How Long Does It Take for Wegovy^® To Work?

Key takeaways

• You might feel changes in your appetite in the first few days of taking Wegovy^®.

• You might lose weight in the first few weeks on Wegovy^®.

• In clinical trials, participants lost about 2 percent of their body weight in their first month on Wegovy^®.

• After 68 weeks, participants lost about 15 percent of their body weight.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Wegovy^® for weight loss and chronic weight management in people with obesity or overweight with a weight-related health condition. But how long does it take for Wegovy^® to work?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a straightforward answer to that. You might feel Wegovy^® start working within the first few days and notice weight loss after a few weeks. But we all react differently to medication.

Read on for more about how long Wegovy^® takes to work, including a rough Wegovy^® weight loss timeline.

Wegovy^® can work quite fast for weight loss. The medication starts working straight away, and reaches peak concentration in your body within one to three days. You might feel effects within your first week, such as:

• Less hunger

• Fewer food cravings

• More feelings of fullness (satiety)

These changes in appetite can help you stick to nutritious food choices and avoid overeating, which can promote weight loss. You might notice weight loss within the first few weeks of taking Wegovy^®.

Don’t worry if you don’t feel a difference straight away, though. You might just need a little more time for the medication to build up in your system.

Your healthcare provider will start you on a low dose of 0.25 milligrams (mg) of Wegovy^®. This dose will increase every four weeks until you reach a maintenance dose of 2.4 mg.

Gradually increasing your dose gives your body time to adjust, reducing the chances and severity of side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. But it also means you might not feel the effects of Wegovy^® until you’re on a higher dose.

What Dose Does Wegovy^® Start Working?

The dose Wegovy^® starts working is different for everyone. You might notice changes in your appetite on the 0.25-mg starting dose, or you may need a higher dose to feel the difference.

A 2021 study looked at people with obesity or overweight who took Wegovy^® and made lifestyle changes. After four weeks on a 0.25-mg dose, participants lost about d2 percent of their starting body weight — so the starting dose is effective for some.

You’ll typically need a higher dose to continue losing weight on Wegovy^®. As long as you’re not experiencing severe side effects, your dose will increase every four weeks.  

There isn’t a universal Wegovy^® weight loss timeline. How much weight you lose — and how quickly you lose it — varies from person to person.

That said, here’s what Wegovy^® weight loss looked like for participants in the 2021 study.

Participants took a 0.25-mg dose of Wegovy^® that gradually increased every four weeks up to the maintenance dose of 2.4 mg. They also made lifestyle changes, like eating more nutritious foods and doing more physical activity.

Of course, your personal Wegovy^® weight loss timeline may look different. We all react differently to medication and lose weight at different rates. This can give you an idea of what to expect. 

→ Read: Your First Month of Weight Loss by Hims

Your first shot of Wegovy^® starts working in your body right away, but you won’t notice the difference immediately. You may notice changes in your appetite during the first week or so of taking the medication.

Don’t worry if this isn’t the case, though. It might take a few weeks to kick in fully.

You may also experience side effects after your first shot. Common side effects of Wegovy^® include:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Constipation

• Diarrhea

• Abdominal pain

These side effects are usually mild to moderate and should get better with time.

Quite a few factors influence how long it takes Wegovy^® to work, including your dose, missed doses, lifestyle habits, and goals.

Here’s what we mean.

Your Wegovy^® Dose

If you experience troubling side effects, a healthcare professional may recommend you stay on a lower maintenance dose of Wegovy^® — or stay on a lower dose for longer before increasing it.

This may slow down your weight loss progress. However, it’s best for your body in the long run, and you can still achieve your weight loss goals — it may just take a bit longer.

Missed Doses

Of course, if you miss doses of Wegovy^®, the effects can wear off, and weight loss can slow down. Over time, this can affect your weight loss results.

Depending on how many doses you miss, you might have to restart Wegovy^® on the low starting dose and gradually work your way back up.

Lifestyle Habits

Your provider will prescribe Wegovy^® alongside eating a reduced-calorie diet and doing more movement. The exact changes you make can influence how much weight you lose on Wegovy^® and how quickly.

