Wegovy timeline: what to expect

Updated: 20/01/2026

Wegovy is a once-weekly injection used to support long-term weight loss. Its active ingredient, semaglutide, works by changing how your brain and gut regulate appetite.

Wegovy is designed to work gradually. The dose is increased slowly over several months, allowing your body to adjust and helping to reduce side effects. This is why results build over time rather than happening all at once.¹

How Wegovy works in your body

Semaglutide, which is the active ingredient in Wegovy, is a medicine that mimics a natural hormone in your body called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1).¹

GLP-1 is released by your gut after you eat and exerts a few different effects:²

• It tells your brain that you’re full

• It slows down how quickly food leaves your stomach

• It reduces hunger signals and food cravings

Semaglutide is known as a GLP-1 receptor agonist. That simply means it acts like your natural GLP-1 hormone, but lasts much longer in the body. This is why Wegovy only needs to be injected once a week.¹

It works in two main ways:

1. Reducing appetite signals

Semaglutide acts on appetite centres in the brain, including areas involved in hunger, reward, and motivation around food. Many people notice that they think about food less, feel satisfied with smaller portions, and find it easier to stop eating when they’re full.¹

2. Slowing stomach emptying

Food leaves your stomach more slowly, so you stay full for longer after meals. This helps reduce snacking and overeating between meals.¹

Wegovy and Ozempic contain the same active ingredient (semaglutide). The difference is the dose and the licence. Wegovy is approved specifically for weight loss at higher doses, while Ozempic is licensed for type 2 diabetes at lower doses.

Wegovy dose escalation and weight loss timeline

Wegovy doesn’t start at a full dose. It begins at a very low dose and increases slowly over about five months. This process is called dose titration.

The reason for this is that starting low gives your body time to adapt and helps reduce side effects like nausea. You may notice appetite changes within the first few weeks, but most weight loss happens once you reach the higher maintenance doses.

Monthly timeline

At what dose does Wegovy start working?

Many people feel some appetite changes at the starting dose of 0.25mg. You might notice you get full faster or think about food less.³

However, meaningful weight loss usually accelerates at higher doses, especially:³

• From 1.0mg upwards

• Most clearly at 1.7mg and up

The early doses are mainly about preparing your body. They’re not designed to produce rapid weight loss. This is why progress can feel slow in the first couple of months.

Dose titration matters because:^3,4

• Starting too high increases side effects

• Going slowly helps you stay on treatment

• Long-term results are better when people can tolerate the medication

If weight loss feels slow at first, that’s expected. The strongest effects come once you reach the maintenance dose.

Managing potential side effects during dose titration

Side effects are most common when the dose increases. For most people, they‘re mild and temporary.

Common side effects include:⁵

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhoea or constipation

• Abdominal discomfort or bloating

These usually settle as your body adapts, which is why Wegovy is increased slowly.

Ways to reduce side effects:

• Eat smaller meals

• Eat slowly and stop when full

• Avoid very fatty or heavy meals early on

• Stay hydrated

If side effects are severe or persistent, your clinician may slow down dose increases. You can read more in our full GLP-1 side effects blog.

How Wegovy fits into long-term weight loss

Obesity is a chronic condition, influenced by biology, hormones, environment, and behaviour. Worldwide, rates of overweight and obesity have nearly tripled since the 1970s.⁶ Over a third of adults are now overweight, and more than 13% live with obesity. This comes with higher risks of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and some cancers.⁷

Lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, and behaviour change are always the foundation. But many people struggle to maintain weight loss with lifestyle changes alone. This is where medication like Wegovy can help by making appetite easier to manage.

In clinical trials, semaglutide worked best when combined with:

• Healthier eating patterns

• Regular physical activity

• Behavioural or coaching support

Wegovy doesn’t increase your metabolism. It mainly works by reducing energy intake, helping you eat less without feeling constantly hungry.

Long-term success comes from:

• Staying consistent

• Building habits you can maintain

• Getting support when motivation dips

This is why many programmes combine Wegovy with coaching, nutrition guidance, and behaviour-change support.

Wegovy vs other weight loss injections

There are several weight loss injections available. They differ in how they work and how much weight loss they typically produce.

Wegovy uses semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Other options may:

• Work on different appetite hormones

• Affect insulin or fat metabolism differently

• Be taken daily rather than weekly

In head-to-head and indirect comparisons, semaglutide has shown consistently strong average weight loss results among current weight loss medications.⁸

If you want a deeper comparison, you can read our guide.

The numan take

Wegovy works by changing how your brain and gut regulate hunger. It reduces appetite, helps you feel full for longer, and makes it easier to eat less without constant willpower. Results happen gradually because the dose increases slowly. Most people notice appetite changes within weeks, but the strongest weight loss usually starts at higher doses.

References

1. Singh G, Krauthamer M, Bjalme-Evans M. Wegovy (semaglutide): a new weight loss drug for chronic weight management. J Investig Med. 2022;70(1):5–13

2. Shah M, Vella A. Effects of GLP-1 on appetite and weight. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2014;15(3):181–7. 

3. Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, Davies M, Van Gaal LF, Lingvay I, et al. Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity. N Engl J Med. 2021;384(11):989–1002.

4. Wharton S, Freitas P, Hjelmesæth J, Kabisch M, Kandler K, Lingvay I, et al. Once-weekly semaglutide 7·2 mg in adults with obesity (STEP UP): a randomised, controlled, phase 3b trial. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2025;13(11):949–63.

5. Wegovy 0.25 mg, FlexTouch solution for injection in pre-filled pen. Org.uk. [accessed 19 Jan 2026] Available from: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/13799/smpc

6. Lustig RH, Collier D, Kassotis C, Roepke TA, Kim MJ, Blanc E, et al. Obesity I: Overview and molecular and biochemical mechanisms. Biochem Pharmacol. 2022;199(115012):115012.

7. Kitahara CM, Flint AJ, Berrington de Gonzalez A, Bernstein L, Brotzman M, MacInnis RJ, et al. Association between class III obesity (BMI of 40-59 kg/m2) and mortality: a pooled analysis of 20 prospective studies. PLoS Med. 2014;11(7):e1001673.

8. Rodriguez PJ, Goodwin Cartwright BM, Gratzl S, Brar R, Baker C, Gluckman TJ, et al. Semaglutide vs tirzepatide for weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity. JAMA Intern Med. 2024;184(9):1056–64.