Over the past year, Wegovy has featured heavily in the media as a way of losing weight using a simple injection. Still, not everyone is finding it easy to lose weight, even with this new medication. 

Wegovy has been shown to be effective for weight loss in clinical trials, and many individuals have come forward telling of its positive effects. However, some patients may find that Wegovy is not working for them, or that they have initially lost weight and then reached a weight loss plateau.

What is Wegovy?

Wegovy is a brand name for the drug Semaglutide produced by Novo Nordisk. It has been approved by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) as a medication for weight loss. While it was originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes, studies have shown it to be effective for weight loss as well, and it works on other complications associated with increased weight or obesity, including health conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. 

Wegovy is classified as a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA). This means that it mimics the effects of a natural hormone and activates the GLP-1 receptor. This hormone, incretin, is normally released by the gut after eating, letting the brain know that you are full and do not need to eat any more. It slows down the transit of food through the gut so that you feel full for longer. 

Originally, this was seen to allow people to control their blood sugar levels. However, the effects in both the peripheral and central nervous systems also lead to decreased appetite and food intake. There is also thought to be an effect on the reward and motivation reactions towards food.

Why You May Not Be Losing Weight

There are several reasons why you might find yourself unable to lose weight despite taking Wegovy – diet and exercise have long been advised for anyone wanting to lose weight. The simple reason is because they work! 

Diet

Wegovy is more effective if you are eating a healthy, balanced diet. The idea is to cultivate new, healthier habits that will continue after you stop taking the medication. If your diet is not well balanced, it can make Wegovy less effective and may cancel out any of the benefits that you may gain from the medicine.

Exercise

Much like a healthy diet, regular exercise is important in any weight loss journey. To make the most of Wegovy, you should increase physical activity before you start taking it. This is also a new habit that will hopefully continue after you stop taking Wegovy. It is best to vary your exercise and include both aerobic exercise and strength training.

Improper Use

It is important to remember that weight loss drugs like Wegovy are medicines, and should be treated as such. It is available for purchase but works best when you are in contact with a healthcare professional. 

You should follow guidance on the dose that you are taking and how and when to increase the dose. It is usually administered as an injection. There is guidance here as well for cleaning the skin, administering the injection, and rotation of injection sites.

Correct Use of Wegovy

Wegovy is most effective when combined with diet, exercise and input from a healthcare professional. 

Novo Nordisk produces 5 different strengths of Wegovy for injection. You will normally start taking 0.25mg once a week for 4 weeks, followed by 0.5 mg once per week for 4 weeks. This will increase to a higher dose of 1 mg each week for 4 weeks. You will then move on to a dose of 1.7 mg per week. 

It is important to liaise with a healthcare professional as you may stay on this as a maintenance dose or you may increase further to a regular dose of 2.4 mg per week. 

Get Wegovy Tips and Weight Loss Guidance with renu

Tips for Taking Wegovy

  • Wegovy can be taken with or without food. 
  • You can change the day of the week that you take it as long as it has been more than 2 days since your last dose. It is generally recommended that you take it at approximately the same time and day each week.
  • Wegovy comes in a prefilled pen with 4 doses and is injected just below the skin. It is usually injected into the upper legs or stomach. You should try and administer it on a different site each time.
  • Be as consistent as you can and stick to your dosing and administration schedule to reduce some of the most common side effects.
  • If you are unsure about anything or have existing medical conditions, contact your healthcare provider for advice.

Diet and Exercise

A healthy diet and regular exercise are key components for losing weight and keeping it off.  Wegovy works more effectively when combined with a healthy lifestyle, and an exercise routine with cardio and strength training. These are regular habits that you should try and continue even after stopping taking Wegovy. For a healthy diet, we recommend the following:

