Wegovy has become one of the most talked-about weight loss medications in the UK. This once-weekly injection, containing semaglutide, has helped thousands of people lose a significant amount of weight and improve their overall health.
If you’ve just started Wegovy or are thinking about it, it’s natural to want clarity on the journey ahead. How long will you be on it? When do you stop? And what happens if you do?
Like Mounjaro, Wegovy is a weekly injection that helps with weight loss by changing the way your body controls hunger. It contains a drug called semaglutide, which copies a natural hormone your body makes after eating.
This hormone helps you feel full sooner, stay fuller for longer, and reduces cravings. It also slows down how quickly food leaves your stomach, which means you’re likely to eat less without feeling like you’re constantly fighting hunger.
Wegovy has other health benefits too, like supporting heart health and improving blood sugar levels, which is why Wegovy is often used as a long-term treatment.
Semaglutide is also used under a different name, Ozempic, for people with type 2 diabetes. While the medication is the same, Ozempic is prescribed to help manage blood sugar, and Wegovy is licensed specifically for reducing obesity.
Wegovy is taken once a week using a pre-filled injection pen. The starting dose is 0.25 mg once per week for the first four weeks. After that, the dose is gradually increased over several months, usually moving up through 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, and 1.7 mg, until reaching the full 2.4 mg dose once per week, the standard maintenance dose for ongoing weight-loss support.
Most people take Wegovy for at least 6 to 12 months, or longer if they’re still losing weight or working towards long-term health goals.
In clinical studies, people who were prescribed Wegovy lost around 15% of their body weight on average over 68 weeks (slightly over 16 months), compared to only 2-3% in people who didn’t take it. The most steady and effective results were seen when the weekly Wegovy jabs were continued over time, rather than stopped early.
Longer-term studies, including one that followed patients for two full years, show that continued use helps maintain that weight loss safely. Those who stopped treatment early were more likely to experience weight gain, while those who stayed on it kept the results off and saw further benefits over time.
As with any ongoing medication, it’s important to check in regularly with a healthcare professional, especially if you’ve been on Wegovy for a year or more.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. How long you should stay on Wegovy depends on how your body responds, how much weight you aim to lose, and how well you’re managing on the medication.
Some people use it for a set period, like 6 to 12 months, and then gradually come off once they’ve reached their goal weight. Others continue using it for longer to avoid regaining weight.
It’s not just about hitting a number on the scales. Wegovy also supports other areas of health, including blood sugar and heart health. If you see wider benefits and feel well on treatment, your pharmacist or doctor may advise you to stay on it longer.
Once you’ve reached a healthier weight, your prescriber may recommend staying on a 2.4mg dose to help keep the weight off. This is known as a maintenance dose, and it’s a common part of long-term weight management with Wegovy. The idea isn’t to keep losing weight forever, but to support your body in maintaining your progress without the hunger and cravings returning too strongly.
Researchers found that people who continued taking Wegovy after the first 20 weeks lost an additional 7.9% of their body weight over the next year. In contrast, those who switched to a placebo during that same period gained back 6.9% of their weight. The difference was clear: stopping treatment led to weight regain, while continuing helped people keep losing or maintain their progress. This highlights how important a maintenance dose can be for long-term success.
It’s important to have regular reviews with your doctor or pharmacist to assess how things are going and adjust the plan if needed. That might mean staying on the full dose, stepping down to a maintenance dose, or coming off the treatment altogether if it’s right for you.
Wegovy is considered safe for long-term weight loss if it’s helping and you’re tolerating the medication well. There’s usually no need to stop suddenly, and your prescriber will guide you through the best next step for your situation.
If you stop taking Wegovy, the effects wear off gradually, but the weight can return faster than you might expect.
That’s because semaglutide works by controlling your appetite and helping your body manage hunger signals. Once it’s out of your system, those signals return to normal, which can make it easier to overeat or slip back into old habits.
In one study, people who stopped Wegovy after a year of use regained two-thirds of their lost weight within one year. Blood sugar levels and cholesterol markers also worsened after stopping, even in people who kept up with lifestyle changes like a better diet and exercise.
This doesn’t mean you have to stay on it forever, but it does show that coming off Wegovy needs a plan. If you decide to stop, doing so with support can help reduce the risk of weight regain. That might involve stepping down to a lower dosage first, adjusting your diet and activity, or using other tools to keep on track.
To start Wegovy, you need to meet certain eligibility criteria, including having a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 with weight-related health conditions. If you stop using Wegovy and later want to restart, your BMI might fall just below that threshold, even if you’re still struggling with being overweight. That can leave some people in a difficult place: not eligible to restart, but unhappy with where they’ve ended up. Many people choose to stay on a maintenance dose to avoid slipping out of eligibility for future treatment.
Losing weight isn’t easy, and keeping it off can feel even harder. Wegovy is a treatment that can make that journey more manageable, giving your body the support it needs to help you feel fuller for longer and reduce cravings.
At Click2Pharmacy, we’re here to make getting started as simple and stress-free as possible. Our online weight loss clinic offers a free consultation, reviewed by a UK-licensed pharmacist. If you’re eligible, we’ll deliver your treatment quickly and discreetly.
You don’t need to figure it all out on your own. With expert support and a clear plan, you can take the next step towards a healthier, more confident you.
