Wegovy Plateau: When It Happens, Why, and How to Break It
Results vary a lot by person. In STEP 1, the average loss on semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly was 14.9% 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 overview
Its half-life is about 1 week, so half disappears after 7 d; five half-lives (35 d) leave about 3%.
In STEP 1, the result over 68 weeks was 14.9% of body weight, compared with 2.4% for placebo.
Monthly prices in US dollars include the list price and self-pay offers. Each comes from the maker's price page.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), healthsystemtracker.org, prnewswire.com 1 2.
Wegovy plateau: 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 with type 2 diabetes who also live with obesity or overweight |
Sources: STEP 1 (FDA label (DailyMed)), SURMOUNT-5 (PubMed), STEP 2 (PubMed).
What leads to a stall, and what helps
- Check which dose step you have reached. Every trial listed above shows people on lower doses losing less weight.
- Count any doses you missed or took late during the past month.
- For a few days, keep track of your food and drinks. As portions shrink, liquid calories and grazing add up.
- Eat protein at every meal and keep doing strength training, so most of your weight loss comes from fat.
- Check your sleep and stress, because both change your appetite.
- Ask your pharmacist if weight gain can come from other medicines you take.
- Ask your prescriber about a thyroid or blood sugar check. If your progress has stalled for months, discuss switching medicines.