People typically use Wegovy (semaglutide) long-term for weight loss and weight management. This often depends on how effective a person finds it and whether they can tolerate its side effects.
Among other indications, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Wegovy for weight loss and weight management in:
- adults and children ages 12 years and older with obesity
- adults who are overweight and have at least one weight-related health condition
Doctors prescribe Wegovy in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for these indications.
Stopping Wegovy can sometimes lead to weight gain, so many people use it long-term as a weight management strategy.
This article looks at how long a person can take Wegovy for weight loss, what results they might have, and what happens if they stop using it.
Wegovy is available as a once-weekly injection or once-daily tablet.
Wegovy injection
A person injects Wegovy into the abdomen, upper arm, or thigh once per week on the same day each week. The injection can be administered at any time of day, with or without food.
The recommended starting dose for Wegovy injection is 0.25 milligrams (mg). A person uses this dosage for the first 4 weeks of treatment.
Starting at this dosage reduces the risk of side effects from Wegovy. If a person tolerates the initial dose, their doctor may gradually increase the dosage. The table below shows how the dosage may increase.
| Weeks | Dosage of Wegovy injection |
|---|---|
| 1 through 4 | 0.25 mg |
| 5 through 8 | 0.5 mg |
| 9 through 12 | 1 mg |
| 3 through 16 | 1.7 mg |
| 17 onward | 2.4 mg (typical maintenance dosage) |
The typical maintenance (long-term) dosage of Wegovy can be up to 2.4 mg once per week. A doctor will prescribe a maintenance regimen at the dose that helped a person reach their goal weight. For some people, the maintenance dosage may be 2.4 mg once per week. For others, it may be 1.7 mg once per week.
Wegovy tablet
The starting dosage of Wegovy tablets is 1.5 mg once daily for the first 30 days. To reduce the risk of gastrointestinal issues, a person can gradually increase their dosage, as shown in the table below.
| Days | Dosage of Wegovy tablets |
|---|---|
| 1 through 30 | 1.5 mg |
| 31 through 60 | 4 mg |
| 61 through 90 | 9 mg |
| 91 onward | 25 mg (typical maintenance dosage) |
The typical maintenance dosage of 25 mg once daily may not be right for everyone. If it causes stomach and digestive side effects that are difficult to tolerate, a doctor may recommend switching to the Wegovy 1.7 mg weekly injection.
Research has shown that Wegovy is effective for most people who use it for weight loss.
First-month results
A 2021 study found that, on average, people lost more than 2% of their body weight in the first 4 weeks of using semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy). For example, if a person weighs 200 pounds (lb), a 2% reduction in body weight means they would lose 5 lb.
The amount of weight a person loses with Wegovy and how fast they lose it varies from person to person.
Long-term results
A
After 2 years, almost 68% of participants had lost 5% or more of their body weight, and around 44% had lost 10% or more. Researchers compared this data with 21.3% and 6.9% of participants who used a placebo, respectively. A smaller percentage of participants had lost 15% to 25% of their weight or more at this point in the trial.
Semaglutide also reduced major cardiovascular events — including heart attack and worsening of heart failure — by 20% in people without diabetes who had cardiovascular disease, overweight, or obesity.
How much weight can you lose with Wegovy?
In clinical trials, most people taking 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg doses of Wegovy had lost 5% to 15% of their body weight after 68 weeks of treatment.
In a small
Yes, people can continue losing weight while on a maintenance dose of Wegovy.
The maintenance dose of Wegovy injection is up to 2.4 mg once per week.
The maintenance dose of Wegovy tablet is 25 mg once per day.
A person can stay on their maintenance dose long term if the drug is effective and a person can tolerate its side effects.
Ways to increase weight loss with Wegovy
Here are five ways to increase weight loss while using Wegovy:
- Reduce calorie intake: Reducing your calorie intake by
500 calories per day may support weight loss. - Increase your physical activity: Aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week can help increase weight loss.
- Eat nutrient-dense foods: Nutrient-dense foods provide important vitamins and minerals and are lower in added sugars, saturated fats, and salt. Nutrient-dense foods help provide your body with the nutrients it needs without excess calories.
- Manage stress: Stress
can change food intake and fat storage, potentially leading to weight gain. Finding healthy ways to manage stress may support weight loss. - Get quality sleep: Inadequate sleep
may increase the risk of obesity and increase energy intake. Getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep may help with weight loss.
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Possible reasons for not losing weight using Wegovy include:
- Reaching a plateau: After an initial weight loss, a plateau may occur at roughly
60 weeks (1 year and 2 months) of treatment. - Needing to give it more time: Significant weight loss with Wegovy is gradual. It can take more than a year to lose almost 15% of a person’s weight with the highest dosage.
- Taking other medications: Other medications, such as beta-blockers, some diabetes drugs, and antipsychotics, may cause weight gain.
If a person is using Wegovy and not losing weight, they can talk with their doctor about factors that could be preventing weight loss. In some cases, a doctor may suggest changing the Wegovy dosage or taking a different weight loss drug, such as tirzepatide (Zepbound).
Medical Perspective“Variety may be one key to overcoming a weight loss plateau. Reevaluating your diet and changing up your workout routine may help you break through the plateau and support your weight loss goals.”
— Jillian Foglesong Stabile MD, FAAFP, DABOM
Learn what to do about a weight loss plateau.
Quotes represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.
Discover more about Wegovy
Wegovy is a long-term treatment for weight loss that a person can use as long as they are able to safely manage any side effects.
A doctor may gradually increase a person’s dosage until they reach a maintenance dose. This is the dose they will keep taking to sustain weight loss.
If a person wants to stop Wegovy, they can talk with their doctor about how to do so safely. To help prevent weight regain, it is important to maintain healthy lifestyle choices.
Disclaimer: While Medical News Today strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses. Learn more about our approach to content integrity.