Wegovy weight loss: Week-by-week results and what to expect when injecting Wegovy

Weight loss on Wegovy will vary from person to person depending on things like diet, exercise, starting weight, metabolism, age, and the Wegovy dose you take. But on average, people can expect to lose 21% of their starting body weight after 72 weeks. This means that if you start at 200 pounds (lbs), which is around 14.3 stone, you can expect to lose around 40 to 45lbs, or approximately 2 to 3 stone.

The average expected weight loss based on clinical trials is:

• weeks 1 to 4 – 2%
• weeks 5 to 8 – 4%
• weeks 9 to 12 – 6%
• weeks 13 to 16 – 8%
• weeks 17 to 21 – 17%
• weeks 21+ – 21%

How long does Wegovy take to work?

Wegovy takes anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to work. Some people may notice an effect from the first dose, but the minimum dose is just there to get your body used to the medication, rather than to cause the most weight loss. Everyone reacts differently, and while you should see some weight loss across the first few months, the best effect comes from reaching a dose of 2.4 or 7.2mg.

Your doctor will keep track of your progress to make sure you’ve lost 5% or more of your starting weight after taking Wegovy for 6 months. If you have not, it may be recommended to stop taking Wegovy or try a different weight loss medication. However, in clinical trials, 91% of people taking Wegovy 7.2mg and 90% of people taking 2.4mg lost at least 5% of their weight, so it’s rare not to reach this target if you’re following the dosage schedule and an appropriate diet and exercise plan.

In the first 4 weeks of taking Wegovy, you may notice a change in your appetite. Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist, which means that it mimics naturally occurring appetite hormones in the body to:

• send a message to your brain that you’re full
• regulate your blood sugar
• slow down the emptying of your stomach

When you start taking Wegovy, you should notice that your appetite is decreasing and you feel fuller for longer after meals. As a result of these effects, people lose an average of 2% of their body weight in the first 4 weeks of taking Wegovy. However, please remember that weight loss will vary for each individual.

Common side effects

It can be common to experience some Wegovy side effects in the first weeks. These should go away on their own as your body gets used to Wegovy, but they may come back when you increase your dose.

You should seek medical advice immediately by calling 999 if you experience a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). Signs of this include:

• feeling like you can’t breathe
• swollen face, lips, tongue, or throat
• reduced consciousness

What to do if you get side effects

You can treat most side effects at home. Mild symptoms like headaches can be treated with over-the-counter medications like painkillers. The most common symptoms of Wegovy are nausea, indigestion, and stomach pain. These symptoms can be treated by:

• staying hydrated
• getting plenty of fresh air
• eating smaller meals
• limiting oily and fatty foods
• eating slowly
• avoiding fizzy drinks

If your side effects become persistent or if you are worried about your side effects, you should speak to your doctor. They may suggest an alternative weight loss treatment for you that is more suitable.

After 4 weeks, if you have been coping well with the 0.25mg dose, your doctor may suggest increasing your dose to 0.5mg. As your body adjusts to the higher dosage, it’s likely you will experience a return of some side effects, especially nausea. These can be managed at home like before, but if you are worried about your side effects, speak to your doctor. You can stay on a lower dose for longer if you need to.

After a dose increase, people lose an average 2% extra body weight, for a total 4% loss compared to their starting weight. You might start to see physical signs of weight loss. You may also notice that your relationship with food has changed. You may:

• have a deepening sense of fullness
• have fewer urges to overeat
• want to snack less
• have fewer cravings
• think about food less

At 9 weeks, if you’re still coping fine with your previous dose, your doctor may again recommend increasing your dose, this time to 1.0mg. At this stage, you may experience a return of some side effects.

You can expect to lose an average 2% of your starting body weight again by this point, meaning you may lose around 6% altogether. At this stage, you may start to notice changes beyond just weight loss. For example, you may experience:

• an increase in energy levels
• better sleep quality
• an improvement in overall mood
• improved mobility

By weeks 9 to 12, you should be experiencing a significant decrease in your appetite, but it’s important to make sure you are still eating a balanced diet with enough protein and nutrients.

As you start to lose more weight, you may find that exercise gets easier, and you can add more to your daily routine to help increase your weight loss. We recommend planning meals and tracking your progress to maintain your motivation. If you’re not noticing changes in your appetite and are struggling to reduce your calorie intake, speak to your doctor.

