Based on findings collected from randomized controlled trials you can expect to lose as much as 5% of your body weight within a month of using semaglutide. After two months of consistent use, you might see up to 8% weight loss. Experts and patients alike have reported that the effects of semaglutide become apparent after three months.
If you are interested to know about the semaglutide weight loss per week, the answer may not always be clear cut. But research indicates that semaglutide 2.4 mg can result in a weight loss of around 16% of your body weight over 68 weeks. This translates to an average of 35 lbs to 37 lbs depending on your starting weight.
Most of this weight loss happens within the first 32 weeks (about 8 months) and then plateaus as your body adjusts to the medication and you are able to establish a more sustainable eating routine.
Semaglutide is a long-acting drug and it is initially prescribed at a lower dose to minimize side effects. After a few weeks you will be gradually increased to a higher maintenance dose.
How Much Weight Can You Lose on Semaglutide Per Week?
As far as semaglutide weight loss per week goes, I think it would be best to describe the effects in phases.
During the first 1 to 4 weeks of using semaglutide, you might notice early signs of weight loss. Most people who are on semaglutide reported feeling fuller after meals and reduced appetite.
From weeks 5 to 20, as your dosage increases according to prescribing guidelines, semaglutide will continue to curb your appetite. During this period, you can expect a gradual and steady weight loss (steady state).
After 20 weeks, the long-term effects of semaglutide kick in. Many people find that their weight-loss journey with semaglutide continues beyond the first 5 to 6 months. Long-term use can lead to sustained weight loss and overall metabolic health improvements. However, you need to pair semaglutide with a healthy diet and exercise plan to achieve lasting results.
Factors That Influence How Fast Semaglutide Will Work for You
There are a few factors that impact how fast semaglutide will start working for each person such as:
Your metabolism
Metabolic rates differ from person to person, influencing how quickly your body responds to semaglutide. People with higher metabolic rates tend to process medications more quickly and this means that their bodies may metabolize and eliminate semaglutide at a faster rate. As a result, they may require higher doses or more frequent administration to achieve the desired results.
On the other hand, those with lower metabolic rates may experience slower processing of semaglutide. This can make the medication stay in the body for a longer time thus having a longer-lasting effect.
Adherence to your treatment plan
Following the prescribed dosage and treatment plan from your healthcare provider plays a big role in realizing the full weight-loss potential of semaglutide.
Lifestyle
Your dietary habits, exercise routines, and other lifestyle factors such as stress management and adequate sleep can impact the speed and extend the weight-loss results achieved with semaglutide.
How long does it take for semaglutide to work?
It generally takes around 2 weeks for semaglutide to begin working in the body. While using semaglutide, some people may start to notice results within the first eight weeks, but most observe results within 12 weeks.
Clinical trials have demonstrated that participants taking a weekly dose of semaglutide had an average weight reduction of 5-10%. So if you use semaglutide for a year or longer, you might achieve up to 15% total weight loss.
Aside from taking semaglutide injections, you also have to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This means eating healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables to curb cravings, and engaging in physical activity to burn off extra calories and help keep your metabolism high so that you can continue losing weight even after you stop the injections.
What to Expect – Semaglutide Weight Loss First Week
People often notice changes in their appetite during the first week, and although you will start losing weight by this time, it won’t be very noticeable yet. Your blood glucose (sugar) levels should begin to significantly decline within the first week after you start using semaglutide as well.
Why am I Not Losing Weight on Semaglutide?
Semaglutide is effective for most individuals, but if it isn’t providing the weight loss outcomes you expect here are the 10 possible reasons:
1. Your dosage might not be enough
Healthcare providers initiate semaglutide at a minimal dose of 0.25 mg once weekly for the first four weeks to minimize adverse effects. After four weeks, the dose is raised to 0.5 mg per week for another four weeks. Your physician may up your dosage every 4 weeks until you reach the maximum maintenance dose.
