5 maneras de obtener los mejores resultados con los medicamentos GLP-1

Key points:

1. GLP-1 weight loss results differ. The best way to encourage success is to embrace healthy eating and exercise plans. (Especially resistance and strength training.)
2. Quality sleep supports healthy blood sugar levels and the hormones that regulate hunger and satiety.
3. Eating too few calories can slow metabolism and cause uncomfortable side effects. Staying hydrated and prioritizing snacks of nutrient-dense foods supports healthy weight management.

Before starting Shed It, you may have set high expectations for your GLP-1 medication. And GLP-1 treatment can drastically affect your experience with hunger and how much you eat.

But that sensation doesn’t necessarily transfer into an immediate or dramatic amount of lost weight.  And that shouldn’t be the goal, anyway—healthy weight loss is slow and steady.

But if you’ve been on a GLP-1 medication for a while and want to maximize your results, we've some suggestions.

First, let’s explore how long it takes for GLP-1s to trigger weight loss. Then, 5 strategies to empower your Shed It experience.

How long do GLP-1 agonists take to work?

All GLP-1 receptor agonist medications mimic glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a type of hormone (incretin) naturally made in the body. GLP-1 helps lower blood sugar levels, slow down digestion, and signal fullness.  GLP-1 receptor agonist medications increase GLP-1 levels and prolong their effect longer than the natural form.

But the speed and level of effect on the body vary depending on the specific medication and form you take.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist medications include:

• Liraglutide: This daily injection medication can come in a compounded form or as the active ingredient in brand-name Saxenda®* and Victoza®* reusable pens. 
• Semaglutide: This weekly injection is the active ingredient in the brand-name medications Wegovy®* and Ozempic®*, which are available as autoinjector pens. Patients who cannot take injections may take Semaglutide in a compounded sublingual medication taken daily. (It’s a less effective but helpful option.)
• Tirzepatide: This weekly injection is the active ingredient in the brand-name medications Zepbound®* and Mounjaro®*, which are available as autoinjector pens. Zepbound® is also available in vials to be drawn into a syringe for injection.

Those on weekly injectable GLP-1 medications may notice a change within a few days of their first dose. Those on daily injections may need to wait a few weeks for the concentration of medication to build up in the bloodstream. Oral GLP-1 medications are not absorbed as fully into the body, so they may take a little longer, too.

But overall, many people notice a significant change in appetite towards the end of the first full month of treatment. During this time, it’s typical to start feeling fuller faster after a meal and less hungry overall. Some people may also notice they’ve lost a little weight in this first month.

Weight loss usually starts when you increase your dosage one or two times—a process called titrating up. Depending on your weight loss goals, you may notice a significant reduction in body weight between months two and five. Or you may continue to lose weight across a full year of treatment.

How much weight can you lose on GLP-1 medications?

Before receiving FDA approval, brand-name weight loss medications underwent clinical trials to determine how much weight patients on the medication could lose over one or so years. In each trial, patients titrated their dosage upward. Most were also coached through medical weight loss programs on how to eat a balanced diet and increase their movement.

Here’s what those trials showed about total weight loss.

LIRAGLUTIDE: In clinical trials, over 60% of participants who took daily Saxenda® injections had lost at least 5% of their starting body weight at the 56-week mark. Over 30% of participants lost at least 10% of their starting body weight, and about 6% lost at least 20% of their starting body weight. (It's important to note that compounded medication forms are not included in clinical trials.)

SEMAGLUTIDE: In clinical trials of injectable Semaglutide (Wegovy®), participants with a BMI at or above 30 lost an average of 15% of their initial body weight over 68 weeks of treatment. (Sublingually-administered Semaglutide has not been tested in clinical settings. So Dr. B cannot provide equivalent data for patients taking sublingual Semaglutide.)

TIRZEPATIDE: This medication mimics two powerful hormones—glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). In clinical trials of Zepbound®, participants lost 15-20% of their starting body weight over 72 weeks. Treatment also improved health conditions like high cholesterol, blood pressure, and triglycerides.

5 ways to increase weight loss on GLP-1s

Several variables impact how much weight you might lose—and how quickly.

Your healthcare provider will prescribe a preliminary dosage depending on your starting weight, BMI and health concerns. Then, they’ll adjust your monthly dosage to address side effects and weight loss factors as needed.

Otherwise, these five weight loss strategies can empower your experience.

1. Get physical—seriously

Exercise is essential for (almost) everyone. But it’s crucial for those taking prescription weight loss medication. Because if you only use the medication to lose weight, 20-50% of the weight you lose can come from lean body mass.

That’s muscles, fluids—everything but fat!

