Jump to: 1 – You’re not in a calorie deficit | 2 – You’re in a weight-loss plateau | 3 – Your current dose isn’t high enough | Timeline expectations | Frequently asked questions | Take home message
The main reasons you’re not losing weight on Wegovy might be that you’re not eating in a calorie deficit, you’ve hit a weight-loss plateau, or your current dose isn’t high enough to lower your hunger sufficiently.
Other factors that may contribute include medications that cause weight gain, underlying health conditions affecting metabolism, or individual variations in how your body responds to the medication.
Not everyone responds the same way to Wegovy. A randomised controlled trial involving over 1,900 people living with obesity showed that 7% of participants discontinued their medication due to adverse events and side effects.
While 86.4% of individuals in this study lost at least 5% of their body weight, that means 13.6% of participants lost less than 5%, below what’s typically considered clinically meaningful weight loss. This suggests that around 13% of people don’t respond positively to Wegovy and might not be able to lose significant weight on the medication.
| Common issues |
What’s happening |
Solution |
| No calorie deficit |
Despite reduced hunger, still consuming too many calories |
Focus on whole foods rich in protein, fibre, fat, and complex carbohydrates and reduce ultra-processed foods |
| Weight-loss plateau |
Body has adapted to weight loss, metabolism slowed |
Patience, consistency, possible activity increase, ensure adequate protein |
| Dose too low |
Current dose not sufficient to lower hunger enough to support weight loss |
Complete titration schedule, wait 4-5 weeks for steady state |
| Medication interactions |
Other medications interfering with Wegovy’s effects |
Consult healthcare provider about medication timing or adjustments |
| Unrealistic expectations |
Expecting faster results than medication can provide |
Understand realistic timeline and recommended weight loss rate of 1-2lbs per week |
Let’s analyse the three main reasons why you’re not losing weight on Wegovy.
1) You’re not in a calorie deficit
The evidence is clear: to lose excess body fat, we must eat within a calorie deficit.
When we consume fewer calories than we burn, our body must find energy elsewhere to fuel essential functions, primarily by burning stored fat.
Wegovy works by interacting with the brain’s appetite control centre (the hypothalamus) to lower hunger and food-seeking behaviours.
Research suggests that Wegovy can reduce energy intake by around 40% compared to individuals not taking the medication.
However, we eat for many reasons beyond physical hunger:
- Emotional eating in response to stress, boredom, or comfort
- Environmental triggers from food availability and social situations
- Habitual eating patterns developed over years
- Mindless consumption while distracted
Some people continue eating enough food to prevent a calorie deficit despite Wegovy’s appetite-suppressing effects.
Additionally, if your baseline diet was rich in ultra-processed foods and refined sugars, continuing these patterns while on Wegovy may still result in consuming more calories than needed for weight loss.
It’s essential to transition to a diet based on whole foods to maximise Wegovy’s results.
Visit our NHS-trusted meal plan for a free diet plan to kickstart your weight-loss journey.
Key points:
- We need to eat in a calorie deficit to lose weight
- If our baseline diet is rich in ultra-processed foods and we continue to eat this way on Wegovy, we may still consume more calories than we need to lose weight
- It’s essential to eat a diet based on whole foods to support sustainable weight loss
- While we’re on the medicationm, we must also address other reasons why we might overeat, like emotional eating
2) You’re in a weight-loss plateau
If you’ve lost some weight on Wegovy but then hit a point where the scales won’t budge further, you’re likely experiencing a weight-loss plateau.
Weight-loss plateaus are extremely common, normal, and a necessary part of the weight-loss process.
Being on Wegovy doesn’t prevent these plateaus from occurring.
We have a full guide explaining weight-loss plateaus. However, here’s a quick summary:
- Our brain receives signals from multiple hormones about energy intake and fat storage, establishing what’s called a “set point”
- When our brain senses fewer calories and decreasing fat stores, it slows metabolism to protect against perceived starvation
- Evolutionarily, we’re wired to protect fat stores to ensure survival
- These plateaus are protective mechanisms, not signs of failure
- We can gradually lower our brain’s set point by consistently maintaining healthy lifestyle habits
Even with Wegovy’s help in controlling appetite, these biological mechanisms remain active.
Key points:
- Weight-loss plateaus are a necessary and normal part of the weight-loss process. Wegovy doesn’t prevent weight-loss plateaus from occurring.
- Weight-loss plateaus occur when our brain senses we’re losing fat and eating less, so it slows down our metabolism to protect our remaining fat stores
- We can overcome weight-loss plateaus by being consistent with our healthy habits
3) Your current dose isn’t high enough to promote lower hunger
Wegovy reduces appetite and hunger, helping you eat fewer calories. This effect often begins shortly after starting the medication.
However, you might notice reduced hunger wearing off after 4-5 days post-injection, particularly in the first month of treatment.
It takes approximately 4-5 weeks for Wegovy to reach what’s called “steady state” in your body, when drug levels remain consistent rather than spiking and falling.
Wegovy follows a dose-escalation schedule specifically designed to minimise side effects:
- Week 1-4: 0.25mg weekly
- Week 5-8: 0.5mg weekly
- Week 9-12: 1mg weekly
- Week 13-16: 1.7mg weekly
- Week 17 onwards: 2.4mg weekly (maintenance dose)
This gradual increase allows your body to adjust, but it also means the full appetite-suppressing effects may not be present until you reach higher doses.
