On June 4, 2021, the FDA approved the first new weight loss medication since 2014 – semaglutide 2.4 mg, also known as Wegovy®. Wegovy was the first once-weekly prescription medication approved for weight loss, until Zepbound was approved in November 2023. In clinical trials, Wegovy proved to be the most effective weight loss medication on the market. Patients lose an average of 15% of their initial body weight after 68 weeks of medication, reduced-calorie diet, and increased physical activity. Now that I have your attention, here’s what you need to know about this medication.
What is Wegovy (Semaglutide)?
Semaglutide, known by the brand name Wegovy, is a once-weekly injectable medication manufactured by Novo Nordisk for the treatment of obesity. It is available by prescription only for adults with obesity (BMI ≥30) or overweight (BMI ≥27) who also have weight-related medical problems. Wegovy is from a class of medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), which have been used for many years for the treatment of diabetes and, more recently, obesity. In fact, a lower dose of the same drug in Wegovy (semaglutide) is used to treat type 2 diabetes in an injectable form called Ozempic® and an oral form called Rybelsus®.
It is important to understand that Wegovy should not be used with these or other GLP-1 receptor agonists. It is not known if Wegovy can safely be used with other prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal weight loss products. If you have a history of pancreatitis, the safety of using Wegovy is unknown. Wegovy should not be used if you are pregnant or have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or some rare genetic syndromes.
How Does Wegovy (Semaglutide) Work?
Wegovy® mimics a hormone that we naturally produce called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). GLP-1 acts in many tissues of the body, including several areas of the brain that regulate our appetite. This helps you eat less, resulting in weight loss. Wegovy also works in the pancreas and other tissues to regulate blood sugar. This improves hemoglobin A1c levels for people with type 2 diabetes. Clinical trials have shown that Wegovy is also safe and effective for weight loss in people with obesity without diabetes.
Why People Use Wegovy (Semaglutide)
The results from the clinical trials of Wegovy are very exciting. The Wegovy clinical trials showed an average of 15% weight loss for people using Wegovy in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. This is the most weight loss we’ve seen from any weight loss medication to date. In fact, we have more recent data comparing Wegovy to Saxenda®, Novo Nordisk’s other GLP-1 used to treat obesity. Patients lost significantly more weight with Wegovy than they did with Saxenda – 15.8% versus 6.4%.
Additionally, persons taking Wegovy for weight loss have also experienced improvements with Wegovy for high cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. This helps reduce the burden of common complications of obesity like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. In patients with type 2 diabetes, semaglutide has also shown a reduction in cardiovascular events and mortality.
Patient Experiences with Wegovy
Dr. Kirsten Frederiksen, board-certified obesity medicine physician at FORM, has had a similar experience with her patients on Wegovy. She states, “My patients and I have been very pleased with the weight loss and improvement in related comorbidities we are seeing with Wegovy. This new formulation of injectable, once-weekly semaglutide has truly become a game changer for us as obesity medicine care providers .”
FORM Chief Medical Officer and board-certified obesity medicine physician Dr. Florencia Halperin felt similarly. She said “Wegovy has been an incredible addition to our toolbox to support patients in sustainable weight loss to improve their health. My patients have found significant appetite suppression and decrease in cravings. Wegovy makes it so much easier for them to stick with a healthy lifestyle. One thing that has amazed me is that even after 6-8 months of treatment, people are still actively losing weight!” And in a long-term clinical trial conducted by Novo Nordisk, persons taking Wegovy sustained this significant weight loss after 2 years of treatment. This is so important when we consider how common weight regain is for people who have successfully lost weight.
FORM patient Terri K. details her experience with Wegovy week by week including side effects and weight loss outcomes.
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Potential Side Effects of Wegovy (Semaglutide)
It’s always important to take safety and potential side effects into account when you are starting a new medication. The side effects of Wegovy are most commonly include
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Heartburn
- Stomach pain
- Headaches
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
- Gallbladder disease
- Other rare side effects
It is important to monitor for side effects and notify your prescriber immediately if you experience side effects while taking Wegovy. In clinical trials, only 6.8% of patients treated with Wegovy versus 3.2% of patients treated with placebo discontinued the medication due to adverse effects.
At FORM, board-certified and obesity-trained medical professionals work with a patient and their primary care provider. They will obtain a patient’s full medical history before prescribing Wegovy for weight loss. They also meet with patients monthly to ensure they are tolerating the medication prior to prescribing the next dose. The dose of Wegovy is typically increased monthly in order to minimize side effects. This will also improve the chances that someone can take it long term. However, the prescribing medical professional can delay increasing the dose for up to four weeks if a patient is experiencing side effects from the medication. By checking in with patients monthly, FORM providers can keep a close eye on their patients. If necessary, they can adjust the dosing schedule as needed to improve tolerance.
How Does Wegovy Work at FORM?
FORM obesity specialists have extensive experience using medications like Wegovy® to help patients lose weight and improve their health. All FORM patients undergo a comprehensive medical evaluation, including laboratory studies, and participate in frequent visits with a Registered Dietitian. Your Registered Dietitian will provide a nutrition plan, accountability, and support for long-term behavior change that promotes weight loss. The decision to start Wegovy is shared between the obesity medicine specialist and the patient. This decision is based on their past medical history, current medications, and insurance coverage.
When Wegovy is prescribed to a patient, it’s combined with healthy lifestyle changes and mindset shifts that promote long-term success. Patients receive ongoing counseling and support from their medical team and Registered Dietitian delivered via a telehealth platform. They are monitored closely to confirm they are tolerating the medication and that it is having the desired weight loss effect. If so, the medication is continued along with healthy lifestyle changes in order to help patients continue losing weight and ultimately, keep it off.
Getting Expert Medical Weight Loss Care at FORM
Are you interested in working with experts who can help you reach your weight loss goal? Then give FORM a try! Our insurance-covered medical weight loss program uses tools like nutrition, physical activity, mindset shifts and FDA-approved medication, if appropriate. This creates a comprehensive weight loss program that will help you lose weight and improve your health.
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Wegovy®, Ozempic®, and Rybelsus® are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S