2. You’ve just started using semaglutide
Each person reacts differently to semaglutide and while some individuals lose weight swiftly, others may need several weeks to see changes. In an Ozempic study that lasted 1 year and 4 months, it was found that some individuals took longer to shed pounds, but most began losing weight within the first 4 weeks.
3. You’ve not altered your diet
While semaglutide can aid in weight reduction, it is most effective when combined with a healthy lifestyle. Maintaining a balanced and calorie-conscious diet is crucial for weight loss and medications alone may not offset an unhealthy diet.
Even in clinical trials, semaglutide was successful in promoting weight loss when paired with lifestyle modifications. Participants in these studies were encouraged to adopt healthier dietary changes.
Weight loss fundamentally depends on burning more calories than you consume. If you’re not losing weight, it may be because you’re eating more calories than what you are expending as energy.
4. You’re missing doses
If you skip a weekly semaglutide injection, it could greatly impede your progress. To avoid forgetting, try to administer your dose on the same day each week. Consistency in medication administration, exercise and a healthy diet are essential for optimal weight loss results.
5. You’re stressed
Stress can contribute to weight gain. Research indicates a connection between obesity and chronic stress. Stress prompts the body to release cortisol or the “stress hormone” and elevated cortisol levels can stimulate your appetite and cause you to have cravings.
Moreover, when you’re stressed, you may also exercise less, lack the time and motivation to prepare healthier meals, and tend to eat whatever is available.
6. You’ve reached a plateau
You’ve followed a healthy, low-calorie diet, improved your exercise habits, and haven’t missed a dose of semaglutide. You have observed your weight decreasing and are thrilled. But suddenly, the scale stops moving—you’ve hit a weight-loss plateau.
Don’t be alarmed. A plateau in weight loss is a common experience and they occur when your body adjusts to changes in diet, medication, or medication and progress slows down.
When this happens, reassess your diet and ensure you are still maintaining a calorie deficit by choosing nutrient-dense foods and controlling portion sizes. Consider also altering your workout routine too so if you’ve been doing the same exercises for a while, your body may have adapted.
7. You’re not physically active
As mentioned above, the effectiveness of semaglutide in promoting weight loss is enhanced when combined with regular physical activity and a healthy diet. Exercise helps burn calories and improves overall metabolic health.
Aim for 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity like running or at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity, such as walking or swimming, each week. Do some strength training exercises for all major muscle groups at least twice weekly as well.
8. You’re not getting enough sleep
Sleep deprivation affects how many calories you burn and consume during the day. When you aren’t getting enough sleep, it alters the balance of hunger-regulating hormones. The hunger hormone (ghrelin) increases while the satiety hormone (leptin) decreases.
9. You’re constipated
Constipation is one of the side effects of using semaglutide and if your body is holding onto waste longer, you may not lose weight as quickly as you had hoped. Increase your regularity by drinking plenty of water, exercising, and consuming a lot of fiber.
10. You have a pre-existing medical condition
Several underlying medical issues may impede weight loss efforts such as hypothyroidism which may slow down your metabolism as well as PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) which also causes hormonal imbalance.
Also, people with type 2 diabetes, which semaglutide treats, may lose weight more slowly than those without. Studies show that people who do not have type 2 diabetes lost an average of 6.3% of their body weight after taking semaglutide for 3 months, while those with diabetes lost only 3.9%.
Do you gain weight after you stop using semaglutide?
Weight rebound has been found to be quite considerable after you stop using semaglutide. The greater the initial weight reduction, the more pronounced the regained weight.
Nevertheless, those who lose more weight initially retain more substantial weight loss compared to their starting point than those who lose less before the medication is stopped.
In this secondary analysis of 327 participants, the average weight reduction after 68 weeks was 17.3% with semaglutide and 2% with placebo.
After 52 weeks of monitoring post-medication, the average weight reduction was 5.6% with semaglutide and 0.1% with placebo.
There was a weight rebound of 11.6% in the semaglutide group and 1.9% in the placebo group.
Unfortunately, weight rebound isn’t unavoidable and while long-term sustainable weight loss can be accomplished, you need the right support.
