Semaglutide is a medication mainly used to lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. However, it may also help manage weight due to its ability to suppress appetite and slow digestion. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically approved Wegovy, a medication that contains semaglutide, for long-term weight management.
Currently, there’s no research that states how long it takes for semaglutide to suppress appetite. Depending on how well you respond to the medication, you may notice a reduced appetite and cravings within the first few weeks.
How long it takes for semaglutide to work can vary, depending on:
- Your prescribed dose
- Your metabolism
- If you have underlying health conditions
- How well you stick to lifestyle changes recommended by your provider
With an injectable (by shot) prescription of semaglutide, like Wegovy, providers often start you on 0.25 milligrams weekly for the first four weeks. Depending on how your body responds, your provider will increase your weekly dose to 0.5 milligrams until the maximum recommended amount of 2.4 milligrams is reached. Semaglutide helps with food noise and weight management, the higher the dose.
Keep in mind that semaglutide doesn’t work on its own. To maintain your weight and curb cravings, your healthcare provider may place you on 2.4 mg of semaglutide weekly, along with lifestyle changes.
If injections aren’t an option, your healthcare provider may recommend oral (by mouth) semaglutide, such as Rybelsus.
Semaglutide belongs to a class of medicines called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). GLP-1 is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels and appetite.
When you eat, your upper intestines release GLP-1, which helps:
- Lower appetite
- Raise the feeling of fullness
- Reduce food cravings
- Change food preferences
- Reduce calorie intake
Semaglutide copies how GLP-1 agonists work by activating brain receptors that control appetite, food cravings, and preferences.
Although semaglutide can effectively help suppress appetite and help you achieve your weight loss goals, the response to treatment can vary.
Possible reasons may include:
- Underlying health conditions: Research suggests that having type 2 diabetes can affect how much semaglutide curbs cravings. People who have diabetes may lose less weight compared to those without diabetes.
- Sex: People born female at birth tend to respond better to semaglutide than people born male at birth. This may be because hormones can affect people’s eating habits differently, which can change how semiglutide works.
- Certain medications: Zyprexa (olanzapine) and oral steroids like Orapred (prednisolone) can trigger hunger and potentially counteract the appetite-suppressing effect of semaglutide.
- Dosage: The amount of semaglutide you take can affect how strongly your appetite is suppressed. Higher doses typically lead to more appetite suppression and greater weight loss. Avoid using semaglutide more than recommended to prevent side effects.
Combining semaglutide with lifestyle modifications can raise its effectiveness. Some changes you can try include:
- Engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity every week for at least 150 minutes, such as walking
- Eat more protein to avoid losing muscle
- Limit ultra-processed food or snacks with too much sugar
- Try to avoid emotional eating
- Eat more fiber-rich food to keep you fuller for longer
- Stay hydrated
- Maintain a 500-kcal/day calorie deficit
- Have weekly check-ins about your progress with your healthcare provider
Semaglutide can help suppress appetite and curb food noise, making it a great choice for people looking to manage their weight. You may notice a change in appetite during your first week of using semaglutide. However, in some people, this may be longer.
Several factors, like the dose prescribed, underlying conditions like type 2 diabetes, gender, or certain medications, can impact how well semaglutide works. Keep in mind that while semaglutide may be an effective treatment for weight management, it works best when combined with eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly.
