Wegovy is a weekly injectable medicine to aid weight loss and weight management. Wegovy contains Semaglutide, which can help reduce energy intake, increases feelings of satiety, fullness and control of eating. Food cravings and feelings of hunger can also be controlled. Wegovy is designed to be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight management, including weight loss and weight maintenance. Wegovy is also proven to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events and treat obesity.
How is Wegovy Used?
- Wegovy is presented in a convenient, weekly FlexTouch pen for injection.
- Wegovy is injected once a week, under the skin of the abdomen (belly), upper arm or upper legs.
- Wegovy can be injected at any time during the day independent of meals
- Wegovy should be injected on the same day each week.
- A starting dose of 0.25mg is escalated slowly over 16 weeks to a maintenance dose of 2.4mg
- Instructions on how to use Wegovy Flextouch pen can be downloaded here.
How Wegovy Works: Understanding GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
Wegovy contains semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist designed to support weight management. With a 94% sequence similarity to human GLP-1, semaglutide mimics the body's natural hormone to regulate appetite and calorie intake. Semaglutide binds selectively to GLP-1 receptors in the brain, activating pathways that influence hunger, satiety, fullness and food cravings. By enhancing feelings of fullness and reducing appetite, semaglutide helps individuals consume fewer calories while promoting better control over eating habits. This addresses multiple root causes of obesity. Lifestyle changes such as increased physical activity work in conjunction with Wegovy to support weight loss and weight management.
How Effective Is Wegovy?
Wegovy (semaglutide) is clinically proven to deliver significant and sustained weight loss. Data from the STEP clinical trial program highlights:
- Average Weight Loss: Adults lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight over 68 weeks, compared to just 2.4% in the placebo group.
- High Success Rates: More than 83% of users achieved a weight loss of 5% or more, and 30% of participants lost more than 20% of their total body weight.
- Sustained Results: Studies show that weight loss is maintainable long-term, with results lasting over 2 years (104 weeks) with continued treatment.
- Body Composition: Beyond the scales, Wegovy significantly reduces waist circumference and improves overall physical mobility and function.
Beyond Weight Loss: Cardiovascular Health Benefits
Wegovy is the first weight management medication proven to reduce the risk of major heart-related events in people with established heart disease.
- 20% Reduction in Major Heart Events: In the landmark SELECT trial, which studied over 17,000 adults with established cardiovascular disease and a BMI of 27 or higher, Wegovy reduced the risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE) by 20%. These events include cardiovascular death, non-fatal heart attack, and non-fatal stroke.
- Improved Heart Health for Diabetics: For patients with Type 2 diabetes, the SUSTAIN 6 trial confirmed that semaglutide reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events by 26%, primarily driven by a decrease in non-fatal strokes and heart attacks.
- Support for Heart Failure: Clinical trials (STEP-HFpEF) have shown that Wegovy provides superior benefits for adults with obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Patients reported fewer heart failure symptoms and an increased ability to perform physical activities, such as walking.
- Addressing Risk Factors: Semaglutide acts on several known cardiovascular risk factors by: Lowering systolic blood pressure, improving lipid profiles (blood fats) ad exerting anti-inflammatory effects.
- Protection for Major Organs: Semaglutide receptors are present in the heart, vasculature, immune system and kidneys, contributing to its broad range of health benefits beyond weight management.
