Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUnderstanding ObesityHow Does Wegovy Work?EfficacyWhen to Consider WegovySide EffectsDosage GuidelinesInteractionsAlternative Treatment OptionsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Understanding Obesity
How Does Wegovy Work?
Efficacy
When to Consider Wegovy
Side Effects
Dosage Guidelines
Interactions
Alternative Treatment Options
Frequently Asked Questions
Wegovy (semaglutide)is a prescriptionmedicationbelonging to a group of drugs known asglucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. It comes as a liquid solution that you self-inject just below the skin once weekly for obesity.
About 42% of adults in the United States areobese, while another 30% are overweight. Abody mass index (BMI)30 kg/m2 or greater is considered obesity, while a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater is considered overweight.
Many factors can lead to weight gain and obesity. Diet and physical activity routines have a significant impact. Sleep habits, medications, and other medical conditions may also affect body weight.
In addition, genetics plays a role in determining why these factors can lead to more or less weight gain in some people than others.
Making diet changes and increasing your exercise routine is usually adequate for reducing body weight. However, lifestyle changes aren’t enough in some cases.
With new developments in anti-obesity medications and surgeries, more people are turning to their healthcare providers for weight loss when diet and exercise aren’t helping enough.
In certain situations, a healthcare provider may prescribe a medication to work alongside those lifestyle changes. It’s important to know that GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy can help you lose weight, but they work best when you also stick to a healthy diet and exercise regularly.
Taking these steps together may give you better results than either option alone for weight management.
BMI is a dated, flawed measure. It does not take into account factors such asbody composition, ethnicity, sex, race, and age. Even though it is a biased measure, BMI is still widely used in the medical community because it’s an inexpensive and quick way to analyze a person’s potential health status and outcomes.
The FDA currently approves Wegovy, in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet and increased exercise, for weight loss and weight management in:
Healthcare providers may prescribe Wegovy off-label for people who do not meet these criteria if they feel it is safe and beneficial for their patients.
Wegovy’s active ingredient is semaglutide, which belongs to the group of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists.Semaglutide is the active ingredient in two other brand-name drugs:Ozempic, a weekly injection, andRybelsus, an oral tablet.
Unlike Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus are specifically FDA-approved for controlling blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Wegovy comes as a liquid solution in a prefilled injection pen. Each pen contains one dose. Wegovy is injected once per week as asubcutaneous injection, just under the skin of the abdomen, thigh, or back of the upper arm.
How Effective is Wegovy?
Most individuals using Wegovy with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity exercise can expect to lose at least 5% of their initial body weight during the first three months of treatment.
For example, a person with an initial body weight of 200 pounds (lbs) can expect to lose 10 lbs during the first three months of Wegovy treatment.
According to clinical trials:
More extensive weight loss is possible, especially if you continue taking Wegovy and closely adhere to long-term healthy lifestyle changes.
When you start taking Wegovy, you’ll start with a low dose and gradually increase it over time. Increasing the dosage too quickly could cause intolerable digestive side effects, such as nausea and vomiting. Therefore, it’s important not to rush or speed up the dose increases to see results sooner. Instead, be patient and follow your provider’s instructions.
Set realistic expectations that seeing the full benefits might take a few months. If you stop taking Wegovy, you might regain the weight.
Intense diet and exercise changes alone have been shown to lead to significant weight loss (5-7% of body weight) but often reach a plateau and may lead to regained weight.
If you attempt lifestyle modifications beforemedications for weight lossand reach a point where you aren’t losing more weight, a medication like Wegovy may provide added benefit in conjunction with lifestyle changes.
You might consider Wegovy if you meet one of the following descriptions:
If you’re unsure of your BMI, onlineBMI calculatorsand pediatric percentile resources are available.
Wegovy is not intended for any perceived aesthetic or cosmetic benefit to weight loss but rather for improved health and reducing your risk ofcardiovascular problems associated with obesity.
Also, remember that Wegovy is expensive, upwards of $1,000 per month, and many health insurance plans do not cover weight-loss medications. This may change as we learn more about the potential for GLP-1 agonists to reduce the risk of heart problems.
