How Long Does It Take for Wegovy to Work?

When considering taking a weight loss medication — or any medication — it’s normal to wonder when the effects will kick in.

So, how long does it take for Wegovy® to work? There isn’t a straightforward answer to that. Wegovy is a GLP-1 receptor agonist weight loss drug that works by suppressing appetite and helping you feel fuller. You might feel these effects within the first week, but it could take a few weeks or months to notice the full effects and see changes in your weight.

We’ll dive more into when Wegovy starts working for weight loss, how fast you can expect to see changes in your weight, and how to tell if the drug is working.

“During the studies on Wegovy, the patient’s on the drug weight started to differ from the patients not on the drug in the first weeks of taking it.   That being said, weight loss is a process and it takes dietary change, activity and sleep along with medications to achieve lasting weight loss “ Craig Primack MD

Wegovy gets to work as soon as you inject it, reaching its maximum concentration in the body in one to three days. It might take a few days or longer to notice some of the effects — like a lower appetite, fewer cravings, and feeling fuller after eating.

From here, it may take a few weeks to start noticing weight loss. Significant weight loss and health improvements should come in the following months (or years) as you continue taking Wegovy injections.

All that said, there isn’t a guaranteed timeframe for when Wegovy will start working for you — and patience is key. But clinical trials suggest you might see weight loss after a month of taking the medication.

Research on Wegovy Weight Loss Timeline

A 2021 study funded by Novo Nordisk — the manufacturer of Ozempic® and Wegovy — looked at almost 2,000 adults with either a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more or 27 or more with a weight-related condition that wasn’t diabetes.

Participants took Wegovy or a placebo for 68 weeks and made lifestyle changes (like eating nutritious foods and moving more).

The Wegovy group lost about two percent of their body weight by week four of the study. This continued for the remaining 64 weeks of the experiment. Week four was the first check-in, though, so it’s unclear when exactly participants first experienced weight loss.

FYI, Ozempic is approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) for type 2 diabetes, but it’s sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss. Wegovy is FDA-approved for those with excess weight or obesity.

Just to hammer it home, there isn’t a set weight loss timeline that everyone taking Wegovy will experience. The medication can affect people differently, and many factors impact how quickly you lose weight.

Plus, weight loss is a long game. It might be better to focus on the healthy habits you’re building and the steps you’re taking toward better health rather than worrying about when you’ll start seeing results.

However, if you want a rough idea of numbers, here’s how it might go down. According to the 2021 study we mentioned above, average weight loss for people taking Wegovy and making lifestyle changes was:

• Two percent of their body weight by week four

• Four percent of their body weight by week eight

• Six percent of their body weight by week 12

• 10 percent of their body weight by week 20

• 15 percent of their body weight by the one-year mark

Check out our guide to how long you can take semaglutide for weight loss to learn more about long-term weight loss changes. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in brand-name Wegovy, BTW.

Once again, there are no set guidelines here. You might start noticing the effects of your first Wegovy shot within a few days, or it may take a few weeks of shots to feel a noticeable difference.

This isn’t just your weight. Before seeing weight loss results, you may notice:

• A reduced appetite

• More feelings of fullness (or feeling fuller sooner)

• Less food noise

• Fewer cravings

Be patient, though. It can take a little while for your body to adjust and for Wegovy to build up in your system enough for these effects to kick in.

If you’re still hungry on semaglutide, our guide has advice on what to do.

Several factors affect how quickly Wegovy works for weight loss, making everyone’s weight loss journey look a little different.

Here’s what can impact your Wegovy weight loss timeline.

Your Individual Response to the Medication

Medication affects everyone differently — weight loss drugs included. How quickly Wegovy promotes weight loss will vary from person to person.

This can depend on your genetics, health conditions, medical history, starting weight, and other prescription medications you might be taking.

Your Wegovy Dose

Your prescribing healthcare provider will probably get you started on a low dose of Wegovy that gradually increases over time. This could be a 0.25 milligram (mg) dose that slowly increases every four weeks until you’re on the maintenance dose of 2.4 milligrams.

You might not notice any effects while taking the lower dose, but the medication may start to work more as your dose increases. If you experience troubling side effects, your provider might keep you on a lower dose for longer, which can affect how quickly Wegovy works overall.

Learn about the common side effects of semaglutide in our blog.

If You Forget to Take Wegovy

Life happens, but if you regularly miss doses of Wegovy, it’ll take longer for the drug to build up in your system and work.

Lifestyle Changes You Make

Wegovy is usually prescribed alongside lifestyle changes. The changes you make affect how quickly you lose weight on Wegovy.

The food you eat, how much of a calorie deficit you’re in, how much physical activity you’re getting, how well you’re sleeping, and how stressed you are (among other things) all play a part in weight loss.

What You’re Looking For

Technically, Wegovy starts working as soon as you inject it. You may notice appetite-suppressing effects within a few days, initial weight loss after a few weeks, and significant steps toward your weight loss goals in a few months.

Changes in blood sugar levels or heart health would happen at different rates, too. It all depends on what your goals are and what you’re taking the drug for.

Medication aside, we’ve covered more factors that can affect your weight loss timeline.

There’s no solid number for how fast you can lose weight when taking Wegovy. As mentioned above, the drug affects everyone differently, and how quickly you lose weight depends on a variety of factors.

As for how fast is safe and realistic, it’s recommended you lose one to two pounds of weight a week to help you keep the weight off in the long run. Other advice suggests that losing five to 10 percent of your body weight within the first six months is a realistic goal.

Rapid weight loss can cause muscle loss, so make sure you’re eating plenty of protein and strength training to counteract this (both of which are helpful with any rate of weight loss!).

A healthcare professional can give you more advice on a realistic goal weight and a rate of weight loss that’s safe for you.

It’s normal to want to know exactly what’s going to happen when you start taking weight loss medication, but Wegovy doesn’t come with a roadmap. Medication — Wegovy included — affects us all differently.

Here’s a final rundown of what you might experience on Wegovy:

• You might feel some effects in the first week. This can include less hunger, feeling fuller for longer, fewer cravings, and less food noise, eventually resulting in a lower food intake. Wegovy technically starts working as soon as you inject it. Don’t panic if these effects take a while to kick in, though.

• You might notice weight loss in the first month. Studies suggest people lose weight within their first four weeks of taking Wegovy.

• You might notice significant weight loss in a few months. As your dose increases over time and you continue your Wegovy treatment and lifestyle changes, you may experience steady weight loss over the next few months or years.

Wegovy works long-term, too. It can help with chronic weight management after you’ve achieved your goal weight.

Interested in other weight loss treatments? We’ve covered how long it takes metformin to work.

If you’re considering medical weight loss, you can take our free weight loss assessment. A licensed healthcare provider will go over your answers and let you know if you’re a good candidate and which medication, such as Wegovy or compounded semaglutide, could work best for you.