Wegovy for Weight Loss: 4 Ways Wegovy Works on Your Appetite, Cravings, and More

Weight loss can be a frustrating journey, especially if you’ve made numerous attempts to manage your weight without achieving your desired results. And while losing weight isn’t easy or simple, Wegovy (semaglutide) is an option your provider may consider if you’re feeling stuck.

Wegovy is a once-weekly injection for chronic weight management in adults and adolescents ages 12 and older. Compared to weight loss pills, it works in several unique ways to help you lose weight. Wegovy does this by mimicking the effects of GLP-1, a gut hormone involved in blood glucose (sugar) control, appetite regulation, and digestion.

So, how exactly does Wegovy work for weight loss? We cover the four ways Wegovy works on your appetite, cravings, and more below.

1. Wegovy works in your gut to make you feel full

One of the ways Wegovy works is by slowing down the rate at which food leaves your stomach — called gastric emptying. This can prolong feelings of fullness after you’ve eaten, so you may not need to eat as often. Eating fewer calories can result in weight loss over time.

However, slowed gastric emptying seems to be more significant during the first few months of taking Wegovy. Research suggests that after about 20 weeks (5 months), Wegovy may be less likely to have this effect on your gut. This is one of the reasons why certain Wegovy side effects from slowed gastric emptying, such as nausea, tend to improve over time.

2. Wegovy targets areas in your brain that regulate appetite

Wegovy doesn’t just work in your gut. It also affects areas of your brain involved in regulating your appetite and fullness. This can reduce feelings of hunger, make you feel full, and reduce the amount of food intake. Some people taking Wegovy say that it also quiets down “food noise” in their head — described by some as constant thoughts revolving around food.

3. Wegovy may reduce cravings for certain foods

Wegovy’s effects on the brain can also change your food preferences. For example, you may notice reduced cravings for certain foods such as salty snacks or sweets. Along with its appetite-related effects, this may be due to Wegovy interfering with the pleasure or reward you experience from eating these foods.

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During clinical trials, people receiving Wegovy reported better control over their cravings during nearly 2 years of treatment compared to people receiving a placebo (injection without medication). The Wegovy group also reported reduced cravings for savory foods — such as dairy and salty, spicy, or starchy foods — during this time.

If you’ve struggled with food cravings in the past, you may find that this is less of an issue with Wegovy. But for some people, this can mean losing your taste for some of your favorite foods. So, it’s important to find nutrient-packed foods that you like to ensure you’re getting adequate nutrition during treatment.

4. Wegovy may counteract certain hunger hormones that affect weight gain

Your appetite, metabolism, and body weight are influenced by several different hormones in your body. GLP-1, the gut hormone mimicked by Wegovy, is one of them. Ghrelin and leptin are a few other key players.

When you eat fewer calories, levels of these hormones can change. Ghrelin, sometimes called the “hunger hormone,” tends to increase — boosting your appetite and telling your body to store fat. And leptin, which tells you to stop eating, tends to decrease. This is thought to be one of the reasons it’s often difficult to maintain weight loss long term.

Wegovy may potentially counteract some of the hormonal changes that happen during weight loss. This may be one of the reasons many people are able to maintain weight loss from Wegovy over time. However, this effect goes away if you stop taking Wegovy. 

Keep in mind: Wegovy works best if you combine it with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Maintaining these lifestyle changes is an important way to keep your body healthy over the long term.

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Written by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

Reviewed by:

Katie E. Golden, MD

Katie E. Golden, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and a medical editor at GoodRx.

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