Wegovy Before and After: Real Results Week by Week
In STEP 1, people on semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly lost 14.9% of their body weight on average over 68 weeks, against 2.4% on placebo.
- Average loss, top dose
- 14.9%
- On placebo
- 2.4%
- Trial length
- 68 weeks
- Trial
- STEP 1
Wegovy in short
Its half-life lasts about 1 week. After 7 days, half has gone, and five half-lives (35 days) leave about 3% behind.
At the 68-week point in STEP 1, the result was 14.9% of body weight, compared with 2.4% on placebo.
Monthly prices in US dollars: the list price and self-pay offers, each taken from the maker's price page.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), healthsystemtracker.org, prnewswire.com 1 2.
Wegovy before and after: the numbers first
| Trial | Dose group | Average weight lost | Placebo or comparison | Weeks | Who was in it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEP 1 | Semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly | 14.9% | 2.4% | 68 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes |
| OASIS 4 | Wegovy pill 25 mg daily | 13.6% | 2.4% | 64 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes |
| SURMOUNT-5 | Semaglutide 1.7 or 2.4 mg weekly (Wegovy) | 13.7% | semaglutide (Wegovy) | 72 | Adults with obesity, without type 2 diabetes |
| STEP 2 | Semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly | 9.6% | 3.4% | 68 | Adults who have type 2 diabetes and also have obesity or overweight |
References: STEP 1 (FDA label (DailyMed)), STEP 2 (PubMed), SURMOUNT-5 (PubMed).
Wegovy before and after: the numbers first
The 14.9% trial average was applied to three starting weights. These figures come from arithmetic rather than a prediction for any one person. Some people lose more, and others lose less.
| Starting weight | Average loss on semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly | Average loss on placebo |
|---|---|---|
| 180 lb | about 27 lb | about 4 lb |
| 220 lb | about 33 lb | about 5 lb |
| 260 lb | about 39 lb | about 6 lb |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
A Week-by-Week View
- During the early weeks, stomach side effects occur most often while the dose remains low and increases. After each dose increase, they often come back for a few days.
- At Week 68, STEP 1 reached its close, and the average loss above was measured.
Sources: health.clevelandclinic.org, PubMed.
What causes it to stall and what helps
- Check which dose step you are on. Each trial listed above produced less weight reduction with its lower doses.
- Look back over the past month and count any doses you missed or took late.
- For a few days, record your food and drinks. When portions get smaller, liquid calories and grazing add up.
- Talk with your prescriber about testing your thyroid or blood sugar. If progress has remained stalled for months, also ask about changing medicines.