What to expect on your weight loss medication journey - key milestones
They’ve swept through the weight loss world with rapid effect, becoming known as effective new treatments that bring impressive results.
Are you thinking of taking the plunge with a weight loss jab? You’ll be joining an estimated 1.6m to 2.4m UK adults who used them last year, according to UCL researchers. Here we explore some of the key milestones if you want to know what to expect on Mounjaro or Wegovy.
How do weight loss injections work?
Weight loss injections work by mimicking the natural gut hormone your body releases after eating, called GLP-1. The jabs reduce appetite and slow down stomach emptying, helping you to feel fuller for longer - with the knock-on effect of eating less without feeling constantly hungry. People describe no longer experiencing ‘food noise’ or cravings on the medications.
When combined with healthy eating and exercise, they can potentially lead to significant weight loss under medical guidance. The injections are typically prescribed for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, or slightly less when coupled with weight-related health conditions.
Timeline of being on Mounjaro and Wegovy injections
Everybody’s weight loss journey is different with injections such as Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) - along with the potential side effects. The weight loss pills are still in their infancy, so more research is expected to come. Here are some of the things that you might expect to experience.
What to expect in your first week
First week on Mounjaro: What to expect
During your first week on Mounjaro - using the 2.5mg starter dose - you can expect to feel an earlier fullness when eating a meal, plus a reduced appetite or fewer food cravings. Weight changes are usually minimal at this stage as the body experiences water loss and you could encounter mild side effects including fatigue and an upset stomach as your body adjusts.
First week on Wegovy: What to expect
You might feel mild appetite suppression and fullness during your first week on the lowest starter dose of 0.25mg of Wegovy. Don’t be downhearted if you experience little or no weight loss - it takes a while for the medicine to build up in your system. You might also feel minor side effects such as fatigue or nausea.
Key milestones
Individual results will vary, depending on factors such as starting weight, metabolism, various lifestyle factors and how high the dosage is. This is just an overarching picture of the key milestones that could feature in your weight loss journey using the injections:
- Getting started
- Building momentum
- Slowing down
- Long term
Week 1
You could start to feel a reduced appetite, with your ‘food noise’ abating and smaller meals feeling satisfying.
Week 2
If you’ve experienced side effects, they should start to settle now as your body adapts. You could see some weight loss.
Week 4
The jab doses typically step up at this point, once the starter dose stage is completed.
Week 8
Many people are experiencing weight loss, with another dosage increase possible for those wanting to continue.
Week 12
By around three months, many people have lost around 5-10% of their starting body weight, though individual results vary, with many now having adopted healthy habits.
Week 16-20
This is when Wegovy reaches its full 2.4mg maintenance dose, while Mounjaro patients are still increasing.
Week 24
By six months, hunger controls often feel more stable for many, with often more than half of their eventual total weight loss having occurred.
Week 30-36
Weight loss often continues but the rate typically begins to slow.
Week 40-44
Quite a gradual weight loss by now.
Week 52
By around the first year, some people begin to reach a weight loss plateau, with progress slowing compared to the earlier months.
Week 68-72
Published clinical trials found average weight loss of 20.9% on Mounjaro 15mg (72 weeks), and 14.9% with Wegovy 2.4mg (68 weeks).
Beyond 18 months
Many people reach a plateau around this stage. Treatment can often shift towards maintaining weight loss and helping to prevent weight regain.
Common side effects of weight loss injections
Most of the common side effects of weight loss injections are often mild and temporary and can improve as your body adapts. They include:
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Fatigue
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Nausea
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Vomiting
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Upset stomach, including bloating, constipation or diarrhoea
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Indigestion or heartburn
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Headache
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Dizziness
What to do if you get side effects
There are several ways to counter the side effects that you might be experiencing with weight loss jabs:
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Drink plenty of water and get enough of the types of fibre that you tolerate well to deal with constipation
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Focus on protein intake to avoid loss of muscle mass
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Eat lighter, simpler meals and avoid greasy or fatty foods
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Stay hydrated and chose easily digestible food to counter the effects of diarrhoea
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Make sure you rest, taking time for your body to adjust
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Avoid skipping meals and drink more fluids to prevent headaches
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Contact your prescriber if you have any concerns
Getting the most from your weight loss injection journey
Understanding how weight loss injections work is an important part of getting the most from your journey. They reduce appetite and help you feel fuller for longer, but eating less can make it harder to get enough protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals.
PortionIQ’s science-led range helps tackle common nutritional challenges and side effects associated with weight loss medication, making it easier to stay nourished and support your wellbeing as you lose weight. Include protein, fibre, vitamins & minerals as we did for the hair loss article.