MAXIMIZE YOUR GLP-1 JOURNEY

For the 15 million Americans on these meds, here's how to speed results

- by KARA WAHLGREN

Your 6-week guide to Ozempic

If your doctor has prescribed a GLP-1 medication like Ozempic or Wegovy for weight loss, you may be wondering how soon you'll see results. In a study published in JAMA Network Open, participants who took 2.4 mg of semaglutide (the highest dosage of Wegovy, which is FDA-approved for weight management) lost 5 to 6% of their body weight in 12 weeks. For a 200-pound woman, that’s between 10 and 12 pounds. Want to up your odds of results ASAP? There are a few steps you can take early on, and they work whether you're also managing diabetes or not. Here, we walk you through what to expect during your first 6 weeks on semaglutide. Plus, check out our pro tips to help you reach your goals.

Weeks 1-2 Getting your body used to the medication

When you first start taking semaglutide, you'll need time to adapt. These steps can help ease side effects so it's easier to stick with the medication in the long run:

Tweak your diet

“During the first week or two, it’s common to have side effects like nausea, stomach upset and fatigue,” says Hayley Miller, M.D., a board-certified obesity medicine specialist and medical director of Nurx Weight Management. Here’s what she suggests to feel better:

• Eat smaller meals

• Stop eating before you begin to feel full

• Avoid fatty, greasy or fried foods to lessen nausea

• Increase fiber and fluids to ease constipation