Such loss can affect bone health and strength, making you less stable and at increased risk for falls, broken bones and hospital stays. Then, if you stop taking your medication and regain weight, you’ll only regain body fat. So your body will be less healthy and supported than before!

The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends that all (healthy) adults aim to get 150-300 weekly minutes of moderate-intense aerobic activity per week (cardio). To combat lean body mass and muscle loss, add resistance or weight training sessions at least twice a week. Lift weights, use elastic bands or consider bodyweight exercises.

These activities will also increase your metabolism, keeping your body burning calories longer!

2. Make menu changes

GLP-1s can sometimes suppress hunger so dramatically that you reduce the number of calories you eat by too much. Other times, side effects like nausea and cramping make eating difficult.

Reducing your calorie intake too much can slow your metabolism. This means you burn less energy, which can hinder weight loss!

For successful and sustainable weight loss, aim to eat 500-1000 fewer calories than you burn through diet and exercise. To give your body energy to burn, prioritize nutrient-rich foods like lean proteins, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

To learn how things like fiber and timing meals can affect digestion, energy and side effects, head to this exclusive Shed It article.

3. Form healthier habits

No hard science can tell us how long it takes to solidify a new habit, but experts estimate that it takes about six months for intentional, repeated actions to become steady habits. The best way to set yourself up for success during these months is to repeatedly choose activities you look forward to doing.

Consider these four areas before choosing a new fitness or nutrition program.

SOCIABILITY: Are you an introvert or an extrovert? This matters because if you are an introvert, you might find the most motivation from an at-home exercise program or by cooking through a new cookbook. If you are extroverted, joining a recreational team sport, fitness class, or cooking class may keep you interested!

ACCOUNTABILITY: Do you set high expectations for yourself and love crossing things off a list? If so, you may only need a dedicated notebook or smart tracker to stay on point. If you’re more likely to show up if a friend or teacher sets firm boundaries, consider the help of a licensed trainer or registered dietitian.

SCHEDULING: How much time can you realistically commit to new routines? Consider your schedule as you scope out new gyms or fitness classes. If they don’t align with your schedule, maybe an at-home program will better suit you. If meal planning won’t fit, consider a meal kit or delivery service, or talk with your household about shifting and sharing the cooking load. You can only stick to a schedule if you make one!

FINANCES: Depending on your current circumstances, spending money on new fitness and nutrition programs may add stress to your weight loss journey or ease it. If you find free or low-cost resources, will you feel more excited about your weight loss plan? Or can you move some things around your budget so that you can invest more in these areas for the next few months?

4.  Prioritize early, long sleep

Several studies suggest that sleep timing, quantity and quality affect our weight loss efforts.

When we stay up late, our brains get psychological cues to eat more. So we snack—often on processed foods—and our caloric intake increases. In one study, habitually underslept participants slept one additional hour each night for two weeks. As a result, they incidentally ate around 270 fewer calories each day. Some ate 500 fewer calories!

And if you get “night munchies,” studies reveal why they happen, too.

At night, our sensitivity to glucose and insulin decreases while hormones that control hunger and satiety increase. That means while our body doesn’t need fuel, we’re cued to feel hungrier and less likely to feel full! Our blood sugar levels take a hit as a result.

Altogether, getting a good amount of quality sleep increases weight loss by 33%!

So prioritize those zzz’s!

5. Go slow and steady

With all the buzz about GLP-1s, you may expect to lose a lot of weight fast. Some people do. But ½ to 2 pounds per week is healthy, sustainable weight loss.

It’s also typical to experience a weight-loss slowdown at some point during treatment. In one clinical trial, patients hit a weight-loss plateau about 60 weeks into taking Semaglutide.

 So throughout the process, remember that regular physical activity, nutritious meals and other healthy habits are helping you gain lasting strength, health and other long-term benefits.

*Sazenda®, Victoza®, Wegovy®, Ozempic®, Zepbound® and Mounjaro® are registered trademarks of their respective owners. Our use of these names is for informational purposes only and does not imply any affiliation, endorsement or approval by the trademark holders.

Sources:

Fischer, K. (2023). What to know about hitting a weight loss plateau while on Ozempic or Wegovy. Health.

Garvey, W. T., et al. (2022). Two-year effects of Semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity: the STEP 5 trial. Nature Medicine.

Mayo Clinic. (2024.) How fast does Semaglutide kick in?

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2020). Changing your habits for better health.

Papatriantafyllou, E., et al. (2022). Sleep deprivation: effects on weight loss and weight loss maintenance. Nutrients.

Sargeant, J.A., et al. (2019). A review of the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors on lean body mass in humans. Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Wilding, J. P. H., et al. (2021). Once-weekly Semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity. The New England Journal of Medicine.