Weight Loss with Wegovy: Benefits, Results, and Patient Guide
Table of Contents:
- Introduction: What is Wegovy?
- How Wegovy Works: Unleashing Your Body's Natural Potential
- What to expect with Wegovy
- Beyond Weight Loss: Wegovy's Health Benefits
- Important Considerations Before Starting Wegovy
- Your Personalized Wegovy Journey
Introduction: What is Wegovy?
Losing weight can be a long and challenging journey for many. Even when you're doing everything right, following diets and workouts like clockwork, it may not give satisfactory results sometimes.
However, advancements in science have opened new approaches for those struggling with obesity and overweight to achieve a healthier life. Wegovy is leading this breakthrough as a weekly injection that provides convenient and effective support for weight loss when used alongside a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Approved by the U.S. FDA on June 4, 2021, for chronic weight management and later for cardiovascular risk reduction, Wegovy has also been introduced for treatment of obesity in Japan in February 2024 (SD formulation) and July 2025 (MD formulation).1,2
With over 3 years of use since approval, Wegovy has a more comprehensive safety and efficacy track record than newer agents, making it a trusted choice for long-term weight management. It's recent approval for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) highlights its benefits across multiple organ systems.
How Wegovy Works: Unleashing Your Body's Natural Potential
Wegovy's active ingredient, semaglutide, works by mimicking the action of a natural hormone in your body called Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1).3 This hormone plays a crucial role in regulating appetite and feelings of fullness.3
Wegovy primarily promotes weight loss in three key ways:
- Suppressing Appetite and Promoting Fullness:
By activating GLP-1 receptors in the brain, Wegovy helps to reduce hunger, curb cravings, and increase feelings of satiety. This naturally leads to a reduction in food intake.3 - Slowing Gastric Emptying:
It slows down the movement of food from your stomach to your intestines, which helps you feel fuller for longer and prevents overeating.3 - Supporting Blood Sugar Levels:
Primarily known for its role in diabetes treatment, GLP-1 also helps stimulate insulin release and stabilize blood sugar levels. This indirectly contributes to weight management by supporting overall metabolic health.3
Together, these actions help Wegovy reduce caloric intake and lead to effective weight loss. It's a modern approach that doesn't just burn fat but addresses the fundamental physiological drivers of appetite and satiety.
In clinical trials, participants on Wegovy achieved a mean weight loss of 14.9% to 17.4% over 68 weeks. A substantial number of individuals saw even more dramatic results, with 69% to 79% of participants losing at least 10% of their body weight, and 51% to 64% losing 15% or more.4
What to Expect with Wegovy
In clinical trials, participants on Wegovy achieved a mean weight loss of 14.9% to 17.4% over 68 weeks. A substantial number of individuals saw even more dramatic results, with 69% to 79% of participants losing at least 10% of their body weight, and 51% to 64% losing 15% or more.4
In clinical trials, participants on Wegovy achieved a mean weight loss of 14.9% to 17.4% over 68 weeks. A substantial number of individuals saw even more dramatic results, with 69% to 79% of participants losing at least 10% of their body weight, and 51% to 64% losing 15% or more.4
These results are much higher than those seen in the placebo groups.
While results can vary based on factors such as individual metabolism, diet, and physical activity, consistency with the GLP-1 treatment plan will be crucial for sustainable results.
Beyond Weight Loss: Wegovy's Health Benefits
While weight loss is the primary goal of Wegovy, clinical trials have shown far more significant health improvements in vital organs that go beyond just the number on the scale:
- Heart: In the landmark SELECT trial, Wegovy demonstrated a 20% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events like heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death, in adults with established cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity, with benefits appearing as early as 3 weeks and independent of significant weight loss.5
- Kidneys: Recent research highlights semaglutide's potential to protect kidney health, showing a 24% lower chance of major kidney disease events and distinct mechanisms from other kidney-protective drugs.6
- Liver: Wegovy has demonstrated effectiveness in treating conditions like MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis), formerly known as NASH, and was recently approved by the FDA for treatment in adults with MASH.7,11
- Brain: As semaglutide modulates the brain's reward system to suppress appetite and reduce the reward from food, it may also modulate the craving for and perception of reward from substances like alcohol and nicotine.10 Ongoing research is also exploring its potential to slow the clinical progression of early Alzheimer's disease.
