Jump to: How much weight can I lose in a month with Wegovy? | Is Wegovy a good way to lose weight? | Do you lose weight faster on Ozempic or Wegovy? | Should I try Wegovy?
Research has shown that Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg) can lead to a weight loss of around 16% of your body weight, or 16-17kg, after 68 weeks.
Most of this weight loss occurs in the first 32 weeks (9 months) and plateaus thereafter as the body adapts to the medication and patients find a sustainable way of eating.
Did you know?
Second Nature will launch a medication-supported programme that combines our NHS-trusted weight-loss programme with a weekly injection of the GLP-1 weight-loss jab, semaglutide.
To join our waiting list, click here.
How much weight can I lose in a month with Wegovy?
Based on data from randomised controlled trials, you can expect to lose up to 5% of your weight in a month on Wegovy. After two months on Wegovy, you could lose up to 8%.
Interestingly, this initial weight loss is no different to other weight loss treatments or the impact of diet interventions on weight loss. The real impact of semaglutide is seen beyond 3 months.
Semaglutide is a long-acting medication that’s started at a lower dose to reduce the number and severity of side effects as it’s built up to a higher maintenance dose.
Semaglutide can take 4-5 weeks to reach a level in the body we call a steady state. A steady state is when the drug’s levels in the body remain consistent rather than spiking and falling.
Is Wegovy a good way to lose weight?
Wegovy supports weight loss by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1 to communicate directly with the brain’s appetite control centre, the hypothalamus, to lower food-seeking behaviours and hunger.
These lower hunger levels (or lower appetite) will mean you eat fewer calories and lose weight over time.
Click here to learn more about how GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide work.
Ideally, we’d lose weight without needing medications through changes in our diet and lifestyle.
However, some individuals who’ve been trying to lose weight for a very long time, jumping from one diet or programme to another, may need extra support to keep weight off in the long term.
Wegovy is approved for individuals who need to lose weight because excess body fat is negatively impacting their health and quality of life.
Wegovy shouldn’t be used for people who just want to lose weight for a holiday or an upcoming event like a wedding.
Do you lose weight faster on Ozempic or Wegovy?
The active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy is the same, and the early dosing schedules are also the same, so the earlier rate of weight loss is very similar.
On Ozempic and Wegovy, you can expect to lose up to 5% of your weight in the first month on Wegovy and up to 8% after two months.
However, research shows that Wegovy will lead to greater weight loss over the long term than Ozempic.
A randomised controlled trial with 961 participants compared the impact of a once-weekly dose of 1 mg or 2 mg of semaglutide on blood glucose levels and weight loss for people living with type 2 diabetes.
The results showed that after 40 weeks, 1 mg of semaglutide (Ozempic) led to an average weight loss of 6 kg compared to 6.9 kg in the 2 mg group. Interestingly, both groups reported similar levels of adverse events and side effects.
So, the higher dose of semaglutide that you’ll receive with Wegovy will likely lead to slightly more significant reductions in weight loss without experiencing more adverse events or side effects.
Under new regulations, Ozempic is no longer available in the UK to be used ‘off-label’ for weight loss and is now restricted to individuals living with type 2 diabetes.
Should I try Wegovy?
Wegovy is designed as an additional tool for weight management and shouldn’t be considered a lifelong medication.
Instead, it should be used to help you kickstart your weight loss and healthy journey while you commit to living a healthier lifestyle.
Ideally, we’d be able to lose weight without medication and lifestyle changes would be enough to support weight loss in the long term.
We’d generally recommend trying Second Nature’s weight-loss programme before considering a weight-loss jab.
Changing your habits is the most sustainable way to achieve long-term weight loss, and it’s also less expensive.
Second Nature has been trusted by the NHS since 2017 to support people with type 2 diabetes and obesity to lose weight, manage their blood sugar levels, and lead healthier lifestyles for the long term.
In 2022, the NHS published data in the BMJ that compared the weight loss outcomes of five providers in the National Diabetes Prevention Programme.
Second Nature was more than twice as effective at supporting weight loss than the other four providers.
However, if you’ve decided to try Wegovy (when it’s available) but need support in making positive changes to your lifestyle, Second Nature could be an option for you. But it’s worth noting that we have strict eligibility criteria.
We’ll launch our medication-supported programme soon when semaglutide becomes available. Click here to join our waiting list.
