI of 30 or more) or overweight (BMI of 27 or more) and at least one weight related condition like type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure. It works by mimicking GLP-1, the gut hormone that regulates blood sugar levels, appetite, and digestion.
Learn more about how Wegovy works for weight loss and how it targets the areas in the brain that regular appetite and cravings.
How does Wegovy work for weight loss?
GLP-1 receptor agonists like Wegovy mimic the hormone called glucagon-like-peptide 1 or GLP-1 which is involved in regulating appetite and food intake.
These are the primary ways that Wegovy works to promote weight loss:
1. Wegovy reduces appetite by targeting brain signals
Wegovy binds to the GLP-1 receptors in the hypothalamus, the part of brain that is responsible to regulate hunger and satiety. It targets areas of the brain that are involved in regulation appetite and feelings of fullness. This helps in reducing feelings of hunger and food-intake.
2. Wegovy slows down stomach emptying
GLP-1 is naturally produced in the gut and also plays an essential role in regulating digestion. Semaglutide , the active ingredient in Wegovy, slows down stomach emptying by helping the food move slowly from the stomach into the small intestine. When food stays longer in the stomach, you feel full for a longer time and have less desire to eat. Eating less food promotes weight loss over time.
Slower gastric emptying also improves blood sugar control by regulating the release of glucose into the blood stream, preventing rapid spikes in blood sugar levels after eating.
3. Wegovy may reduce binge eating
Semaglutide’s effects on the brain may also change food preferences and reduce cravings for certain foods. This medication is believed to target the brain’s “reward system” that encourages cravings for certain foods.
Clinical trials have shown that participants taking Wegovy experienced better control over their food cravings compared to people who received a placebo, including less cravings for savory foods like dairy, salty, starchy, or spicy foods.
4. Suppresses hunger hormones associated with weight gain
Appetite is influenced by several hormones in the body, including GLP-1. Other essential hormones associated with appetite are leptin and ghrelin.
By eating fewer calories, glucagon-like-peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists like semaglutide increase the free leptin levels and reduces the formation of ghrelin.
Leptin is a hormone that tells you when to stop eating, whereas, ghrelin is hunger hormone, that makes you want to keep eating.
Overall, the combined effect of these hormonal changes makes Wegovy an effective anti-obesity and weight loss drug.
How long does Wegovy take to work?
The answer varies by patient. How quickly Wegovy will work for you depends on these primary factors:
- Initial weight
- Dose you are taking
- How long you’ve been taking the medication
- Lifestyle changes including a reduced-calorie diet and exercise
- Medical conditions like diabetes, thyroid cancer or hormonal imbalance
- Other medications you are taking like insulin may lead to weight gain
While some people notice a decrease in appetite within the first few days or weeks of use, clinical trials show weight loss is usually seen after 2-3 months and more significant results are realized within 6 to 12 months. Studies show that patients taking semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly lost a mean body weight of 6% by week 12 (3 months) and 12% of their body weight by week 28 (7 months).
How do I know if Wegovy is working?
To determine if Wegovy is working for you, monitor the following signs and progress over time:
- Decrease in appetite and feelings of fullness
- Improvement in blood sugar levels
- Weight loss
- Improved energy levels
- Reduced waist circumference and body fat
For maximum weight loss results, Wegovy should be use in combination with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity.
How much weight can you lose on Wegovy?
The amount of weight loss depends on several factors including the dose of Wegovy you are taking, diet and exercise. But results of following clinical trials can help you get an idea of how much can Wegovy help in weight loss.
Clinical trials
The STEP 1 clinical trial studied the effects of once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity. At week 68, participants who were taking semaglutide group lost 14.9% of their body weight on average compared to 2.4% body weight loss with placebo at week 68. The clinical trial summarized the overall results as follows:
- 86.4% of people taking semaglutide lost an average of 5% body weight or more of their starting weight compared to 31.5% average weight loss for people taking the placebo
- 69.1% of people taking semaglutide lost an average of 10% body weight or more compared to 12% average weight loss for people taking the placebo
- 50.5% of people taking semaglutide lost an average of 15% body weight or more compared to 4.9% average weight loss for people taking the placebo
RELATED: How much weight can you lose on Wegovy?
Side effects of Wegovy
Wegovy is approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) for chronic weight management and reducing the risk of serious heart problems in people with obesity or overweight.
It’s considered safe to use by adults and adolescents (12 years and older). However, like any other medication, it has potential side effects. The most common side effects are gastro-related including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Common side effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Stomach (abdomen) pain
- Headache
- Tiredness (fatigue)
- Dizziness
- Feeling bloated
- Upset stomach
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in people with type 2 diabetes
- Belching
- Gas
- Stomach flu
- Heartburn
- Runny nose or sore throat
These side effects are usually not serious and may subside over time as your body gets used to the medication. However, if these side effects persist for a long time, or if you experience any serious side effects, seek medical advice from your healthcare provider.
Before using Wegovy, tell your healthcare provider if you have any other health conditions like acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), acute gallbladder disease, type 2 diabetes, kidney problems, or diabetic retinopathy.
Bottom line
Wegovy works in several ways to help you lose weight, including affecting the areas of the brain that are associated with appetite, cravings, and feelings of fullness. This makes Wegovy an weight loss medication.
