A large number of individuals are not able to achieve a healthy weight without some type of medical intervention. Up until fairly recently, the only option available was bariatric surgery. Prescription weight loss injections are quickly becoming one of the most popular weight loss tools for people who have struggled to lose weight using traditional methods.
Semaglutide has been used for many years to help individuals with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels under the brand name Ozempic, and now, this same prescription medication is FDA-approved for weight loss under the name Wegovy.
Sometimes, patients ask us, “Why is Wegovy not working for me?” or “Why am I not losing weight on Wegovy?” If you can relate to this, you are not alone, as some people do not experience the results they expected or have hit a plateau, and their weight loss has stalled out. Today we are going to talk about why this might be happening and what you can do to get yourself back on track.
How Does Wegovy Work For Weight Loss?
Wegovy helps you lose weight by acting like a natural hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) that your body produces and releases into your digestive system when you eat.
GLP-1 is responsible for controlling your appetite, streamlining your metabolism, and regulating your blood sugar. Wegovy helps boost the level of this natural hormone so your metabolism works more efficiently and helps you lose weight because:
- Wegovy helps regulate your insulin levels and keeps your blood sugar levels balanced. This helps your body burn calories to use for energy and not store them as fat.
- Wegovy helps to turn off the “food noise” and cravings that so often plague those who are trying to follow a low-calorie diet and helps you stay away from unhealthy foods.
- Wegovy slows down how fast your body digests food so it keeps your stomach full for a longer time, which helps you feel satisfied so you do not eat as much or as often.
Why Is Wegovy Not Working?
If you are using Wegovy weight loss injections and you are not losing the weight you expected, there are numerous reasons this may be happening, including:
1. It May Not Be The Best Medical Intervention For You
If you are using Wegovy injections but losing weight like you expected, you should be aware that losing weight is a complicated process, and there is no single solution that works for everyone. Your body may react to Wegovy differently than someone else’s, and you might have an underlying issue that you are not aware of, such as a thyroid condition or a hormone imbalance.
It is highly beneficial to work with a knowledgeable weight loss doctor like our experts at Reveal Weight Loss. An expert in medical weight loss can track your progress and proactively make any changes that are needed to get your weight loss on track. It may be that you can switch medications and get better results. Sometimes, tirzepatide works better since it mimics both your GLP-1 and GIP hormones, so it is a bit stronger.
It may be possible that your circumstance warrants a different type of medical intervention, such as a non-surgical weight loss procedure such as a gastric balloon or endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty. Both reduce the usable capacity of your stomach to help you with portion control and feeling full between meals.
2. You Have Not Reached Your “Effective Dose”
When you first start taking Wegovy, you start at a very low dose and work your way up to stronger doses gradually. This is done to help your body get used to the medication and to lessen the severity of the most common side effects, like nausea and vomiting.
Your body will have its own effective dosing point, meaning there is enough medication concentrated in your body at a certain dosage to trigger weight loss. There is no set time it will take for your body to respond to the medication, and you will not know what this point is for you until it happens. It may seem like the Wegovy is not working, but it may just be taking a bit longer than you anticipated to reach the ‘effective dose’ for you. Your doctor will monitor your dosing schedule and will move you up to the next level when they think you are ready.
Typically, most patients stay on each dosage for four weeks before moving up to the next level. Once your weight loss is triggered, your doctor may keep you on the current dosage for longer than four weeks until your weight loss slows down or hits a plateau before increasing your dosage.
3. You Need To Allow Enough Time For The Medicine To Work
If you are expecting to lose weight super fast, you may be disappointed because that is not how this medication usually works. You may have read claims on social media of people rapidly losing a significant amount of weight, but that is not typical. Most people lose around 1 and 3 pounds a week, so if that is what you are experiencing, you are right on track.
Every person’s metabolism is different and will respond to the medication differently, so you need to be patient and allow your body time to adjust to it. It might feel like nothing is changing, but the medication could be working behind the scenes to balance your hormones and slowly improve your metabolism. Another important thing to keep in mind is that when first starting to use Wegovy, many people experience bloating or constipation, which is very common. Even if you are losing fat, it may not be immediately reflected on the scale, so try to be patient as your body adjusts.
4. You Are Not Taking The Medication Consistently
For the medication to work its best, you need to maintain a consistent level in your body. Your doctor will guide you in determining the best schedule for your needs and circumstances, but you need to administer your injections on the same day of the week and as close to the same time of day as possible.