At week 13, you may increase your dose to 1.7mg and can expect to have lost an average 8% of your starting body weight. At this stage, you’re likely to see improvements in your blood sugar levels and blood pressure as well.

Any side effects that persist or cause concern at this stage should be raised with your doctor before starting either of the maximum maintenance dosage.

At 17 weeks, you may stay on 1.7mg or increase to the maintenance dose of 2.4mg, depending on how your body is responding. You can expect to lose an average 17% of your starting body weight after 68 weeks if you choose to remain on this dose.

Wegovy is a long-term weight loss medication, so progress will happen gradually, and you may not see changes immediately. You can track your success in other ways too, such as improvements in your:

• blood pressure
• sleep quality
• confidence and self-esteem
• mobility
• blood sugar levels

Starting in week 21, if you feel comfortable, you can move up to the maximum Wegovy dose of 7.2mg per week. At this dose, you can expect to lose an average of 21% of your starting body weight after 72 weeks of treatment.

Side effects at the 7.2mg Wegovy dose are similar to those at the lower 2.4mg dose, but more people experience gastrointestinal side effects, though severe effects are similar to the lower maintenance dose. 23% of people report altered skin sensations (dyasthesia), such as burning, itching, or tingling, compared to 6% on the 2.4mg dose. Most cases are mild, but if you get any persistent or severe side effects, speak to your doctor, who may advise that you stop treatment.

Losing weight can come with many changes and challenges, both physically and mentally. Physical changes in your body, along with changes in your appetite and general health, are to be expected. However, there may be some things that you may not have considered and may need to prepare for.

Weight loss plateaus

A weight loss plateau is where your weight loss slows down or stops completely, no matter how much progress you are making. This is common with long-term weight loss, even when using medication.

Plateaus can be caused by a number of things, including reduced metabolism or hormonal adjustments. You may experience a plateau at any point when using Wegovy, but there are a few things you can do to help overcome a plateau, such as:

• adjusting your calorie intake, which can help boost your metabolism
• increasing your physical activity
• eating more nutrient-rich foods
• increasing your protein and fibre intake
• getting plenty of sleep
• managing your stress

It’s important to be patient and not to get discouraged if you hit a weight loss plateau.

Buying new clothing

Around weeks 13 to 16, you may start to notice changes in how your clothes fit. This is a great sign of your success, but now you have to deal with finding a new wardrobe. At first, you may be able to make temporary fixes with fashion tape or safety pins, but eventually, you will be faced with the task of tailoring or getting new clothes.

You can use this opportunity to experiment with your style when you find new clothes that you might not have considered wearing before. Take time to go through your wardrobe and find which pieces you can donate or sell and which you can keep. This change might feel strange at first, but it can also be fun and exciting, and is part of your weight loss journey.

Everybody will respond to Wegovy in different ways and will have a different experience. Many factors can influence your results, including:

• if you are taking the medication as prescribed – taking Wegovy once a week, at the same time, and not missing doses will make it the most effective
• your age – as you get older, your metabolism slows down, making it harder to lose weight
• your sex – certain stages of life, such as menopause in females, can make it more difficult to lose weight due to declining hormone levels
• your starting body mass index (BMI) – if you start with a higher BMI, you may lose more weight
• your current diet and exercise habits – people making a big change to their eating habits and exercise patterns may see a faster weight loss in the starting weeks or months, due to the bigger change in lifestyle, but this will slow down as your body gets used to new habits

➤ You can find out more information about why you may not be losing weight on Wegovy in our guide, along with helpful information on what to do to improve your results and when to speak to a doctor.

Underlying health conditions

Some underlying health conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) also now known as polyendocrine metabolic syndrome (PMOS), diabetes, or thyroid disorders can slow weight loss progression. Some conditions can affect your metabolism or hormone levels, making it harder to lose weight. Other conditions, such as depression or chronic pain, can affect your ability to exercise regularly which can also have an impact on your weight loss.

People with diabetes who are taking insulin or sulphonylurea may be at a higher risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), so it’s important to stay on top of your blood sugar levels and talk to your doctor if you notice significant changes. Wegovy cannot be taken with some diabetic treatments, so you must let your doctor know before taking Wegovy if you’re diabetic and take medication, or if you get a new prescription while taking Wegovy.