How Long Until Wegovy Works for Weight Loss

Understanding Wegovy for Weight Loss

Wegovy is a prescription weight loss medication that has been growing in popularity recently. It contains the active ingredient semaglutide and belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists. Originally approved for treatment of type 2 diabetes, Wegovy was also found to produce significant weight loss in clinical trials. This led to its approval for chronic weight management in 2021.

How Does Wegovy Cause Weight Loss?

Wegovy mimics the effects of a hormone called GLP-1 that is released naturally by the body after eating. GLP-1 slows digestion and suppresses appetite. Wegovy binds to and activates GLP-1 receptors, producing effects such as:

• Increasing feelings of fullness so less food is consumed
• Delaying stomach emptying so food stays in the stomach longer
• Reducing appetite and interest in food

By influencing these major drivers of eating behavior, Wegovy promotes weight loss through reduced calorie intake. It does not increase metabolism or fat burning.

What to Expect When Starting Wegovy

When beginning Wegovy treatment, many patients wonder - how long does it take to feel the effects? Understanding the expected timeline can help set appropriate expectations.

Most people start to notice appetite suppression within 1-2 days of their first dose. However, the maximum effects take longer to achieve. This is because Wegovy is started at a low dose which is increased gradually over 16-20 weeks to allow the body to adjust and minimize side effects.

The titration schedule when starting Wegovy is:

• 0.25 mg once weekly for 4 weeks
• 0.5 mg once weekly for 4 weeks
• 1 mg once weekly for 4 weeks
• 1.7 mg once weekly (the standard effective dose)

So while some effects happen right away, reaching the full 1.7 mg maintenance dose can take nearly 5 months. Most people achieve the maximum weight loss results somewhere between weeks 20-32 of treatment.

Who is a Good Candidate for Wegovy?

Wegovy can be an excellent option for individuals struggling with obesity, defined by the CDC as having a BMI over 30. It may also benefit some people who are overweight (BMI 25-30) and have weight-related health issues.

Wegovy is appropriate for both patients with and without diabetes. However, there are some medical situations where Wegovy would be too risky such as:

• History of certain thyroid, pancreatic or gallbladder issues
• Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2
• Pregnancy, breastfeeding or trying to become pregnant

In addition, Wegovy has not been studied sufficiently in patients under 18 years old to determine if it would be safe or effective. A healthcare provider can best assess individual factors to decide if Wegovy is a good fit.

The Importance of Lifestyle Changes

While powerful, Wegovy is not meant to be used on its own. Rather, it is prescribed alongside comprehensive lifestyle modification to promote long-term sustainable weight loss.

This means adopting healthy eating patterns high in fruits, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains. Regular physical activity and behavior changes are also key. Wegovy makes it easier to comply with the diet and activity goals.

After stopping Wegovy, weight loss effects go away. Maintaining lost weight still requires permanent lifestyle improvements in most cases.

What Results Can You Expect with Wegovy?

In clinical trials, Wegovy has helped patients achieve impressive weight loss results. For example, in one 56-week study :

• Patients taking Wegovy lost an average 15-18% of their initial body weight
• Over 2/3 of Wegovy patients lost at least 10% of their starting weight
• 1 in 3 lost 20% or more of their initial weight

These results exceeded placebo groups where patients received lifestyle counseling but a dummy injection.

Such high percentages of body weight lost carry major health benefits. Studies confirm losing just 5-10% of starting weight can dramatically improve obesity-related complications like diabetes, high blood pressure, and unhealthy cholesterol or triglycerides.

Weight Loss Results Timeline

In clinical trials, weight loss with Wegovy increased progressively over time, as is typical with obesity medications. On average:

• After 12 weeks, patients lost 6-7% of starting weight
• After 28 weeks, about 12% of weight was lost
• By week 56, average total weight loss reached 15-18%

However, there is a wide range of individual responses. Some patients respond very quickly losing large amounts in the first 3 months. Others lose weight at a slower pace. Healthcare providers monitor progress at regular intervals and can adjust dose or add other medications if needed.

Wegovy Side Effects and Safety

As with any medication, Wegovy can cause some side effects. The most common are gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. These are usually mild to moderate and improve with time.

Rarely, semaglutide has been associated with inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). There have also been some reports of gallbladder problems. Patients should advise their doctor of any persistent severe abdominal pain.

In clinical trials, gastrointestinal side effects were the main reason for discontinuing Wegovy treatment. To help minimize symptoms, proper dose titration, taking injections with food, and anti-nausea medications can help.

Risk of Low Blood Sugar

There have been rare reports of dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) occurring with Wegovy, primarily in patients with type 2 diabetes also using insulin or sulfonylurea medications. Warning signs include shakiness, sweating, confusion, headache and rapid heartbeat.

As a precaution, checking blood sugar as directed by a healthcare provider is important, especially early in treatment. Wegovy dose reductions or adjustments of blood sugar lowering medications may be required.

Contraindications and Precautions

Wegovy has not been studied in patients with the following conditions and should be avoided:

• Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2
• Pregnancy, breastfeeding or trying to become pregnant
• End-stage kidney failure requiring dialysis

Wegovy also needs to be used cautiously in people with diabetic retinopathy, a kidney or liver condition, heart failure or high risk of pancreatitis.

In youth under 18 years old, both safety and effectiveness are unknown.

Prior to starting treatment, all medical conditions and medications should be discussed with a doctor to ensure appropriate candidate selection and monitoring.

The Bottom Line

Wegovy can be a breakthrough option for select adults struggling with excess weight or obesity. It works by mimicking a gut hormone to suppress appetite, leading to reduced calorie intake and significant weight loss over weeks to months of treatment.

To get the most out of Wegovy with the best chance of keeping weight off long-term, committing to permanent positive lifestyle changes is key. As with any medical therapy, working closely with a healthcare provider for guidance on usage, dosing and potential side effects is important.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.