Why Am I Not Losing Weight On Semaglutide?

1. You May Need A Different Medication

If you are on semaglutide and not losing weight, you may not understand that weight loss is very complex and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Your body can respond very differently to semaglutide than someone else’s. You may also have issues going on under the surface that you are unaware of, like a hormone imbalance or a thyroid condition. It is always advisable to work closely with a qualified weight loss doctor who can monitor your progress and make any necessary adjustments. It is possible that you need to use a different medication, such as tirzepatide, that works a bit differently because it mimics not only the GLP-1 hormone but GIP as well.

2. You Need To Be Patient

When you first begin taking semaglutide, you may expect to rapidly begin losing weight but that is not how this medication is designed to work. In some cases it may work rapidly for some people when they first begin taking it, but for the majority of individuals, the average weekly weight loss on semaglutide is between 1 and 3 pounds.

If you are seeing claims of huge weight loss results shared on social media and your scale appears to be stuck at the same number despite all your efforts, do not let yourself get discouraged.

Everyone’s metabolism reacts differently to the medication and it will take time for your body to become adjusted to the medication. It may seem like nothing is happening, but under the surface the medication may be working to get your hormones balanced and making gradual changes to optimize your metabolism. Another thing to consider is that in the early stages, many people become constipated or bloated, and even though they may be losing fat, it is just not showing up on the scale yet.

3. Your Dose May Not Have Reached The Effective Level

Semaglutide, like all other GLP-1 medications, is dosed on a gradual schedule to help mitigate the severity of common side effects like nausea and vomiting while your body is getting used to the medication.

Everyone’s body has its own “trigger level,” meaning there is enough medication at the right dose in your body to trigger weight loss. The number of days or weeks it will take for your body to reach that trigger level is unknown to anyone until it happens. While it may seem like the semaglutide is not working, it may just be taking longer to reach the dose that your body needs to promote weight loss.

4. You May Not Be Consistent In Your Use Of The Medication

It is important to keep a consistent level of medication in your system, or it can affect your rate of weight loss. Your doctor can help you determine the schedule that works best for you, but it is important to administer your injections on the same day of the week and as close to the same time as possible to get the best results.

5. Interactions From Routine Medications

Some medications you take regularly might make it harder for you to lose weight or even lead to weight gain while on semaglutide. During your consultation with your doctor, be sure to mention any prescriptions or herbal supplements you are taking so they can ensure you use the right medication that works best for your circumstances.

6. You Have Not Made Necessary Lifestyle Changes

Semaglutide is meant to be used as a tool to help your body create a calorie deficit so you can lose weight. Unfortunately, it cannot work magic, and you will have to make changes in your diet and lifestyle that will work with the medication to promote weight loss.

If you think you can lose weight on semaglutide without changing your diet, then you will be struggling to reach and maintain a healthy weight. You may be able to shed some initial weight, but after a while you will reach a plateau and your semaglutide will no longer be working as it did for you before. Eating a healthy, low-calorie diet and getting enough physical activity are the foundations of weight loss and will make a significant difference in your results when losing weight with semaglutide.

7. You Need To Make Other Lifestyle Adjustments

You may not realize that unmanaged stress can make it harder for you to lose weight and may even lead to weight gain. When your stress levels are high, your body produces more cortisol, which is a hormone that signals the body to store fat as part of the fight-or-flight response. Finding healthy ways to manage stress, like exercise, meditation, or hobbies, can help lower cortisol levels.

Also, the amount of sleep you get can affect how your body responds to your weight loss efforts. Not getting enough rest can throw off the balance of hormones like leptin and ghrelin, which control hunger and cravings. This can cause you to overeat and increase cravings for unhealthy foods, counteracting the effects of the semaglutide so it is not suppressing your appetite.

A Change In Medication

Your body may not be responsive to prescription semaglutide, and you may wish to switch your medication to tirzepatide and see if you get better results. Both medications mimic the GLP-1 hormone, but tirzepatide also mimics a second hormone called GIP which makes it a bit more effective. Your body may respond better to the additional hormone.

An Endoscopic Procedure

Your doctor may discuss a non-surgical weight loss procedure with you, such as a temporary gastric balloon or endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, which makes your stomach significantly smaller without any incisions. The size of your stomach is reduced by placing stitches in strategic locations that are administered from the inside.

Sometimes, these non-surgical endoscopic weight loss procedures are used along with prescription weight loss medications to achieve the best results. In fact, a study that was conducted using semaglutide and ESG together yielded an average weight loss of almost 27% of the person’s starting weight in one year.