Wegovy is a medication used for weight loss. You may have heard of another drug called Ozempic which contains the same ingredient and is prescribed for type 2 diabetes. Wegovy is a popular weight loss aid. But it’s prescribed as part of a wider weight loss plan, alongside regular exercise and a balanced diet.
Wondering if Wegovy is right for you? In this article, we cover everything you need to know about Wegovy for weight loss, including how it works, possible side effects, and how it compares to other weight loss medications.
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.
How does Wegovy work?
Knowing how Wegovy works is important. Weight loss injections help you lose weight by suppressing your appetite—but what’s the science behind it all?
The science behind GLP-1 receptor agonists
Wegovy is part of a class of medication called GLP-1 receptor agonists. These drugs are typically used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes as well as weight loss. GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1, which is a hormone naturally produced in the body when we eat.
Wegovy and Ozempic’s main ingredient is semaglutide , which mimics GLP-1 and its effects on the body. Semaglutide suppresses appetite by:
- Sending signals to the brain to control your appetite and hunger. It works on the reward pathways in the brain, reducing cravings and food noise.
- Moreover, it slows down digestion so you feel fuller for longer after eating, enabling you to eat less overall.
- Lastly, it provides better control of blood sugar levels, helping you lose weight by keeping your energy steady.
Wegovy also reduces "food noise" ; persistent, distracting thoughts about food which often lead to unhealthy eating habits.
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.
Your Wegovy dose increases every four weeks by 0.25mg until you reach the maximum dose (2.4mg), or another dose that works for you, which will be the amount you stay on, called a "maintenance dose".
Everyone’s dosing schedule will be unique, but generally it looks like this:
For a more detailed breakdown, check out our Wegovy dosing guide.
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 15% reduction in body weight after one year, when taking the highest 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.
Another study shows that semaglutide can lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with type 2 diabetes, with some research suggesting that people taking it are 20% less likely to experience these conditions.
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 as you can experience side effects while taking Wegovy.
Speak with your clinician about any concerns you have. They’ll ask you a series of questions to determine if Wegovy is right for you. If they feel you’re at a higher risk of severe side effects, or take any other medications which might interact with Wegovy, they will not prescribe it for you.
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. Some of the most common side effects include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
For a detailed look at the less common and more severe side effect symptoms, check out our guide to Wegovy side effects.
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.
Wegovy isn’t a one-stop solution to losing weight. It’s a dedicated programme that requires sticking to a routine of injections once a week (at the same time every week), alongside exercising regularly and eating well.
Once you’ve built up these healthy habits and you’re close to achieving your weight loss goal (or have already) you’ll be able to maintain your weight loss without the help of Wegovy—think of it as taking the stabilisers off of your bicycle, you’re ready to continue on your own!
Who should avoid Wegovy
Wegovy is generally a safe medication to take, but you should only use it if you’ve been prescribed it by a clinician. This is because there are some instances where using Wegovy could cause issues or interact with your other medications. You shouldn’t use Wegovy if you’re pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding.
You should also tell your clinician about any prescription and non-prescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you take because semaglutide may change the way your body absorbs these medications.
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. For a more detailed comparison, read our guide to Mounjaro vs Wegovy for weight loss.
FAQs About Wegovy
Can you buy Wegovy in the UK?
Yes, you can buy Wegovy in the UK through private prescription. Voy’s comprehensive service includes free delivery, expert medical support, and a personalised weight loss plan designed to help you achieve your goals.
Does the NHS prescribe Wegovy?
Yes, the NHS does prescribe Wegovy for weight loss, but only when certain eligibility criteria are met. Your clinician should conduct a review after you take semaglutide for six months, and you’ll only carry on taking it if you've lost at least 5% of your body weight.
Wegovy cost:How much is Wegovy?
If prescribed on the NHS you’ll either pay nothing or the standard prescription cost of £9.90. A Wegovy treatment plan with Voy starts at £169 per month, reaching up to £295 per month as the dosage increases. These prices are subject to change according to our suppliers.
How much weight can you lose in a month with Wegovy?
Even though Wegovy helps you lose weight faster than exercise and diet alone, you won’t drastically lose weight in these first few weeks. In month one, the average weight loss is just over 2% body weight. By week 7 to 8, studies suggest you could lose around 4 - 5% of your body weight on average. Check out our week-by-week Wegovy guide for more insight into what to expect.
Ultimately, everyone is different. How fast one person loses weight on Wegovy can vary from another person taking the same dose.
How long should you take Wegovy?
You’ll work closely with your clinician to make sure that you’re on medication for as long as necessary for you, which could be up to two years.
How to get started with Wegovy
Taking Wegovy for weight loss has plenty of additional benefits including feeling more energised, fewer food cravings, improved heart health, and improved insulin resistance for people with type 2 diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Because there is no one-size-fits-all approach to weight loss, including which medication works best for you, Voy offers personalised plans and treatment options to help you maintain a sustainable weight loss journey that’s as unique as you are. Take our weight loss quiz and chat to our team of clinicians to get the ball rolling—we’re here to help.
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