Many people find their body adapts to lower doses, with hunger increasing until they move to the next dose level.
If you’re unsure about Wegovy’s dosing schedules and how they affect your body, read our in-depth guide on Wegovy.
Key points:
- The lower doses of Wegovy can wear off after 4-5 days
- It can take up to 4-5 weeks for the medication to reach a ‘steady state’ where its levels are consistent in the blood
- Weight loss may be variable at the beginning but become more consistent as you increase your dose
Timeline expectations: What to expect
Understanding realistic expectations at different stages of Wegovy treatment can help you evaluate whether your progress is on track:
| Timeframe |
What to expect |
What to do if you’re not seeing results |
| First week |
Lower hunger, possibly mild side effects |
Focus on hydration, balanced meals, monitoring side effects |
| First month |
Small weight loss (1-2kg), hunger may vary as body adjusts |
Complete full dose titration, establish healthy eating patterns |
| 3 months |
Average 5-7% weight loss for most people, more consistent lower hunger |
Ensure you’re in a calorie deficit, address emotional eating |
| 6 months |
Average 10-12% weight loss, adaptation to side effects |
Evaluate habits, consider activity increases if plateaued |
| 12 months |
Average 15-17% weight loss with full programme support |
Focus on maintenance strategies and sustainable habits |
Remember that these results are based on averages, individual results vary significantly. About 13-15% of people will see minimal weight loss despite taking the medication as prescribed.
If you’re not seeing expected results at these milestones, review the three main issues discussed above and consider consulting your healthcare provider.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to start losing weight on Wegovy?
Most people begin seeing some weight loss within the first 4 weeks of starting Wegovy. However, the most significant results typically occur after reaching higher doses (1.7mg-2.4mg), usually 3-4 months into treatment.
Approximately 5-10% of patients may experience minimal weight loss even after reaching the maintenance dose.
Why am I hungry on Wegovy?
Hunger while taking Wegovy can occur for several reasons: you may still be on a low starting dose, the medication’s effects may wear off before your next dose (especially in early weeks), your body might be adapting to the current dose, or other medications/health conditions might be affecting Wegovy’s effectiveness. If hunger persists after reaching the maintenance dose, consult your healthcare provider.
Why did I stop losing weight on Wegovy?
Weight loss plateaus on Wegovy are normal and occur due to metabolic adaptation. When your body loses weight, it adjusts by reducing energy expenditure and increasing hunger signals to protect against further weight loss.
Continuing healthy habits, ensuring adequate protein intake, possibly increasing physical activity, and patience can help overcome plateaus. If no weight loss occurs for more than 3 months at the full dose, consult your healthcare provider.
Can stress prevent weight loss on Wegovy?
Yes, chronic stress can potentially interfere with weight loss on Wegovy. Stress increases cortisol levels, which can promote fat storage, particularly around the abdomen.
Stress also often triggers emotional eating that might override Wegovy’s hunger-lowering effects. Developing a healthier relationship with stress and reducing overwhelm may help reduce the effects of stress on weight loss.
Should I stop taking Wegovy if I’m not losing weight?
Don’t stop taking Wegovy without consulting your healthcare provider. If you’re not losing weight after 3-4 months at the maintenance dose, discuss this with your prescriber.
They might evaluate whether other factors are interfering with weight loss, adjust your treatment plan, or consider if Wegovy is the right approach for you. Suddenly stopping medication can cause side effects and potential weight regain.
Take home message
As we’ve covered in this article, there are multiple reasons why you might not be losing weight on Wegovy. For most people, there are ways to maximise results and kickstart weight loss.
However, it’s important to recognise that a small percentage (approximately 10-20%) of individuals are unlikely to respond well to the medication for various reasons.
Weight loss is a complex process involving numerous physiological, psychological, and environmental factors. Wegovy addresses one important component – appetite regulation – but may need support from other approaches for optimal results.
If you’re currently on Wegovy and are unsure why the medication isn’t having the desired effect, we recommend speaking with your healthcare provider about your specific situation.
Second Nature's Mounjaro and Wegovy programmes
Second Nature provides Mounjaro or Wegovy as part of our Mounjaro and Wegovy weight-loss programmes.
Why choose Second Nature over other medication providers, assuming you're eligible?
Because peace of mind matters.
We've had the privilege of working with the NHS for over eight years, helping people across the UK take meaningful steps toward a healthier, happier life.
Our programmes are designed to meet people where they are, whether that means support with weight loss through compassionate one-to-one health coaching, or access to the latest weight-loss medications (like Mounjaro and Wegovy) delivered alongside expert care from a multidisciplinary team of doctors, psychologists, dietitians, and personal trainers.
At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief: real, lasting change comes from building better habits, not relying on quick fixes. We're here to support that change every step of the way.
With over a decade of experience, thousands of lives changed, and a long-standing record of delivering programmes used by the NHS, we believe we're the UK's most trusted weight-loss programme.
We hope to offer you something invaluable: peace of mind, and the support you need to take that first step.
