If you’ve been struggling with your weight for a while, you understand that it can sometimes feel impossible to overcome. It can feel like you’ve tried everything, but nothing seems to stick. Chronic obesity is a disease much like any other, and it should be treated as such. A growing awareness of this mindset explains the rise of weight loss injections such as Wegovy. But how does Wegovy work?
This blog will explain what Wegovy is and how it works, along with highlighting some alternative treatment options so you can feel confident about the next weight management steps.
What is Wegovy?
Wegovy is a prescription drug with the active ingredient semaglutide, developed by Novo Nordisk. It’s prescribed by doctors as a solution for chronic weight management, to be used alongside a calorie-reduced diet and an increase in physical activity. It’s essentially the same as Ozempic, but Ozempic is now mostly prescribed for type-2 diabetes and Wegovy is prescribed for weight loss and cardiovascular health support.
How does Wegovy work for weight loss?
Semaglutide works by mimicking the action of the natural bodily hormone Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1). This hormone plays a significant role in metabolism and appetite regulation. The introduction of Semaglutide essentially helps people to feel full, so they eat less and lose weight.
Appetite receptors in the brain
GLP-1 receptors in the brain are some of the primary parts used for regulating appetite and food intake. Wegovy activates these receptors, helping to increase feelings of fullness, therefore reducing hunger and cravings. In turn, you should eat less and start to lose weight.
Slowing down stomach emptying
Wegovy doesn’t just work by activating the brain. It also slows down the rate at which food leaves your stomach and moves along through your intestines. This furthers the increased feeling of fullness, aiding with reduced consumption.
Blood sugar regulation
It’s important to note that semaglutide is also prescribed for type-2 diabetes as Ozempic. Wegovy will similarly stimulate insulin release and suppress glucagon secretion, helping to keep blood sugar from spiking.
How is Wegovy administered?
Once prescribed, Wegovy is administered with weekly injections that can be completed at home with a pen. Doses are gradually increased over several weeks until the right dose is landed on for the patient. The gradual increase is to minimise any negative side effects.
How long does Wegovy take to work?
There’s no exact science as to how long it takes for Wegovy to work as every human body is different and reacts to treatment differently. However, many patients report results of weight loss within only a few weeks. Over months of consistency, patients see significant reductions in body weight.
It’s not a miracle cure
How quickly does Wegovy work if you don’t put in the effort? Not very. It’s not a miracle obesity cure; it needs to be approached with a commitment to reducing calories and increasing physical exercise.
If you’re interested in taking the route of Wegovy or Wegovy alternatives like Mounjaro or Orlistat, you need to consult with your doctor to see if medication is the right path. Why not use our BMI calculator as the first step? It will give you more information to take to your first appointment.