  • Eat more fruit and vegetables – try to get your 5-a-day. These can be fresh, frozen, canned, or juiced. You can add fruit to your breakfast cereal, have juice or a smoothie, or add a salad to dinner.
  • Eat more fish – these are a good source of protein as well as vitamins and minerals. Aim for two portions of fish a week, with one portion of oily fish such as herring, trout, sardines or mackerel. 
  • Centre your meals around high-fibre starchy carbohydrates. Try wholegrains instead of refined, white carbohydrates. These will make you feel fuller for longer.
  • Drink more water – often when we feel hungry, we are really thirsty and water will satisfy us.
  • Reduce portion sizes – using smaller plates can help. A general guide is to have your protein be approximately the size of your palm, carbohydrates should be roughly the size of your fist, and your vegetables should be an open handful.
  • Eat less saturated fat – such as sausages, butter, and hard cheeses. It also includes cream, cakes, and cookies. You don’t have to cut these out altogether, it is recommended that men have no more than 30g saturated fat per day and women 20g per day. 
  • Eat less sugar – try to avoid anything with added sugar. Check those food labels! You might be surprised by how much sugar is in certain foods, like fizzy drinks, breakfast cereals, and alcoholic drinks. 
  • Eat less salt – again there may be more salt in foods than you expect so check food labels. It is recommended that you have no more than 6g salt per day.

Regular exercise should include both aerobic exercise and strength training. Cardio is important for fat burning and for your heart. 

Such exercises should raise your heart rate, make you sweat a bit, and leave you a little breathless, making it a little difficult to carry out a conversation with someone else while you are exercising. There are exercises that you can do at home or at the gym. Examples include:

  • Walking, either on a treadmill or get outside and enjoy nature
  • Running
  • Cycling, on an exercise bike or outside
  • Burpees
  • Dancing
  • Skipping
  • Climbing stairs

There are lots of options available that don’t require special equipment. There are plenty of games, apps and fitness videos that can help you find a regimen that works for you. 

Strength exercises can also be done at home without any equipment. You should start with gentle exercises and gradually build up your strength. Some exercises would include:

  • Standing up from a seated position using only your legs, not your arms
  • Squats can be done holding on to the back of a chair, gradually sinking deeper as you get stronger
  • Calf raises, lifting your heels off the floor as far as is comfortable
  • Press-ups can be done from a standing position with hands pressed against the wall
  • Planking helps strengthen your core
  • Bicep curls can be performed at the gym or at home. If you2 do not have weights, filled water bottles or tins of food can be used. 

There are also apps and resources online to help you find the exercises that suit you for improving your strength. 

Regular exercise is a good habit to start. Try linking it to another activity that you do, like watching a favourite TV programme, listening to music or a podcast. This will help exercise become routine and help you to adopt long-term lifestyle changes. 

Sleep is extremely important for your health. Exercise can help promote good sleeping habits. Other things to consider for good sleep hygiene include:

  • Your bedroom should be dark and used for sleep 
  • Avoiding caffeine later in the day
  • Blue light from phones and tablets can keep your brain active and make it harder to switch off and go to sleep
  • Routine is important
  • Herbal teas like camomile can be helpful
  • Meditation or mindfulness can help you relax and unwind

Regular Check-Ins

Linking in with your healthcare professional regularly enables you to monitor your progress and make any adjustments that may be necessary to either your dose of Wegovy or your exercise routine. It also allows you to ask any questions you may have.

Keeping a record of your food intake and exercise can be helpful. This can help identify any aspects that are not working for you and adjust and improve them. 

Recording your weight, BMI, and measurements of your waist, chest, upper arms, hips and thighs. Make sure to measure from the same spot each time. This will help you to see changes to your body, even if there are no major changes to your weight.

You may experience a weight loss plateau, where you see results initially but then the weight loss tapers off. Almost everyone trying to lose weight will reach a plateau at some point. The main thing is to be patient and persistent. 

Do not revert to old habits, no matter how tempting it seems. Link in with your healthcare professional and reassess your situation. You likely need to review your diet and increase the amount of exercise you are doing. You should aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week. 

Summary 

Wegovy (semaglutide) is a medication prescribed for weight loss for those who are overweight, with an increased body mass index. It works by reducing appetite and leaves you feeling fuller for longer. Some people may not be seeing the results they expected and there are several reasons for this. Wegovy is a medicine and should be treated as such. 

It is important to follow guidelines for taking it and to link in with your healthcare professional regularly. Weight loss with Wegovy is more effective if you adopt healthy eating habits and a regular exercise routine. These lifestyle changes will make you feel better, and any weight loss results should be celebrated.