You may not be a stranger to the phenomenon of ozempic and wegovy. There are so many famous media personalities who have been allegedly using these medications for weight loss. But what actually are these semaglutide, ozempic, and wegovy? Mind you these are not your ordinary medications, they are injections that can only be bought with a doctor’s prescription.
Type 2 diabetes is treated with the anti-diabetic drug semaglutide. It is also used for weight management. This medication supports weight loss by connecting with receptors in your body decreasing your appetite, making you feel hungry and less fuller.
This medication is used alongside a healthy lifestyle comprising a good diet and workout routines to manage diabetes and obesity. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in both ozempic and wegovy. They are very similar, but wegovy is predominantly suggested for weight loss whereas ozempic is mainly targeted for type 2 diabetic patients.
Common Reasons for Stalled Weight Loss on Semaglutide

1. Incorrect dosage or administration
A major reason for your delay in results would be incorrect dosage. It is found that when taken more than necessary the appetite-suppressing and metabolism-regulating properties of these injections might be compromised and when taken less the results are not that significant as well. So it is more than important to consult with your doctor and ensure that you are taking the right dosage for your body that fits your goals and needs. Skipping doses is also not a good idea as it may hinder the progress.
2. Unrealistic expectations and timeline
Again weight loss goals must be realistic. You have to keep in mind that the weight loss journey must be sustainable to see long-lasting results. Good results demand consistency and patience. So keep realistic goals, celebrate your progress, and put genuine effort into seeing solid results.
3. Compensatory eating behaviors
Such eating behaviors are really harmful to your body and may do you more harm than good. Especially if you are on this medication you must be mindful of your eating habits.
4. Lack of lifestyle changes (diet and exercise)
It is known that for effective weight loss, one must follow a proper diet and solid workout routine. So depending on just the semaglutide injection is not the smartest idea for your goal is healthy and sustainable weight loss.
5. Underlying medical conditions and medication interactions
People with certain medical conditions are excluded from using this injection. So discussing with your doctor is an important step to determine if this is the right weight loss route for you. Plus make sure that you are taking any other medications only with the guidance of your doctor even if it is nonprescription medications like aspirin.
6. Stress and sleep issues
Sleep and stress may affect your weight loss journey. Less sleep may sabotage potential results.
The Role of Diet in Semaglutide-Assisted Weight Loss
You know the drill by now. Choose healthy foods that can actually help your well-being. Take in a lot of fruits and veggies, seeds and nuts, and complex carbs. Do not forget about lean protein as well. Go for all the goodies that give you all the necessary nutrients and stay away from too much processed foods that are very high in sugar. Also, make sure that you are on a calorie deficit diet. Sodas, sweet treats like cakes and cookies, fast foods and chips, alcohol, and even excessive caffeine might not be a good idea if you are on semaglutide.
Exercise and Physical Activity with Semaglutide
Combining a solid workout routine with semaglutide accelerates your results and improves your body composition. Strength training can help with maintaining muscle mass and prevent muscle loss while you are on this drug. A recommended physical activity would be 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise weekly along with 2 days of strength training. Exercising means you are spending your calories and you are actually burning them off. Not only that exercising comes with many added metabolic health benefits that are great for your body.
Physiological Factors Affecting Weight Loss on Semaglutide
Several physiological factors affect your weight loss status.
- Type 2 diabetes status: People with type 2 diabetes see improved weight loss results than people who don’t
- Side effects affecting results: People who are on semaglutide experience GI symptoms as side effects. Adverse effects like nausea and vomiting may affect tolerability and weight loss.
- Sex: It has been found that women tend to lose more weight than men who are using this medication.
- BMI: When your starting BMI is on the lower side then the weight loss results may also be on the lesser side.
Optimizing Semaglutide Treatment for Weight Loss
These tips might come in handy for you in your weight loss journey on semaglutide
- Change injection sites
Make sure that you are rotating the areas while using the injection to reduce the risk of skin irritation.
- Mindful eating habits
Be mindful of every bite that you are taking. While using semaglutide it is often advised to reduce your eating pace. Go by the policy to eat little and eat often. Having frequent meals in smaller portions will greatly help you reduce the cache of any stomach discomfort or heartburn.
- Healthy lifestyle
Your weight loss journey must be sustainable. That means you have to make healthy food choices and a solid workout routine. Trying a calorie deficit diet along with a good workout routine might accelerate your results and in the process make you healthier too.
Also Read: Tirzepatide Vs Semaglutide For Blood Sugar Control And Body Weight Loss
Conclusion
Semaglutide is an effective weight management solution. However, if you are not seeing good results then you may have to go through your weight loss regimen and discuss it with your doctor as well. Do not forget about weight loss plateaus they are extremely common and you just have to be consistent with your lifestyle to overcome this issue. Adhere to healthier and calorie deficit meals and have a good exercise regimen to support and amplify your potential results.
FAQ’s
Weight loss journey differs from users. So predicting this time would be a bit tricky. Some studies showed 5.9% total body weight loss within 3 months and over 10% within 6 months of use.
Consistency is the way to maximize your weight loss results. Make sure that you are committed to the process. Do not miss the injections and follow healthy lifestyle practices.
People often see good results within the first four weeks of using this injection.
Semaglutide might not be everyone’s cup of tea. So if you are not seeing any tangible results then speak with your doctor. They may help with improving dosage or opting for another medication or weight loss program that actually works for you.
There has not been enough proof to show that improving the dosage aids in better weight loss. But exceeding the dosage is confirmed to have severe side effects like dehydration, and vomiting. Discuss with your doctor and use the dosage they instruct you.
References
- Look AHEAD Research Group. Reduction in weight and cardiovascular disease risk factors in individuals with type 2 diabetes: one-year results of the look AHEAD trial. Diabetes Care. 2007;30(6):1374–1383. doi: 10.2337/dc07-0048 [PMC free article]
- Miles KE, Kerr JL. Semaglutide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Pharm Technol. 2018;34(6):281-289. doi: 10.1177/8755122518790925 [PubMed]