What Is Wegovy? Doctors Explain the Injectable Weight-Loss Drug

You might not have heard a ton about Wegovy, but that doesn’t make it any less effective for weight loss. While medications like Ozempic originally dominated the weight-loss space, Wegovy is another injectable prescription weight-loss drug worth knowing about. When properly prescribed, it’s been shown to help people lose weight and keep it off, with Wegovy’s longest running clinical trial showing people were able to sustain their weight loss for up to four years. Wegovy has also been shown to improve blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels, and even lower the risk of heart events.

With an estimated 25,000 people in the US starting Wegovy per week (per its pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk), the use of GLP-1s for weight loss is becoming increasingly common — and that’s not necessarily a good thing. While medications like Wegovy can serve a very important purpose for some people, they also come with certain risks and side effects. To find out more, we asked doctors to give us the full rundown on Wegovy, including how it works, who it’s best for, and whether or not it’s worth the side effects.

Experts Featured in This Article:

Chisom A. Ikeji, MD, is a doctor of internal medicine and an assistant professor of critical care medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.

What Is Wegovy?

Similar to other injectable weight-loss medications, Wegovy’s active ingredient is semaglutide, which is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (aka a GLP-1). In people with type 2 diabetes, semaglutide increases insulin, which can help with digestion. But, as previously explained to PS, semaglutide also boosts satiety, delaying stomach emptying and making you feel full for longer. Consequently, when coupled with the appropriate lifestyle changes, it can also help with weight loss.

Who Is Wegovy For?

Speaking within the context of weight loss, Wegovy has proven to be a highly effective option. For weight loss specifically, Wegovy is for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, as well as those with a BMI of 27 or above who also have a weight-related medical condition (such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol). For optimal results, Wegovy is meant to be used in conjunction with a meal plan and appropriate physical activity. As a note, although it’s still used for prescription purposes, we know that BMI is a fairly problematic metric, and usually not the best indicator of overall health.

How Does Wegovy Work?

Wegovy comes in five different dose strengths, and it takes about five months to build up to the full dosage. You inject it yourself at home once a week (using a single-use pen), starting off with 0.25 mg once a week and gradually increasing the dose every four weeks to prevent gastrointestinal distress. The full dose is 2.4 mg, and weight loss is thought to continue for over a year (65 months to be exact).

How Much Weight Have People Lost Taking Wegovy?

The FDA officially approved Wegovy for weight loss in June of 2021. Since then, the same clinical study found that users have lost about 10 percent of their initial body weight on average (although results vary). In a previous study of 1,961 adults with an average weight of 232 pounds, the average participants lost 35 pounds after 68 weeks on Wegovy (that’s about 15 percent of their total bodyweight).

Common Side Effects of Wegovy

According to the Wegovy website, common side effects may include:

Nausea
Stomach pain
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Constipation
Headache
Fatigue
Bloating
Heartburn
Dizziness

There can also be more serious side effects, such as:

Thyroid tumors, including cancer
Inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis)
Gallbladder problems
Kidney problems (kidney failure)
Serious allergic reactions
Increased heart rate
Depression or thoughts of suicide

Talk to your doctor if you have any medical issues or concerns regarding these side effects.

Is Wegovy Safe?

“Semaglutide is actually a really great medication,” says Chisom A. Ikeji, MD. “It aids in weight loss by improving metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.” She adds that she would absolutely prescribe this medication for someone who has a BMI greater than 27 and is also struggling with weight loss. That said, we have seen some problems arise as a result of increased GLP-1 prescriptions. In fact, experts suggest they’re sometimes unintentionally prescribed to people with eating disorders, which can have dire consequences on one’s mental and physical health.

As far as Wegovy is concerned, Dr. Ikeji says your risk of developing something as serious as a thyroid tumor is generally low. However, your risk is higher if you have a family history, so she recommends having a conversation with your doctor to see if Wegovy is right for you.

How Much Does Wegovy Cost?

According to GoodRx, Wegovy costs about $1,350 for a 28-day supply before insurance (that’s over $16,000 a year). You’ll need to check with your insurance company to see if they cover this type of prescription. If they don’t, you may still be eligible for coverage using the options listed on Wegovy’s savings and support page.

Is There a Wegovy Shortage?

Given the increasing demand for Wegovy (plus previous issues with manufacturing and delivery), there is an ongoing shortage of Wegovy. Although some pharmaceutical companies say the shortage may get better soon, the Food and Drug Administration still lists Wegovy as having “limited availability” in its official drug shortage index. The estimated shortage duration has yet to be announced, leaving many patients struggling to fill their prescriptions.

— Additional reporting by Chandler Plante

Jenny Sugar is a former PS staff writer. She reports on all things fitness, but especially loves CrossFit and yoga.

Chandler Plante is an assistant editor for PS Health and Fitness. She has over four years of professional journalism experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributing to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group. In her free time, she enjoys finding new ways to rock her 18(!) different eye patches, and making videos about chronic illness, beauty, and disability.

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