Clinical studies conducted over the years on Semaglutide suggest its diverse health benefits across various organ systems and disease pathways.
Important Considerations Before Starting Wegovy
As with any medication, Wegovy comes with potential side effects. Most are mild and transient, but there are some risks to be aware of:
- Common Side Effects: Nausea Diarrhea Constipation Headache 8,4,
- Rare But Serious Risks: Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) Gallbladder issues Thyroid tumors (observed in animal studies) Increased heart rate8,4,
To minimize side effects, starting with a lower dose and gradually increasing it can help the body adjust.
Wegovy: who should take it, who should not
Ideal candidates
- Adults with a BMI of 30 or higher (obesity)
- Adults with a BMI of 27 or higher + at least one weight-related condition (e.g. type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure)
- Individuals who have struggled to lose weight through diet and exercise alone
Not suited for
- Individuals with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma
- Individuals with MEN 2 syndrome (a rare inherited condition)
- Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
Always consult a healthcare provider before starting Wegovy, as it may not be suitable for everyone.
Your Personalized Wegovy Journey
Wegovy is most effective when combined with a comprehensive health strategy. This includes consistent dietary modifications, regular physical activity, and medical supervision.9
At elife Clinic, we can provide the online medical guidance throughout your weight loss journey with Wegovy. Our doctors can prescribe the appropriate dose for you and assist with dose adjustments in the future as needed. Our medical counselors can guide you with the necessary medical or dietary advice whenever required.
Please check details about Wegovy here.
References
1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024, March 8). FDA Approves First Treatment to Reduce Risk of Serious Heart Problems Specifically in Adults with Obesity or Overweight [Press release]. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-treatment-reduce-risk-serious-heart-problems-specifically-adults-obesity-or
2. Novo Nordisk. (2024, February 22). Prescription for obesity treatment drug Wegovy begins in Japan. FirstWord Pharma. https://firstwordpharma.com/story/5830075
3. Kommu, S., & Whitfield, P. (2025). Semaglutide. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK603723/
4. Wilding, J. P. H., Batterham, R. L., Calanna, S., Davies, M., Van Gaal, L. F., et al. (2021). Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. The New England Journal of Medicine, 384(11), 989-1002. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
5. Lincoff, A. M., Brown-Frandsen, K., Colhoun, H. M., et al. (2023). Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes. The New England Journal of Medicine, 389(24), 2221-2232.
6. Mann, J. F. E., Ørsted, D. D., Sattar, N., et al. (2024). Semaglutide in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease. The New England Journal of Medicine, 391(2), 110-120. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2403347 https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2307563
7. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2025, August 15). FDA Approves Treatment for Serious Liver Disease Known as 'MASH' [Press release]. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/news-events-human-drugs/fda-approves-treatment-serious-liver-disease-known-mash
8. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2025). WEGOVY (semaglutide) injection, for subcutaneous use [Prescribing Information]. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/215256s007lbl.pdf
9. Novo Nordisk. (2025). Chronic Weight Management Trial Results | Wegovy® (semaglutide). Novo Nordisk Portal. https://pro.novonordisk.co.uk/products/wegovy/efficacy/weight-management-adults.html
10. Hendershot, C. S., Bremmer, M. P., Paladino, M. B., Kostantinis, G., Gilmore, T. A., Sullivan, N. R., Tow, A. C., Dermody, S. S., Prince, M. A., Jordan, R., McKee, S. A., Fletcher, P. J., Claus, E. D., & Klein, K. R. (2025). Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults With Alcohol Use Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 82(4), 395-405. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.4789
11. Sanyal, A. J., Newsome, P. N., Kliers, I., Østergaard, L. H., Long, M. T., Kær, M. S., Cali, A. M. G., Bugianesi, E., Rinella, M. E., Roden, M., & Ratziu, V. (2025). Phase 3 Trial of Semaglutide in Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatohepatitis. The New England Journal of Medicine, 392(21), 2089–2099. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2413258
To allow our costumers to focus only on their treatment, we handle every step of the process online:
Book online
Create an account, answer a short medical questionnaire, and talk directly to a counselor, or book an appointment.
Consult a doctor
After a one-on-one counseling session, the doctor will provide an online consultation via smartphone.
Receive your medication
Discreet packaging, delivered the next day right to your doorstep.*
*The medication will only be delivered if prescribed by a doctor during the consultation.
