How Long Does It Take to Lose Weight on Wegovy?

The prescription weight loss medication Wegovy (semaglutide) can support your weight loss journey by helping you lose more weight than is possible with diet and exercise alone. 

If you have recently started taking Wegovy or are interested in starting Wegovy, you may be wondering how soon you will begin losing weight. Please continue reading to find out how fast people lose weight on Wegovy.

How long does it take for Wegovy to start working for weight loss?

Based on the results of clinical trials conducted by Wegovy’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, the average weight loss from the starting body weight is as follows:

• After 4 weeks: ~2% from the starting weight

• After 8 weeks: ~4% 

• After 12 weeks: ~6%

• After 16 weeks: ~8%

• After 20 weeks: ~10%

• After 28 weeks: ~12%

• After 36 weeks: ~14%

• After 52-60 weeks: ~15%

• After 68 weeks: ~15.6%

Notably, the average weight reduction in this clinical trial was the result of semaglutide and lifestyle interventions with diets and exercise.

You may start losing weight after 4 weeks of being on Wegovy, but it can take several months to see a noticeable change and 12-15 months to get the maximum benefits from this medicine. 

Follow the tailored weight loss plan developed by your healthcare professional to get the best results. Experts recommend using Wegovy with lifestyle habits such as a calorie-deficit diet and increased physical activity.

In total, if your starting weight is 232 lbs, you can expect to lose about 15% of your total body weight, i.e., 35 lbs excess weight, after 68 weeks (15 months) on Wegovy.

Note: Weight loss outcomes vary from person to person. The reduction in body weight that you achieve on Wegovy may be more or less than the average weight loss listed above.

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How fast can I lose 20 lbs on semaglutide?

How fast you can lose 20 lbs on semaglutide (Wegovy) depends on your starting weight and other factors. 

If you weigh 232 lbs at the start of Wegovy treatment, you can expect to lose 20 lbs in around 16-20 weeks (4-5 months). 

Again, noticeable weight loss on Wegovy occurs when you combine it with other weight loss efforts, such as a low-calorie diet and increased exercise.

How much weight can you lose with Wegovy in one month?

Most people lose around 2% of their body weight with Wegovy in one month. This means if you weigh 200 lbs initially, you can expect to lose around 4 lbs of weight per month.

Remember, this rate of weight loss on Wegovy is the average. You may lose weight faster or slower, depending on various factors such as your initial weight, exercise habits, dietary modifications, and metabolism. 

For example, someone who does vigorous-intensity aerobic activity and follows strict low-calorie diets while on Wegovy can expect to lose more weight compared to a person who does moderate-intensity aerobic activity. 

Do you lose weight faster on Ozempic or Wegovy? 

Both Ozempic and Wegovy contain the same active ingredient semaglutide. However, Ozempic is approved to treat type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy is approved for chronic weight management.

There are no head-to-head trials comparing the rate of weight loss between Ozempic vs Wegovy. 

Based on the results of clinical trials, it appears that Wegovy can lead to more weight loss than Ozempic. This is likely because the maintenance dose of Wegovy is 2.4 mg once weekly, which is higher than the maximum recommended dose of Ozempic, which is 2 mg once weekly. Learn more about Ozempic for weight loss.

How does Wegovy reduce body weight?

The weight loss drug Wegovy belongs to a group of medications called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP–1) receptor agonists. It contains the generic drug semaglutide. 

GLP-1 receptor agonists mimicked a naturally occurring hormone in the body and were originally developed to regulate blood sugar levels in people with type-2 diabetes by stimulating insulin secretion. However, it was found that a GLP-1 receptor agonist can also cause clinically significant weight loss. 

Some of these drugs have now been FDA-approved to support weight loss. 

Wegovy and other weight loss medications (GLP-1 receptor agonists) help in losing weight by delaying gastric emptying, increasing feelings of fullness, and reducing food cravings.  

Wegovy medication works best with lifestyle changes such as a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. 

Can you maintain weight loss results after stopping Wegovy?

Many people regain some of the lost weight after stopping Wegovy. This is because Wegovy works by regulating appetite. 

It can reduce food cravings and food intake only while you are on it. Therefore, overweight and obese adults should think of Wegovy as a long-term weight management plan. 

With that said, reduced calorie intake and increased physical activity may help you keep the weight off even after stopping Wegovy. Learn more about how prescription weight loss medications work.

You should know that a Wegovy prescription can cost over $1,300 per month without insurance coverage. 

Therefore, the cost of Wegovy may be an additional and important factor in the long-term use of this weight loss medication.

What body mass index (BMI) qualifies for Wegovy?

To qualify for Wegovy treatment, adults should have a body mass index (BMI) of at least 30 kg/m² or a BMI of at least 27 kg/m² with at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol. 

Children 12 years of age and older may qualify for Wegovy if their BMI is at the 95^th percentile or higher for age and sex.

Who should not take Wegovy?

Wegovy (semaglutide injection) is not safe for everyone. People with a personal or family history of a medical condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) or medullary thyroid cancer should not take Wegovy and other weight loss drugs from the same drug class. 

Taking Wegovy can also increase the risk of medical conditions such as acute pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, kidney injury, increased heart rate, low blood sugar, and suicidal thoughts. 

Give your healthcare professional a complete medical history before starting Wegovy. Also, give your healthcare provider a complete list of your medications to avoid drug interactions with other medications.

Tell your healthcare provider if the side effects of Wegovy are severe or do not go away after your body adjusts to the medicine.

What is the dosing schedule for Wegovy?

Your healthcare provider will gradually increase your Wegovy dose to let your body adjust to the medicine. The dose initiation, escalation, and maintenance schedule for Wegovy subcutaneous injection is as follows:

• Weeks 1-4: 0.25 mg once weekly 

• Weeks 5-8: 0.5 mg once weekly 

• Weeks 9-12: 1 mg once weekly 

• Weeks 13-16: 1.7 mg once weekly 

• Week 17 onwards: 2.4 mg once weekly maintenance dosage

The 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 0.1 mg doses that are taken during months 1 through 3 of Wegovy treatment are initiation and escalation doses. They are not approved maintenance doses for chronic weight management. 

The recommended maintenance dose of Wegovy is 2.4 mg once a week, but some people do not tolerate more than 1.7 mg once a week.