In 2024, the FDA approved Wegovy to reduce the risk of serious heart problems in adults with obesity or who are overweight. Wegovy should be used in addition to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Who Should Avoid Wegovy?
Wegovy may not be safe for everyone. People with the following conditions or factors may have a higher risk of side effects if they use Wegovy:
Healthcare providers may not prescribe Wegovy for you if you have or had:
The FDA requires a boxed warning for Wegovy. A boxed warning is the most severe warning for a prescription drug. It informs patients and prescribers of potentially serious risks.
The boxed warning for Wegovy warns of the risk of certainthyroid cancers, which were found in animal studies of the GLP-1 medications. It isn’t known if Wegovy could cause thyroid cancer in humans.
As a precaution, people with a personal or family history ofmedullary thyroid cancer (MTC)ormultiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2)should not take Wegovy, as it could further increase the risk of developing thyroid cancer.
Side Effects & Safety
Like all drugs, Wegovy carries the potential for adverse effects.
Therefore, if you or a loved one begins treatment with Wegovy, closely monitor for any emerging negative symptoms.
Common Side Effects
Common side effects of Wegovy may include:
Nausea is the most common side effect of Wegovy. It most frequently occurs when you start the medication or after your dose increases. Nausea becomes less bothersome as your body adjusts to the medication or dose.
Talk to a healthcare professional if nausea or other common side effects persist. They may recommend changes to your diet, a temporary dose reduction, or possibly stopping Wegovy.
Severe Side Effects
Less commonly, Wegogy may cause serious side effects that require medical attention.
Potential side effects and their symptoms to watch for include:
The lists above do not includeallpossible side effects of Wegovy.
You can take Wegovy once weekly at any time, with or without food, on the same day each week.
The starting dosage for Wegovy is 0.25 milligrams (mg) injected once weekly for the first four weeks (Weeks 1–4), then your provider will escalate your dose every four weeks until you reach the maintenance dosage.
The table below summarizes Wegovy’s typical dosage:
Storage
Wegovy comes as a prefilled injector pen. Each pen contains a single dose. Until you’re ready to administer it, store Wegovy in the refrigerator.
Wegovy stays good at room temperature for up to 28 days as long as it’s unopened. If necessary for travel, you can store Wegovy pens out of the refrigerator for up to four weeks.
Wegovy Interactions
Certain medications interact with Wegovy. Interactions can lead to severe side effects or may cause medications to be less effective treatments than usual.
Before starting Wegovy, tell your provider about your current prescription, over-the-counter medications, and vitamins or supplements.
Wegovy may increase the risk ofhypoglycemiaIf you also take certain diabetes medications to lower blood sugar, including:
As a precaution, talk to a pharmacist or healthcare provider to check your medications and supplements to screen for potential interactions with Wegovy.
This is a partial list of medications that might interact with Wegovy.
There isn’t a “natural” version of Wegovy or an herb that works similarly. There’s little evidence that any OTC dietary supplements are effective for weight loss.
The FDA warns that some herbs promoted for weight loss may be risky, especially for people treated for chronic conditions. Examples of supplements that pose potential health risks or drug interactions includeglucomannan, hoodia, andYohimbe.
Before trying a dietary or herbal supplement, consult a healthcare professional, such as a registered dietitian, pharmacist, or healthcare provider, to determine if it’s safe. Supplements are not intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease.
Summary
Obesity is linked to severe health problems. Wegovy has become a popular weight loss drug because it effectively reduces body weight with diet and exercise.
As with other medications, Wegovy poses potential risks and may cause side effects. As such, Wegovy is not FDA-approved forcosmetic weight loss in people who do not meet the overweight or obesity criteriadefined in the drug’s labeling.
Consult a healthcare provider to determine if Wegovy may be an appropriate treatment option for you.
