For women trying to lose weight, biological factors, hormonal fluctuations, and genetic makeup can make slimming down a greater challenge. That’s where medical weight loss tools like Wegovy can help, making fad diets and over-the-top workouts a thing of the past.
Wegovy is a GLP-1 and semaglutide medication approved by Health Canada and prescribed by licensed healthcare professionals to support weight loss in those diagnosed with obesity. Women can use this once-weekly weight loss injection to shed pounds month-to-month while maintaining a reasonable routine of healthy eating and exercise.
GLP-1 medications like Wegovy mimic the actions of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a naturally occurring hormone primarily made in the intestines. GLP-1 hormones are responsible for many important biological functions, including blood sugar control, digestion, and appetite. By acting like GLP-1 hormones, Wegovy can help people with Type 2 diabetes, triggering the pancreas to release more insulin and lower blood sugar levels. For women’s weight loss, Wegovy can also increase appetite control, making it easier to achieve the calorie deficit needed to burn fat.
How Wegovy Reduces Appetite and Helps Weight Management
One of the biggest hurdles for women starting a weight loss journey is sticking to healthy eating habits. Easy access to high-fat foods, overly processed meals, and calorie-rich snacks make controlling cravings and burning calories a greater challenge. On top of that, disordered eating is a significant problem in Canada, with 2% of Canadians struggling with overeating and 80% of eating disorder patients being women.
But with new scientific innovations like semaglutide medications, women are better equipped to overcome barriers and take control of their health. The effects of semaglutide on appetite control make Wegovy a compelling option for clinical women’s weight loss. Taking Wegovy weekly can influence hunger cues in the brain and slow down digestion, making you feel more full with fewer calories. This can speed up the weight loss process, since you must burn more calories than you consume to shed pounds.
If you’re struggling with intrusive, constant thoughts about food, Wegovy may be a game-changer for you, quieting the food noise and empowering you to make healthier eating choices. GLP-1 medications like Wegovy are reported to reduce cravings for specific foods, and many patients find themselves less drawn to sweets, salt, dairy and fatty foods.
Wegovy influences two hunger hormones involved in regulating appetite, ghrelin and leptin. Ghrelin increases your appetite and tells your body to store more fat, while leptin tells you to stop eating. As you eat fewer calories, ghrelin may increase and leptin may decrease, but taking Wegovy can help you keep those hormonal changes in check, improve your basal metabolic rate, maintain lasting changes to your diet, and stay on track toward your weight loss goals.
Wegovy vs. Other GLP-1 Medications for Women’s Weight Loss
GLP-1 medications are the latest tools for empowering women's weight loss, and they're already making a difference in the lives of Canadian women. They’re a clinically-backed alternative to extreme dieting and exercise, helping women overcome weight loss hurdles and achieve results quickly yet sustainably.
Wegovy is one of the most popular GLP-1 medications for women's weight loss, but there are many other options you can explore. Some names you might recognize include Ozempic weight loss injections, Rybelsus weight loss pills, and Mounjaro weight loss injections. Though each of these are GLP-1 medications like Wegovy, there are key differences between the four.
Like Wegovy, Ozempic is a once-weekly weight loss injection and GLP-1 medication with semaglutide. The main difference is that Ozempic is approved to manage blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy is prescribed for long-term weight loss in adults and children with obesity.
Both semaglutide medications can be prescribed by weight loss doctors in Canada and have been shown to promote weight loss in clinical studies. In Wegovy studies, adults lost around 15% of their body weight, equal to about 35 lb (16 kg) over 68 weeks. In Ozempic studies, patients lost about 14 lbs (6.4 kgs) on average over 40 weeks using the 2 mg weekly dose of Ozempic to treat type 2 diabetes.
Rybelsus also contains the same active ingredient, semaglutide, as Wegovy, and like Ozempic, it is approved to treat type 2 diabetes. What sets Rybelsus apart is that it's a weight loss pill taken once daily. If you don't like the idea of weight loss injections once a week, Rybelsus may be a better treatment option for you.
Similar to Wegovy and Ozempic, Rybelsus can be prescribed by licensed Canadian clinicians and has demonstrated successful results for weight loss in clinical trials. During a Rybelsus clinical trial, participants experienced a 15.1% decrease in weight on average after receiving a daily 50-mg dose of Rybelsus over a 68-week period.
Mounjaro is a newer GLP-1 medication that contains the active ingredient tirzepatide, while Wegovy contains semaglutide as the active ingredient. Mounjaro is also a dual-agonist, while Wegovy is a single-receptor agonist. This means Mounjaro activates two receptors in the body at the same time, which may cause patients to lose even more weight than on a single-receptor medication like Wegovy.
Clinical studies are still ongoing for this new medication for women’s weight loss, but the results are promising so far. In Mounjaro clinical trials, patients on the largest dose of Mounjaro, 15 milligrams, lost as much as 21% of their body weight. Additional research found that 89% of patients using the 10 mg dose lost 5% or more of their weight at 72 weeks.
GLP-1 medications like Wegovy may make a big difference on your weight loss journey. The best way to get started with medical weight loss is to consult a licensed healthcare professional to see if treatment is right for you.
What To Expect When Taking Wegovy for Weight Loss
When a weight loss doctor starts you on Wegovy, they typically prescribe you a small dose (usually around 0.25 mg) at the beginning and slowly increase your dosage over time. This process, called titration, allows your body to get used to the semaglutide medication and can help you better avoid potential side effects.
While taking Wegovy, women may experience side effects including nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, constipation, and an upset stomach. These side effects typically happen within the first few weeks, and for most women, they decline as doses increase.
Like any other medication, it takes time to see the results of taking Wegovy. That being said, research suggests that most people will already notice some weight loss with Wegovy in the first 4 weeks. With continuous use, significant results can be seen and sustained with Wegovy, as seen in a clinical trial where participants maintained an average weight loss of 10% over the course of 2 years.
During the first month of treatment with Wegovy, you may notice appetite changes like fewer cravings and hunger pains, which can make transitioning to a healthier diet and exercise routine much easier. It's important to eat well and stay active while taking Wegovy to optimize your calorie burn and maximize your results.
Wegovy Can Support Your Weight Loss Journey
Are you ready to take control of your health and weight? Connecting with a licensed Canadian clinician and exploring GLP-1 medications like Wegovy can help you take the first steps toward rapid, sustainable weight loss and a radiant, more confident you.
