Semaglutide Weight Loss Facts: How Fast And How Much?

Since semaglutide is a weight loss medication, it is expected that, if you take semaglutide, you will lose weight.

Many people ask the following questions: When will I start to lose weight? How much weight will I lose? Is there an appropriate amount of weight I should lose per week that is considered safe? Lastly, how much weight should I lose? 

Here are the facts:

Typically you will not begin to see weight loss until 6-8 weeks after you have started semaglutide. This is primarily because, during the first four weeks, you will be on a small dose. 

This initial dosing helps your body to get used to the medication, and tests for side effects.  Every four weeks the dose can be increased, as long as you are not having side effects.  The dose continues to be increased until you are losing the expected amount of weight per week (see below), until you reach your goal weight, or until you reach the medication maximum (2.4mg per week.)  

Between 15-20%

On semaglutide, you can expect to lose somewhere between 15-20% of your body weight when combined with optimization of the four key lifestyle areas - nutrition, exercise, sleep and stress. 

Without lifestyle changes, expected weight loss is approximately 5%.  These numbers can vary depending on how long you take semaglutide, and your starting BMI.  It is important to remember that semaglutide does not lose weight for you, but rather it helps you to reach your weight loss goals!

The goal?

Once you start to lose weight on semaglutide, the goal is for you to lose 1-1.5lbs per week.  This is a healthy amount of weight loss. If you lose weight more quickly you are at increased risk for pancreatitis, and you also might be losing muscle mass instead of fat.  

When you start semaglutide, set a weight loss goal, based on whether you will be optimizing your four key lifestyle areas (recommended) or just taking the medication.  If you are optimizing your four key lifestyle areas, set your weight loss goal as 15% - 20% below your starting weight; otherwise set your weight loss goal as 5% below your starting weight.