At Levity, we believe it's important for you to feel empowered and informed at every stage of your weight loss journey — especially before starting a weight loss medication. Wegovy is one of the most popular weight loss injections currently available, so we've created this guide to help you understand how it can help you reach your weight loss goals, who it's suitable for and how you can get started.
Wegovy is a prescription medication that contains the active ingredient semaglutide. Initially developed to treat people with type 2 diabetes, it's now gaining attention for its impact on weight loss. Semaglutide belongs to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which mimic a hormone called GLP-1 in your body that regulates blood sugar and appetite.
Clinical trials have found that, combined with a healthy diet and increased physical activity, Wegovy can help you lose up to 15% of your body weight.** [1]
Wegovy helps you lose weight in three key ways:
Before starting Wegovy, the first crucial step is consulting a healthcare professional. Wegovy is a prescription drug, so it can only be prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider. They'll assess your medical history and health status to determine if Wegovy is suitable for you. At Levity, we have qualified clinicians and prescribers who review your consultation to determine whether Wegovy is the right treatment for your needs and goals.
Not everyone is eligible for Wegovy, and criteria may vary based on health conditions. It's prescribed for individuals with a BMI of 27 or higher, with at least one weight-related condition, including cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. It may also be considered for those with a BMI of 30 or higher without a weight-related medical condition.
Wegovy is taken as a weekly dose via subcutaneous injection, meaning it's injected into the layer of fatty tissue under your skin. You’ll receive proper self-injection guidance within the patient information leaflet that arrives with your treatment. You can also read an in-depth post about how to inject Wegovy on our blog. It's essential that you're comfortable with the self-injection process and address any concerns with your clinical team before starting treatment.
Each pre-filled pen contains four doses of Wegovy. You start with the lowest dose of Wegovy (0.25 mg) and increase your dosage every four weeks. Once you're in week 17 of your treatment plan, you'll begin a maintenance dose.
Like any medication, Wegovy may also cause side effects. These include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, heartburn and fatigue. Here are some tips you can follow to alleviate these symptoms, if you experience them:
For more information, read our dedicated blog post.
If you have any concerns about your side effects, you can reach out to your clinical team at any time for tailored advice. It's vital that you monitor any symptoms you experience and, if they're persistent or particularly severe, contact a member of your clinical team for advice.
Serious side effects are rare, but it’s important to know what to do just in case.
If you experience severe vomiting or diarrhoea causing dehydration, dizziness, or an inability to keep fluids down, please go to A&E immediately. For intense pain under your right rib or abdominal pain that spreads to your back, especially with nausea or vomiting, call 999.
If you notice any signs of an allergic reaction, such as swelling in your face, difficulty breathing, severe itching or a rapid heartbeat, seek urgent medical help. Once safe, please notify your clinical team.
Wegovy is most effective when combined with healthy lifestyle changes. Adopting a reduced-calorie diet, regular exercise, and sufficient sleep can enhance your weight loss. Regular monitoring is also crucial. Your clinical team will schedule follow-ups to track your progress, assess side effects, and adjust your treatment plan, if needed.
Remember: weight loss is a journey with milestones, big and small. Celebrate your achievements, regardless of size, to maintain motivation, and approach Wegovy with realistic expectations. Although it’s shown significant weight loss in clinical trials, individual results may vary. Weight loss is gradual, and factors like diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes all contribute to its effectiveness.
Ready to find out what you could achieve? Visit our website to find out what treatment is suitable for you here.
**In clinical trials, participants lost 15% of their body weight, on average, after 68 weeks of treatment.
1. Chronic Weight Results | Wegovy® (semaglutide) injection 2.4 mg [Internet]. novoMEDLINK. 2023 [cited 2024 Oct 11]. Available from: https://www.novomedlink.com/obesity/products/treatments/wegovy/efficacy-safety/chronic-weight-management.html#wegovy-and-significant-weight-loss
2. Blundell J, Finlayson G, Axelsen M, Flint A, Gibbons C, Kvist T, et al. Effects of once‐weekly semaglutide on appetite, energy intake, control of eating, food preference and body weight in subjects with obesity. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism [Internet]. 2017 May 5;19(9):1242–51. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573908/
3. Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. The New England Journal of Medicine [Internet]. 2021 Feb 10;384(11):989–1002. Available from: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
4. Garvey WT, Batterham RL, Bhatta M, Buscemi S, Christensen LN, Frias JP, et al. Two-year effects of semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity: the STEP 5 trial. Nature Medicine [Internet]. 2022 Oct 1;28(10):2083–91. Available from: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-02026-4
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