5. Medication Interactions
Sometimes one or more of your regular medications might be interfering with your ability to lose weight, or it may even cause you to gain weight. It is important to talk to your doctor during your initial consultation about any medications you are taking, including any supplements, so they can make sure the GLP-1 medication you are prescribed is going to work the best for you.
6. Lifestyle Changes Need To Be Permanently Implemented
Wegovy is meant to help your body achieve a calorie deficit so you can lose weight, but it is not a miracle solution and requires certain conditions for best results. You will need to make some permanent adjustments to your diet and lifestyle that will work with the medication. Making these changes will help the Wegovy to work more effectively and promote gradual but steady weight loss.
If you expect to lose weight with Wegovy without making any changes to your diet, you will likely have a hard time reaching and maintaining a healthy weight. You might see some initial weight loss, but eventually it will stall, and the medication will not work as effectively as it did before. Following a healthy, low-calorie, portion-controlled diet and staying active are essential if you want to achieve sustainable weight loss while using Wegovy.
7. You May Need To Make Additional Changes To Your Lifestyle
You might not be aware that unmanaged stress can make losing weight more difficult and, in some cases, even cause weight gain. When stress levels are high, the body produces a hormone called cortisol that causes the body to hold onto fat as part of its natural fight-or-flight response. Finding healthy ways to reduce stress, such as exercising, meditating, or participating in activities you find relaxing, can help bring your cortisol levels down and improve your metabolism.
Another thing that is very important when you are trying to lose weight is the amount of sleep you get each night. When you do not get enough sleep, it can mess up your leptin and ghrelin hormone balance, which helps to regulate hunger and cravings. This can cause you to experience cravings for unhealthy foods, which can lead to snacking, eating the wrong foods, and eating too much food, causing you to gain weight.
Some Extra Weight Loss Tips
Weight loss experts believe that losing weight gradually is not only safer, but it also makes it easier to maintain a healthy weight going forward. Losing weight too quickly can cause unwanted side effects, such as hair loss or gallstones. When you give your body time to adjust gradually, the slower weight loss helps reduce these risks and helps you retain your results more easily.
Keeping your muscle mass while cutting calories and burning fat is important because muscle helps your body burn calories more efficiently. It is important to eat enough protein and include resistance training in your exercise routine so you can prevent losing muscle when you lose weight. Muscle is denser and heavier than fat, so even if the number on the scale does not drop significantly, you may still notice changes in the shape or size of your body because you may be losing inches and gaining tone.
Experiencing a weight loss plateau is common, and nearly everyone hits one at some point in their weight loss journey. If you find that your progress has slowed while using Wegovy, you should check in with your doctor or weight loss team for advice on how to get back on track so you do not begin to gain weight.
Plateaus are normal and happen because the body adapts to your lower calorie intake and causes your metabolism to slow down. Hormonal shifts can also cause increased hunger or cravings, making it harder to stay on your plan. You need to remain consistent with your routine and continue making healthy lifestyle choices, including eating the right foods and getting regular exercise to burn fat and maintain muscle.
What If Wegovy Doesn’t Work?
If you have been using Wegovy but have not seen the weight loss you were expecting, and your doctor determines that the medication is not working for you, there are several options for medical intervention you may wish to consider, including:
Change Your Medication
Your body may not be responding well to prescription Wegovy, and switching to tirzepatide could be an option to consider for better results. Both medications work by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone, but tirzepatide also imitates another hormone called GIP, which can make it more effective for some individuals. The added benefit of this second hormone may help jumpstart your metabolism and trigger better weight loss results.
Consider A Non-Surgical Weight Loss Procedure
You may be a good candidate for a non-surgical weight loss procedure, such as a gastric balloon or the endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty procedure, which makes your stomach significantly smaller without any incisions. The usable capacity of your stomach is made significantly smaller using sutures that are placed in strategic locations from inside your stomach.
Both the gastric balloon and ESG are outpatient procedures and are performed using a special medical tool called an endoscope to reach your stomach without using incisions. Sometimes, these procedures are used together with prescription weight loss medications to achieve the best results. It was determined by a study that using Wegovy and ESG together offered patients weight loss results of almost 27% of their starting weight in just 12 months.
Where Can I Get Wegovy In New Jersey?
If you want to know more about Wegovy, other prescription medications, or additional options for medical weight loss, set up a consultation with Reveal Weight Loss today.
The Reveal Weight Loss Team can create an individualized weight loss plan just for you that will be safe, effective, and provide the results you are looking for. Navigating a weight loss journey on your own can be frustrating and leave you with disappointing results. Get the professional help you deserve from seasoned weight loss experts and begin your journey to better health today.
