In this Article:
01: How much weight can I expect to lose? 02: What happens if I lose weight too quickly? 03: What if I’m not seeing the results I want? 04: How can I track my progress? 05: Moving on to a maintenance dosage 06: Stopping your weight loss treatment 07: Advice and information to support weight lossHow much weight can I expect to lose?
A healthy rate of weight loss when taking Wegovy is 1-2 pounds each week. After 15 months of treatment, adults with obesity who took part in clinical trials lost, on average, 15% of their starting body weight. This should help to give an estimate of what you could expect to lose if you choose to continue your Wegovy treatment for 1 year+.
What happens if I lose weight too quickly?
It’s not unusual to want to see results as quickly as possible. However rapid weight loss of more than 1-2 pounds per week over a period of time can cause health complications, increasing your risk of;
Gallstones
Muscle wastage
A slower metabolism
Malnutrition
Weakened immune system
Extreme tiredness
Weak or brittle bones
To protect against these possible health risks, ensure you consume at least 1,900kcal per day (males) or 1,400kcal if you’re female. Include plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and good protein sources for adequate nutritional intake, and balance your healthy diet with regular physical activity for safe, effective weight loss.
Initial weight loss may exceed 1-2 pounds in the first few weeks of treatment. This is normal and should level out as the body uses up its glycogen reserves. If your weight loss continues to exceed the healthy rate of 1-2 pounds, consult your doctor.
What if I’m not seeing the results I want?
Wegovy can take time to work, and everyone’s experience will vary slightly depending on their individual circumstances. However, there are things you can do to encourage a healthy rate of weight loss and support Wegovy's effectiveness.
Reduce your calorie intake
Men should aim for 1,900kcal per day, women should aim for 1,400kcal daily.
Choose wholegrain carbs
Opt for wholegrain pasta, rice, and bread when you can.
Explore protein sources
Beans and pulses provide an alternative source to meat and fish. If your diet allows fish, try to have 2 servings each week.
Stay hydrated
6-8 cups of fluid is the recommended daily intake. Water’s best but tea, coffee, and soup count too.
Other dietary tips include:
Limiting your dairy intake, choosing low-fat, reduced sugar options when you can.
Aim for two portions of vegetables with your main meal each day.
Swap your butter for a low-fat spread.
When you’re cooking with oil, options like olive, sunflower, and rapeseed are healthier options thanks to their unsaturated fat content.
For more guidance, our healthy eating for weight loss guide outlines tools and techniques, along with links to healthy recipe inspiration from the NHS.
How can I track my progress?
A BMI calculator is used to determine your Body Mass Index, using your age, height, and gender. You will have provided this as part of your consultation with our clinician before being approved for your weight loss treatment.
As part of your goal setting, our BMI calculator can be a valuable tool to help you track your progress. As you lose weight, your BMI should come down. A healthy BMI range for most adults is between 18.5 and 24.9.
Remember, it's not about losing weight quickly. Combining your Wegovy Pen with exercise and a healthy, balanced diet will help to reduce the risk of health complications and set you up to maintain a sustainable weight.
Our Health Hub offers guidance, support, and inspiration to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle which will help maximise the results of your weight loss treatment.
Read our article on Healthy eating for weight loss and our article about Simple ways to get active .
Moving on to a maintenance dosage
If you’re happy with your results and you have entered your healthy BMI range (between the upper and lower levels of your healthy BMI target), you might want to consider a maintenance dosage.
Stopping your weight loss treatment
Everybody’s weight loss journey is individual to them. So once you reach your target weight and are in your healthy BMI range (as determined by your clinician), or if you’ve experienced side effects, are thinking about affordability, or don’t feel it’s right for you anymore, you may want to come off your treatment.
But what happens once you’ve stopped taking your weight loss medication? This article outlines what you need to know to support sustainable weight management after your treatment and what to do if you want to stop treatment.
