You’ve probably heard about the dramatic weight loss that can happen when you take Ozempic or Wegovy. These medications mimic a hormone called GLP-1, which helps to regulate appetite and blood sugar. This can lead to rapid weight loss—in some cases, up to 20 percent of your body weight. But how much weight can you really lose on Ozempic or Wegovy? And how long can you safely continue taking prescription weight loss medications? Here’s what you need to know.
How much weight can you lose on Ozempic and Wegovy?
Both Ozempic and Wegovy contain semaglutide as their active ingredient. Ozempic was developed to treat type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy is FDA-approved for weight loss.
In a series of trials published in Drug Design, Development and Therapy, participants who took 2.4 mg of semaglutide (the highest dosage of Wegovy) lost an average of 9.6 to 17.3 percent of their body weight after 68 weeks. For a 160-lb woman, that’s between 15 and 28 pounds.
“In my experience, most of my patients lose right around the average expected weight loss,” says Meghan Garcia-Webb, MD, a triple board-certified physician specializing in obesity medicine and producer of the YouTube series Weight Medicine with Dr. Meghan. “Of course, some people will naturally lose less and some will lose more.”
Underlying conditions can impact how much weight you lose
The exact amount of weight you lose on Ozempic or Wegovy can depend on factors like dosage, lifestyle habits and underlying conditions. For example, people with diabetes tend to lose less weight on these medications compared to people who are only taking them for weight management, Dr. Garcia-Webb says.
In a trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, people without type 2 diabetes were given 2.4 mg of semaglutide or a placebo, along with nutritional counseling. The semaglutide group lost an average of 14.9 percent of their body weight in 68 weeks, while the placebo group only lost 2.4 percent of their body weight. (For a 160-lb woman, that’s around 24 pounds vs. 4 pounds, respectively.)
Another trial, published in the medical journal Lancet, only included overweight or obese people with type 2 diabetes. Participants were either given 2.4 mg of semaglutide, 1.0 mg of semaglutide or a placebo. The group with the highest dosage lost an average of 9.6 percent of their body weight—around 15 lbs for a 160-lb woman—compared to 7 percent for the lower-dose group and 3.4 percent for the placebo group.
How Ozempic and Wegovy dosage affects weight loss results
Ozempic is currently available in four dosages (0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1.0mg and 2.0mg), while Wegovy is available in five dosages (0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg).
Patients typically start with the lowest dose, then increase to higher doses each month “unless there are significant side effects,” Dr. Garcia-Webb explains. “In general, the weight loss is dose-dependent, so a patient will have a greater weight loss if they go to the highest dose.”
For example, someone who’s starting out with a 0.25 mg dose of Ozempic probably won’t lose as much weight (or lose it as quickly) as someone taking a 2.4 mg dose of Wegovy. However, Dr. Garcia-Webb adds, some patients are able to achieve their weight loss goals while taking the lowest dose of a medication. In those cases, they may not need to step up their dosage.
How Ozempic stacks up to Mounjaro and Zepbound
Along with semaglutide, another popular GLP-1 medication is tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound. Mounjaro is prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes, while Zepbound is prescribed for weight management.
“Weight loss with tirzepatide seems to be more significant, with patients losing, on average, about 20 percent [of their] total body weight,” Dr. Garcia-Webb says. “I’ve also seen that patients in general seem to have milder side effects with tirzepatide” than with Ozempic or Wegovy.
How soon will you start to see results?
Weight loss is typically gradual with GLP-1 medications, especially because it can take a few months to get up to the full dosage. “I am not usually expecting significant weight loss after the first month at the 0.25mg dose,” Dr. Garcia-Webb says. “That dose is really just to help a patient’s body get used to the medication.”
However, you can expect to lose at least 5 percent of your body weight by the 12-week mark (around 8 pounds for a 160-lb woman). “In general, that is a good sign that the medication is working as expected,” Dr. Garcia-Webb says.
How long can you stay on Ozempic or Wegovy?
“Currently, a patient who is prescribed Ozempic or Wegovy should plan to be on this for life,” Dr. Garcia-Webb says. However, you probably won’t continue to lose weight at the same rapid pace you experienced during the first year. “At some point, a patient’s body is going to reach a new ‘normal’ and weight loss will plateau.”.
If you do need to stop taking Ozempic or Wegovy, be vigilant about diet and exercise to avoid regaining the weight you lost in the long term.
“If a patient does need to stop semaglutide, it is really important to make sure that her lifestyle changes are optimized,” Dr. Garcia Webb says. “This means regular strength training, getting enough protein, eating a whole foods-oriented diet full of fruits and vegetables and not overeating.” This will give you the best chance at preventing weight gain, plus you’ll feel better overall when you follow a healthy lifestyle, she adds.
This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.
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