Wegovy for Weight Loss: How It Works, Benefits, and Side Effects

What is Wegovy?

Wegovy is a new weight loss treatment that should be injected into your body weekly.

Approved in the USA in 2021, Wegovy is also available in the UK. Wegovy's main ingredient is semaglutide, which mimics GLP-1 and its effects on the body.

How Does Wegovy Work?

Semaglutide fits into GLP-1 receptors in your digestive system, pancreas and brain—like a key fitting into a lock. Once these receptors are activated, they trigger processes in your body that can support weight loss.

Suppresses Appetite

Semaglutide interacts with GLP-1 receptors in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus, which plays a big part in regulating hunger. The upshot is you lose your appetite. Hunger signals are dampened down, and feelings of fullness are increased.

Slows Digestion

Semaglutide slows down the rate of gastric emptying (stomach emptying), which means glucose and other macronutrients are released into your bloodstream more gradually. It also helps you feel fuller for longer.

Regulates Blood Sugar

Semaglutide binds to GLP-1 receptors in the pancreas, which prompts the pancreas to release insulin after meals. Insulin shunts glucose out of the bloodstream and into the cells, where it's needed for energy.

Semaglutide also blocks the release of another hormone called glucagon, which performs the opposite function to insulin (i.e., it stops the blood sugar from dipping too low). As a result, people who have taken semaglutide can avoid undesirable blood sugar spikes after meals. That means no sugar crashes either—your blood sugar stays balanced throughout the day.

How Long Does Wegovy Take to Work?

Wegovy starts working from the first injection. Some people notice less hunger within a few days of the first dose. Others need to reach a higher dose before appetite suppression feels strong. The first dose is mainly to help your body get used to the medicine, so don't worry if you don't feel much change at the start.

As your dose increases, the effect usually builds. Significant weight loss takes time—think of it as a marathon, not a sprint.

Wegovy Dosing Schedule

Wegovy is injected weekly. It comes in colour-coded injector pens and follows a specific dosing schedule. Your pen is prefilled with solution, so you simply inject it into your stomach, arm, or thigh following the Wegovy injection instructions.

You'll start on the lowest dose of Wegovy medication (0.25mg) so your body can get used to the medicine. This helps to ensure any initial side effects are kept to a minimum. If you are switching to Wegovy from Mounjaro, your clinician may recommend a higher starting dose where appropriate after reviewing your history, tolerance, and goals.

Benefits of Wegovy

As well as weight loss, studies show that Wegovy's main ingredient semaglutide has potential benefits for our heart health and blood sugar.

Sustainable Weight Loss

Research shows that when used alongside a balanced diet, physical activity, and behavioural support, taking Wegovy can result in up to a 20.7% reduction in body weight after 72 weeks, when taking a higher 7.2mg dose.

But remember, Wegovy should only be used as one element of a weight loss plan. Once you finish this course of medication, you'll have built up a routine of healthy lifestyle changes that will not only mean you'll see the best results, but you'll be able to sustain your weight loss without the help of Wegovy.

Reduces Risk of Heart Disease

While reaching a healthy weight can improve your blood pressure and cholesterol alone, which is beneficial for heart health and lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, semaglutide has also been shown to lower blood pressure.

Improved Blood Sugar Control

Semaglutide helps to keep blood sugar under control by boosting insulin production when needed. Insulin transports sugars in our blood around the body to be used as energy. So, the more insulin that is released, the less sugar remains in the blood. This means that there's less excess sugar in the body to be stored as fat.

Is Wegovy Safe to Take?

Wegovy is proven to be a safe and effective weight loss medication. However, it's not suitable for everyone, and should only be prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider.

Start by completing our short eligibility questionnaire. It checks your medical history and current medicines to make sure Wegovy is safe for you. We'll ask about things like long-term conditions, allergies, and pregnancy plans. A clinician reviews your answers and will only prescribe if it's appropriate.

What Are the Side Effects of Wegovy?

Not everyone who takes Wegovy will experience side effects, but as with any medicine, there is some risk of this happening. Luckily, most people find Wegovy side effects to be mild, manageable and short-lived.

How Long Do You Take Wegovy for Weight Loss?

Wegovy is designed for long-term use. How long you stay on it varies by person and depends on your results, starting weight, goal weight, side effects, and preferences. Once you reach your goal, we usually taper the dose to find the lowest effective dose that keeps your appetite controlled. From there you can either stop or stay on a maintenance dose, as long as your BMI remains in a healthy range (generally above 19).

Is Wegovy Right for You?

Ultimately, it depends on the recommendation of your clinician as to whether Wegovy is right for you. The price of Wegovy treatment is also something to consider—if you're paying for it privately, the cost can vary depending on the supplier.

Who Should Avoid Wegovy

Wegovy is generally safe when it is prescribed and monitored by a clinician. Some medical conditions or medicines can mean Wegovy is not suitable or needs extra monitoring.

Wegovy vs. Other Weight Loss Solutions

If you're still wondering whether Wegovy is right for you, it might help to compare it against other weight loss medications, like Mounjaro and Saxenda. Take into account the effectiveness, dosing schedule and cost to help you whittle down the type of weight loss medication you want.

There's also a new treatment option: GLP-1 Oral Spray, which offers a needle-free alternative to traditional injections while containing the same active ingredients.

Getting Started with Wegovy at TLWLC

To recap, Wegovy has benefits beyond weight loss—including improvements in energy, heart health, and blood sugar control—especially for people with diabetes or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Because there is no one-size-fits-all approach to weight loss, including which medication works best for you, The London Weight Loss Clinic offers personalised plans and treatment options to help you maintain a sustainable weight loss journey that's as unique as you are.