Frequently Asked QuestionsTake Wegovy once each week at any time of day, with or without food, on the same day.If you miss a dose and the next scheduled dose is more than 48 hours away, take the missed dose as soon as possible. If you miss a dose of Wegovy and the next scheduled dose is less than 48 hours away, skip the missed dose. Just take your next dose on your regularly scheduled day.If you miss multiple doses of Wegovy in a row, consult a healthcare provider. To help minimizegastrointestinal (GI) side effects, they may have you restart the medication at a lower dosage and then follow the starting dosage escalation schedule.Yes, you can change the day of the week you inject Wegovy. You may change the day of the week as long as your last dose was taken 48 hours ago or longer.For example, if you regularly inject Wegovy on Mondays but want to change it to Tuesdays, you should wait until Tuesday to inject the next dose.Since Wegovy pens contain a needle, they require particular disposal to protect others from coming in contact with the needle. After using the Wegovy pen, you can discard it in a sharps container.You can get a sharps container from a pharmacy or use another container (such as an empty laundry detergent jug) if it is made of heavy-duty plastic that won’t leak and you label it “hazardous waste.”Once your sharps container is about three-quarters full, follow local community guidelines to dispose of it safely.
Take Wegovy once each week at any time of day, with or without food, on the same day.If you miss a dose and the next scheduled dose is more than 48 hours away, take the missed dose as soon as possible. If you miss a dose of Wegovy and the next scheduled dose is less than 48 hours away, skip the missed dose. Just take your next dose on your regularly scheduled day.If you miss multiple doses of Wegovy in a row, consult a healthcare provider. To help minimizegastrointestinal (GI) side effects, they may have you restart the medication at a lower dosage and then follow the starting dosage escalation schedule.
Take Wegovy once each week at any time of day, with or without food, on the same day.
If you miss a dose and the next scheduled dose is more than 48 hours away, take the missed dose as soon as possible. If you miss a dose of Wegovy and the next scheduled dose is less than 48 hours away, skip the missed dose. Just take your next dose on your regularly scheduled day.
If you miss multiple doses of Wegovy in a row, consult a healthcare provider. To help minimizegastrointestinal (GI) side effects, they may have you restart the medication at a lower dosage and then follow the starting dosage escalation schedule.
Yes, you can change the day of the week you inject Wegovy. You may change the day of the week as long as your last dose was taken 48 hours ago or longer.For example, if you regularly inject Wegovy on Mondays but want to change it to Tuesdays, you should wait until Tuesday to inject the next dose.
Yes, you can change the day of the week you inject Wegovy. You may change the day of the week as long as your last dose was taken 48 hours ago or longer.
For example, if you regularly inject Wegovy on Mondays but want to change it to Tuesdays, you should wait until Tuesday to inject the next dose.
Since Wegovy pens contain a needle, they require particular disposal to protect others from coming in contact with the needle. After using the Wegovy pen, you can discard it in a sharps container.You can get a sharps container from a pharmacy or use another container (such as an empty laundry detergent jug) if it is made of heavy-duty plastic that won’t leak and you label it “hazardous waste.”Once your sharps container is about three-quarters full, follow local community guidelines to dispose of it safely.
Since Wegovy pens contain a needle, they require particular disposal to protect others from coming in contact with the needle. After using the Wegovy pen, you can discard it in a sharps container.
You can get a sharps container from a pharmacy or use another container (such as an empty laundry detergent jug) if it is made of heavy-duty plastic that won’t leak and you label it “hazardous waste.”