Semaglutide Results First Month
Here are some feedback from actual semaglutide users on what they experienced during the first month of treatment:
Best-Respond4242
I lost 9 pounds during the first month, much of which was shedding of water weight and bloat.
I only weigh myself once a week to avoid seeing the daily fluctuations in body weight. So far I’ve lost 26 pounds in three months.
shemp33
Honestly, weight loss before the 3rd-4th month is unexpected. The first three months (0.25/0.5/1.0mg) are starter doses. They are not intended to be therapeutic. They are only intended to acclimate your body for the full (1.7 or 2.4mg/week) dose. You might lose weight before getting to the therapeutic dose, but there’s no penalty or badge of dishonor if you don’t.
That being said, some people start to notice the effects of the medication right away, and even those who don’t are making other habit changes, which results in early weight loss.
The takeaway here is don’t judge your success or failure on the medication until at least 4-5 months from now. It’s a journey, not a destination.
Abject-Feedback5991
I lost 15 lb my first month, which I can only assume was mostly water, but it never came back. 5lbs a month since. I’m eating healthful, nutritionally complete small meals and was absolutely not in enough of a calorie deficit to explain how so much peeled off so fast.
IDreamaDancy
I lost about 10 pounds in the first month. I think it’s because I really threw myself into it: I combined it with intermittent fasting, which I had been trying off and on for a while. Suddenly IF felt a lot easier- I just almost never feel hungry anymore!
I see folks saying that the first few weeks are “starter doses” so maybe a lot of this was a placebo effect. I don’t care, still counts!
I’m at week 6 now and have plateaued at -13 pounds for a few days. Hoping to get the ball rolling again by switching to one meal a day.
How long should I remain on semaglutide for weight loss?
The duration depends on how much weight you aim to shed and the changes implemented.
It is generally considered that typical weekly weight loss when someone maintains a caloric deficit of about 300–500 kcals/day is around 0.5 kg (1 lb). However, it’s crucial to note that semaglutide is not a miracle drug.
How semaglutide works is straightforward enough:
It makes you feel full and satisfied.
It slows down your stomach, causing discomfort.
It influences insulin, which itself is anorexigenic (yes, insulin tends to make you feel LESS HUNGRY)
Which means, as usual, YOU NEED TO EAT LESS and keep moving and continue exercising, etc.
It’s not an easy task, I know that. But it works.
Another consideration is that most people who stop taking semaglutide regain some of the weight they lost after discontinuing the drug. Physical activity and a personalized diet may help you maintain some weight loss. It’s important to incorporate other lifestyle changes like a balanced diet, daily physical activity, etc.
Is semaglutide safe for long-term use?
Some people do need to take semaglutide for an extended period. For example, some adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus have been taking semaglutide injections since it was released in the UK in 2019.
As the drug is still relatively new, there isn’t a great deal of information available on the safety of taking it long-term.
However, one study published in December 2020 did study the long-term safety of semaglutide in patients with T2DM and concluded that when taken long-term, semaglutide was well-tolerated and blood glucose levels were managed and maintained.
What is the cost of semaglutide per month?
A monthly supply of semaglutide ranges from approximately $830 to $950 without insurance coverage. With insurance, the expense can drop to as low as $25 per month, depending on the policy. However, it’s crucial to note that most insurance companies do not cover semaglutide for weight loss treatment, only for type 2 diabetes management.
Those without health insurance or financial assistance programs will need to pay the full price, which can be around $66 per injection, totaling up to $16,000 per year for an annual treatment course. Prices may vary based on the specific product formulation you receive.
To save money on semaglutide, you can use savings cards and coupons. Alternatively, you might consider opting for compounded semaglutide, such as what BrightMeds offers. They collaborate with licensed US pharmacies to ensure you receive affordable, science-backed treatments promptly and conveniently. BrightMeds is comprised of a team of healthcare professionals, and a US-certified physician will review your medical profile to determine your eligibility for semaglutide medication.