For example, your weight loss depends on:

• How much of a calorie deficit you’re in — that’s when you eat fewer calories than you burn each day

• What you eat

• How much movement you do

• Whether you’re getting enough sleep

• How stressed you are

If you get weight loss medication through Hims, you’ll have access to expert guidance and tools to help you make the lifestyle changes needed for healthy, sustainable weight loss.

Your Goals

How quickly Wegovy^® works depends on what results you’re looking for. You might notice weight loss or a reduced waist circumference within a few weeks but see other health improvements — like reduced blood sugar, blood pressure, or cholesterol levels — in a few months or more.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a healthy rate of weight loss is 1 to 2 pounds per week. Other advice suggests aiming for weight loss of 5 to 10 percent of your starting weight within six months.

Losing weight gradually like this can help you maintain your weight loss long-term. This is true even when you’re taking Wegovy^®.

Rapid weight loss can cause muscle loss alongside fat loss. And since muscle burns more calories than fat, losing muscle can make continuing to lose weight and maintaining weight harder.

To reduce your chances of muscle loss, strength train regularly and eat enough protein.

Aim for at least two strength-training sessions a week. This can include:

• Bodyweight exercises

• Weight lifting

• Resistance machines

How much protein should you eat exactly? Craig Primack, MD, senior vice president of weight loss at Hims & Hers, recommends consuming 100 grams of protein per day to help you maintain muscle as you lose weight.

→ Find out how much protein you need: The Hims Protein Calculator

If you get Wegovy^® through the Hims platform, you’ll get access to expert guidance and actionable tools to help you lose weight safely and successfully.

You’ll start by connecting with a licensed healthcare provider who’s trained in weight management. They’ll assess whether weight loss medications are right for you.

That may include weight loss injections like:

• Wegovy^®

• Ozempic^®

• Mounjaro^®

• Zepbound^®

• Generic liraglutide

Or oral weight loss medication kits, which can include:*

• Bupropion

• Metformin

• Topiramate

• Naltrexone

As well as prescription medication, you’ll also get access to the Hims app, which includes:

• Personalized nutrition tips based on your eating profile

• More than 100 high-protein recipes developed by nutritionists

• Sleep guidance developed by psychologists

• Protein, movement, and habit trackers

• Unlimited access to your Care Team for support and treatment tweaks

You can also purchase physician-recommended meal-replacement bars and shakes. They’re designed for people taking weight loss medication and contain up to 27 grams of protein per serving, making them an easy way to top off your protein intake.

There isn’t a set Wegovy^® timeline. We all react differently to medication and lose weight at different rates. So, how quickly do you lose weight on Wegovy^®? There really isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. But you may notice weight loss in your first month.

Here’s what to keep in mind on your weight loss journey:

• Your appetite may change in the first week. You might notice less hunger, fewer cravings, and more fullness after a few days or a week or so on Wegovy^®.

• You might lose weight in the first month. In clinical trials, people lost an average of 2 percent of their starting body weight after four weeks of Wegovy^® treatment.

• You may notice significant weight loss after a few months. You might also notice more energy, better sleep, and health improvements like lower blood sugar levels as you lose weight.

To find out if Wegovy^® is right for you, take our free weight loss assessment. A licensed healthcare provider can let you know if you’re eligible for weight loss medication and write you a personalized weight loss treatment plan if so.

Get answers to frequently asked questions about how long it takes Wegovy^® to work below.

Can you lose weight in the first week on Wegovy^®?

You may lose weight in your first week on Wegovy^®, depending on the lifestyle changes you’re making and your dose. It might take a few weeks to notice weight loss. Slow and steady weight loss is best.

How many days does it take for Wegovy^® to start working?

Wegovy^® starts working in your body straight away, but it can take a few days to feel the effects on your appetite. It may also take a few weeks if you need a higher dose to start feeling the effects.

How to tell if Wegovy^® is working?

You can tell if Wegovy^® is working when you feel a change in your appetite. You might notice:

• Less hunger

• Fewer food cravings

• That food fills you up more easily and for longer

Reach out to your prescribing healthcare provider if you don’t feel any difference after a few weeks. They may recommend lifestyle changes, a higher dose, or giving the medication a bit more time to reach its full effects.

Ozempic^® and Wegovy^® are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S. Hims, Inc. is not affiliated with or endorsed by Novo Nordisk A/S.