Once your sharps container is about three-quarters full, follow local community guidelines to dispose of it safely.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.DailyMed.Label: Wegovy- semaglutide injection, solution.MedlinePlus.Semaglutide injection.National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases.Overweight and obesity statistics.National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases.Understanding adult overweight and obesity.Truveta Research Insights.Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro: on- and off-label prescribing trends.DailyMed.Label: Ozempic- semaglutide injection, solution.DailyMed.Label: Rybelsus- oral semaglutide tablet.Chao AM, Tronieri JS, Amaro A, Wadden TA.Clinical insight on semaglutide for chronic weight management in adults: patient selection and special considerations.Drug Des Devel Ther. 2022;16:4449-4461. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S365416Greenway FL.Physiological adaptations to weight loss and factors favouring weight regain.Int J Obes (Lond). 2015;39(8):1188-96. doi:10.1038/ijo.2015.59Jensterle M, Rizzo M, Haluzik M, et al.Efficacy of GLP-1 RA approved for weight management in patients with or without diabetes: a narrative review.Advanced Therapeutics.2022; 39(6): 2452-2467.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Body mass index: considerations for practitioners.Terhune C.Most patients using weight-loss drugs like Wegovy stop within a year, data show. Reuters. Published July 11, 2023.National Institutes of Health.Dietary supplements for weight loss.Food and Drug Administration.Sharps disposal containers.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.DailyMed.Label: Wegovy- semaglutide injection, solution.MedlinePlus.Semaglutide injection.National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases.Overweight and obesity statistics.National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases.Understanding adult overweight and obesity.Truveta Research Insights.Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro: on- and off-label prescribing trends.DailyMed.Label: Ozempic- semaglutide injection, solution.DailyMed.Label: Rybelsus- oral semaglutide tablet.Chao AM, Tronieri JS, Amaro A, Wadden TA.Clinical insight on semaglutide for chronic weight management in adults: patient selection and special considerations.Drug Des Devel Ther. 2022;16:4449-4461. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S365416Greenway FL.Physiological adaptations to weight loss and factors favouring weight regain.Int J Obes (Lond). 2015;39(8):1188-96. doi:10.1038/ijo.2015.59Jensterle M, Rizzo M, Haluzik M, et al.Efficacy of GLP-1 RA approved for weight management in patients with or without diabetes: a narrative review.Advanced Therapeutics.2022; 39(6): 2452-2467.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Body mass index: considerations for practitioners.Terhune C.Most patients using weight-loss drugs like Wegovy stop within a year, data show. Reuters. Published July 11, 2023.National Institutes of Health.Dietary supplements for weight loss.Food and Drug Administration.Sharps disposal containers.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
DailyMed.Label: Wegovy- semaglutide injection, solution.MedlinePlus.Semaglutide injection.National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases.Overweight and obesity statistics.National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases.Understanding adult overweight and obesity.Truveta Research Insights.Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro: on- and off-label prescribing trends.DailyMed.Label: Ozempic- semaglutide injection, solution.DailyMed.Label: Rybelsus- oral semaglutide tablet.Chao AM, Tronieri JS, Amaro A, Wadden TA.Clinical insight on semaglutide for chronic weight management in adults: patient selection and special considerations.Drug Des Devel Ther. 2022;16:4449-4461. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S365416Greenway FL.Physiological adaptations to weight loss and factors favouring weight regain.Int J Obes (Lond). 2015;39(8):1188-96. doi:10.1038/ijo.2015.59Jensterle M, Rizzo M, Haluzik M, et al.Efficacy of GLP-1 RA approved for weight management in patients with or without diabetes: a narrative review.Advanced Therapeutics.2022; 39(6): 2452-2467.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Body mass index: considerations for practitioners.Terhune C.Most patients using weight-loss drugs like Wegovy stop within a year, data show. Reuters. Published July 11, 2023.National Institutes of Health.Dietary supplements for weight loss.Food and Drug Administration.Sharps disposal containers.
DailyMed.Label: Wegovy- semaglutide injection, solution.
MedlinePlus.Semaglutide injection.
National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases.Overweight and obesity statistics.
National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases.Understanding adult overweight and obesity.
Truveta Research Insights.Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro: on- and off-label prescribing trends.
DailyMed.Label: Ozempic- semaglutide injection, solution.
DailyMed.Label: Rybelsus- oral semaglutide tablet.
Chao AM, Tronieri JS, Amaro A, Wadden TA.Clinical insight on semaglutide for chronic weight management in adults: patient selection and special considerations.Drug Des Devel Ther. 2022;16:4449-4461. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S365416
Greenway FL.Physiological adaptations to weight loss and factors favouring weight regain.Int J Obes (Lond). 2015;39(8):1188-96. doi:10.1038/ijo.2015.59
Jensterle M, Rizzo M, Haluzik M, et al.Efficacy of GLP-1 RA approved for weight management in patients with or without diabetes: a narrative review.Advanced Therapeutics.2022; 39(6): 2452-2467.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Body mass index: considerations for practitioners.
Terhune C.Most patients using weight-loss drugs like Wegovy stop within a year, data show. Reuters. Published July 11, 2023.
National Institutes of Health.Dietary supplements for weight loss.
Food and Drug Administration.Sharps disposal containers.
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