Answer
May 29, 2024 - 03:10 PM
With semaglutide injections, weight loss depends heavily on the dose, brand, reason for use, diabetes status, diet/activity, and how long you stay on it.
For the weight-loss dose, Wegovy 2.4 mg weekly, clinical trials in adults with overweight/obesity found average weight loss of about 15% of starting body weight over 68 weeks. In the STEP 1 trial, the average loss was 14.9% with semaglutide versus 2.4% with placebo; 86.4% lost at least 5%, 69.1% lost at least 10%, and 50.5% lost at least 15%.
Some people lose less than 5–10%; others lose 15–20% or more, especially if they tolerate the full dose and pair it with diet changes and resistance training. Across STEP trials, once-weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg produced mean losses around 14.9%–17.4% at 68 weeks in people without diabetes.
With Ozempic doses used for type 2 diabetes, weight loss is usually less than with Wegovy because the doses and treatment goals are different. Ozempic can still cause meaningful weight loss, but it is not the FDA/Health Canada weight-loss formulation; Wegovy is the semaglutide product specifically dosed for chronic weight management.
One important catch: weight tends to come back if the medication is stopped. In a STEP 1 extension, people regained a substantial portion of lost weight during the year after stopping semaglutide, ending with a net loss of about 5.6% from baseline by week 120.
So a realistic expectation is: about 10–15% of starting body weight for many people on full-dose weekly semaglutide, with some reaching 20%+, but results vary and maintenance usually requires ongoing treatment or a strong long-term plan.
For the weight-loss dose, Wegovy 2.4 mg weekly, clinical trials in adults with overweight/obesity found average weight loss of about 15% of starting body weight over 68 weeks. In the STEP 1 trial, the average loss was 14.9% with semaglutide versus 2.4% with placebo; 86.4% lost at least 5%, 69.1% lost at least 10%, and 50.5% lost at least 15%.
| Starting weight | 10% loss | 15% loss | 20% loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| 180 lb | 18 lb | 27 lb | 36 lb |
| 220 lb | 22 lb | 33 lb | 44 lb |
| 260 lb | 26 lb | 39 lb | 52 lb |
| 300 lb | 30 lb | 45 lb | 60 lb |
Some people lose less than 5–10%; others lose 15–20% or more, especially if they tolerate the full dose and pair it with diet changes and resistance training. Across STEP trials, once-weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg produced mean losses around 14.9%–17.4% at 68 weeks in people without diabetes.
With Ozempic doses used for type 2 diabetes, weight loss is usually less than with Wegovy because the doses and treatment goals are different. Ozempic can still cause meaningful weight loss, but it is not the FDA/Health Canada weight-loss formulation; Wegovy is the semaglutide product specifically dosed for chronic weight management.
One important catch: weight tends to come back if the medication is stopped. In a STEP 1 extension, people regained a substantial portion of lost weight during the year after stopping semaglutide, ending with a net loss of about 5.6% from baseline by week 120.
So a realistic expectation is: about 10–15% of starting body weight for many people on full-dose weekly semaglutide, with some reaching 20%+, but results vary and maintenance usually requires ongoing treatment or a strong long-term plan.
