Everything you need to know about semaglutide (Wegovy) weight loss treatment.

1 – What is semaglutide (Wegovy)?

Semaglutide (brand name Wegovy) is a once-weekly injectable medication that helps with long-term weight loss. It belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists.

By mimicking the gut hormone GLP-1, Wegovy reduces appetite, slows digestion, and improves glucose regulation. It is licensed in the UK and globally for adults with:

• BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² (obesity), or
• BMI ≥ 27 kg/m² with at least one weight-related condition (e.g. hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia).

2 – How does Wegovy work?

Semaglutide acts on multiple pathways:

• Brain: reduces appetite and food cravings by acting on satiety centres.
• Stomach: slows gastric emptying, prolonging fullness after meals.
• Pancreas: enhances insulin release when glucose is high, and reduces glucagon.

Bottom line: Wegovy helps men eat less, feel satisfied sooner, and improve metabolic health.

3 – Who is Wegovy for?

Wegovy may be suitable if you:

• Struggle to lose or maintain weight with lifestyle changes alone.
• Need to reduce weight to improve or prevent metabolic disease.
• Have a BMI ≥ 30, or ≥ 27 with a weight-related comorbidity.
• Do not have contraindications such as MEN-2 or a family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma.

4 – How effective is Wegovy?

Large trials show Wegovy produces clinically meaningful and sustained weight loss:

• STEP-1 trial: average 15% weight loss of baseline body weight after 68 weeks.
• STEP-3 trial (with behavioural therapy): up to 16% weight loss.
• STEP-4 trial: patients who stopped semaglutide regained weight; those who continued maintained their results.

Compared to older GLP-1 drugs (like liraglutide/Saxenda), semaglutide is more effective and more convenient (weekly vs daily injections).

5 – Key benefits of Wegovy

For men, Wegovy offers:

• Weight loss: typically, 10–15% of body weight.
• Improved blood sugar control (even in men without diabetes).
• Reduced cardiovascular risk: semaglutide lowers heart attack and stroke risk in people with diabetes (SUSTAIN-6).
• Visceral fat reduction: helps lower waist circumference and metabolic risk.
• Hormonal improvements: weight loss can improve testosterone and reduce erectile dysfunction risk.
• Better energy, sleep, and mental health.

6 – Why is maintaining a healthy weight important?

Carrying excess weight—especially central obesity—raises the risk of:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Heart disease and stroke
• Fatty liver disease
• Sleep apnoea
• Certain cancers (colon, kidney, pancreatic, prostate)

Maintaining a healthy weight supports longevity, independence, and quality of life.

7 – What if diet and exercise haven’t worked?

Obesity is not simply about willpower. Hormones, genetics, stress, and environment all play roles. If lifestyle measures haven’t worked, Wegovy provides a safe, effective medical tool when supervised by a clinician.

Other options include:

• Orlistat
• Naltrexone/bupropion
• Bariatric surgery

8 – Can results with Wegovy last long-term?

Yes—with ongoing support. Studies show continued use maintains weight loss. But stopping Wegovy often leads to partial regain, highlighting the chronic nature of obesity.

That’s why we combine medication with nutrition, exercise, mindset, and long-term monitoring at Heracles.

9 – Is it safe?

Semaglutide is generally safe and well tolerated. The most common side-effects are gastrointestinal and improve with time:

• Nausea
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Vomiting

Less common risks:

• Gallbladder issues
• Pancreatitis (rare)
• Kidney injury (rare)

Not suitable if:

• You or family have MEN-2 or medullary thyroid carcinoma.
• You have type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.
• You’ve had pancreatitis.

10 – Alcohol and Wegovy

Light drinking is generally safe, but alcohol can worsen nausea and interfere with weight loss goals.

11 – How long do I need to take Wegovy?

Obesity is a chronic condition. For most men, Wegovy is long-term, much like treatment for high blood pressure or diabetes. If you stop, weight is likely to return unless strong lifestyle changes are in place.

12 – Do I need a doctor’s prescription?

Yes. Wegovy is prescription-only and requires medical assessment.

13 – What is the Heracles prescription process?

• Initial questionnaire and photo submission.
• Medical assessment to review history and risks.
• Blood tests (optional but strongly recommended): HbA1c, lipids, thyroid, liver, kidney.
• Personalised plan: medication + nutrition, exercise, and mindset support.

14 – How do I take Wegovy?

• Once-weekly subcutaneous injection using a prefilled pen.
• Start low and increase gradually (0.25 mg → 2.4 mg) to reduce side effects.
• Can be self-administered at home.

15 – How quickly will I see results?

• First changes: often within weeks.
• By 3–6 months: 5–10% weight loss.
• By 12–15 months: full effect (10–15% average).

16 – How do I maximise results?

Medication works best with:

• High-protein, nutrient-dense diet.
• Strength training 2–3x per week.
• Adequate sleep (7–9 hrs).
• Stress management (mindfulness, therapy, relaxation).

17 – What if I regain weight after stopping?

Weight regain is common. Like blood pressure or cholesterol medication, ongoing treatment is often needed. Heracles supports men with lifestyle and psychological tools to maintain results.

18 – Is Wegovy addictive?

No. It does not stimulate brain reward pathways. Dependence is not an issue, but long-term use may be needed for maintenance.

19 – What if I have an adverse reaction?

Seek urgent care if you experience:

• Allergic reaction (rash, swelling, breathing difficulty)
• Severe abdominal pain (possible pancreatitis)
• Symptoms of hypoglycaemia (shaking, confusion, fainting – rare without diabetes/insulin)

Contact your doctor if you experience:

• Persistent nausea
• Dehydration
• Vision changes

20 – Building the right mindset

• Think long-term: Wegovy is a tool, not a quick fix.
• Expect plateaus: normal and temporary.
• Stay motivated: visualise your future health, energy, and confidence.

At Heracles Health, we combine Wegovy with coaching on mindset, behaviour, and resilience.