Wegovy For Weight Loss

As you may know, obesity is a major ongoing public health concern. Being obese is linked to a whole range of health issues, such as high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and even cancer. In the last few years, there have been major advancements in the battle against obesity. Currently, a medication known as Wegovy is touted as a promising aid to help solve the obesity epidemic. 

If you’ve tried calorie counting, intermittent fasting, keto, or other popular diets with no success, you might be wondering whether Wegovy could be the right choice for you. This article will discuss the science behind Wegovy, its effectiveness, and its safety. 

What is Wegovy?

Wegovy is the brand name for a medication known as semaglutide. It mimics the action of a hormone in the body known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). This hormone plays an important role in controlling our blood sugar and appetite. By activating GLP-1 receptors, Wegovy does several different things that can promote weight loss: 

• Increases insulin release: Wegovy encourages the pancreas to release more insulin when blood sugar levels are high. Insulin helps lower blood sugar by allowing cells to absorb sugar and use it for energy
• Decreases glucagon production: Wegovy reduces the production of a hormone called glucagon. Glucagon’s job is to raise blood sugar levels by telling our liver to release stored sugar into the blood
• Slows stomach emptying: Wegovy slows down the speed at which the stomach empties its contents into the small intestine. This delay helps us feel fuller for longer, leading to lower calorie intake
• Reduces appetite: Wegovy can help reduce our appetite not only by keeping our food in our stomachs for longer but also by activating receptors in the brain, which have a direct role in reducing our appetite

When all of these actions are combined, Wegovy helps control our blood sugar levels and promotes weight loss. However, semaglutide medications like Wegovy were not initially designed to be weight loss drugs.¹

The journey of Wegovy – from diabetes to weight loss treatment

Semaglutide isn’t as new as you might think, and actually started life as a drug to treat type 2 diabetes in around 2012. It was designed to help patients control their blood sugar who hadn’t responded to first-line drugs, such as metformin. 

However, scientific trials of semaglutide began to show that diabetics who took the medication also lost weight, so researchers began to look into its potential as a weight-loss medication.

Perhaps the most important studies to date are known as the “STEP” studies (Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity). These studies have consistently shown that weight loss occurred in people with obesity who took semaglutide, even if they weren’t diabetic. 

The first STEP trial was published in early 2021 and showed that over 68 weeks, patients treated with 2.4mg of semaglutide a week (plus lifestyle changes) lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight, compared with only 2.4% body weight loss in those who only made lifestyle changes.²

Further trials looked into whether higher doses of semaglutide were more effective for weight loss than lower doses. For example, the STEP 2 trial showed that patients lost more weight on a 2.4mg dose of semaglutide in comparison to 1.0mg doses and placebo injections.³

Are there any side effects? 

As with any medication, there are side effects associated with the use of Wegovy. The most common ones experienced affect the gastrointestinal system (digestion) and include: 

• Reduced appetite
• Abdominal pain
• Burping
• Changes in bowel habits
• Nausea and vomiting^4,5

Other side effects may include:

• Low blood sugar (when Wegovy is used in combination with insulin or other diabetic medications)
• Fatigue
• Dizziness^4,5

Serious safety concerns

The surge in popularity of Wegovy has led to reports of a number of dangerous fake medications being sold online. The UK regulator warns of the potential for fatal consequences for those considering buying Wegovy and similar medications online without proper assessment and prescription from a healthcare professional. The serious side effects reported in those hospitalised, including severely low blood sugar (hypoglycaemic shock) and comas, suggest that the injection pens may contain insulin rather than semaglutide.⁶

So, if you are considering trying Wegovy for weight loss, it is imperative that you visit a doctor and obtain a prescription from a legitimate source. 

Does Wegovy work long-term for weight loss? 

Unfortunately, the answer is, not always. Some patients have been shown to regain a substantial amount of the weight lost on semaglutide medications during the first year after stopping treatment. Despite this, patients who take semaglutide tend to weigh less still than originally and have better health parameters than those who have not taken it at all in follow-up studies.⁷

However, the weight regained was highest in those who originally lost the most weight during treatment. This may reflect the greater potential for regaining weight after stopping treatment, which could be driven by both behavioural and physiological factors (e.g., diet and exercise).

It may well be the case that many patients need to stay on Wegovy long-term to achieve sustainable weight loss. Therefore, those looking to Wegovy for a quick and easy fix for their weight issues should be aware of this.⁸

Usage guidelines:

Who is eligible? 

The current guidance in the UK from the Department of Health and Social Care Media Centre is that Wegovy can only be prescribed to patients who have a BMI of more than 35kg/m2 (or, in exceptional cases, more than 30) and at least one weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure, heart disease or type 2 diabetes.

Because supplies of Wegovy are limited, it is imperative that type 2 diabetics who need Wegovy for their blood sugar control are able to access it. 

Who should not take Wegovy?

Some patients may have medical conditions that mean it is not safe to take Wegovy. For example, it should not be taken by those with a history of certain types of thyroid nodules and those with a family or personal history of multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN).⁴

Additionally, Wegovy can interact with other medications. In particular, those taking other diabetic medications, such as sulfonylureas, may be at higher risk of hypoglycaemia. 

If you are considering Wegovy or indeed any prescription medication, it's important to have a full consultation and examination with a physician to ensure that It is safe for you to take. 

Dosage and administration

Wegovy is administered subcutaneously (into the fat layer under the skin) by an injection pen device. Since patients usually do this themselves, it is important to be trained to do this by a qualified medical professional. 

Patients typically start with a small dose of 0.25 mg and gradually work up to the normal maintenance dose of 2.4mg a week. 

Duration of treatment

As mentioned above, it may be necessary to continue taking Wegovy long-term to achieve sustained weight loss, as many patients regain a lot of weight when stopping the medication. Additionally, it is currently recommended that those who have not achieved a 5% reduction in body weight after taking the medication for 6 months stop taking it. 

Diet and lifestyle

For those who are struggling with their weight, it may be tempting to reach for medications like Wegovy to help. However, relying solely on Wegovy for weight loss is not recommended. Those taking it should remember that consuming a healthy, balanced diet and remaining active is imperative for weight loss and in the prevention and management of weight-related health conditions.

Are there any alternatives to Wegovy?

Yes, there are a few medications coming onto the market, which are similar to Wegovy. The manufacturer of Wegovy has recently released some results of a study looking at the effect of an oral semaglutide medication, which has had promising results – those in the trial who took oral semaglutide saw on average a 15.1% reduction in body weight over the trial period. 

Summary

Wegovy is a promising aid to help with resolving the obesity epidemic, with thousands of patients, both with and without type 2 diabetes, seeing substantial weight loss with its use. However, whilst promising, people thinking about using Wegovy are advised to maintain a healthy lifestyle alongside using the medication for sustainable weight loss and to consider it as part of a long-term treatment plan rather than a quick fix. Also, they should only take Wegovy if recommended and prescribed by a licensed medical practitioner.