Fewer food cravings
One way Wegovy works is by reducing food cravings. Semaglutide helps to curb your appetite, which means you might feel less inclined to snack or overeat while using the injections.
Overeating is considered a major contributing factor when it comes to gaining weight. When your blood sugar levels dip, hunger cues can kick in as you feel the need to raise your energy levels. This is one reason people eat snacks. Snacking is common — a US study found that over 90% of adults eat one or more snacks each day.
Fewer urges to snack mean you can think about what you’re eating between meals. Wegovy won’t suppress your appetite completely, but the need to eat less means you can control your portion sizes and be more mindful about your choices when you do get food cravings.
Reduced ‘food noise’
By suppressing your appetite, Wegovy can stop you thinking about food as much as you normally would. Compulsive thoughts about food have sometimes been referred to as ‘food noise’, and this can affect people to different extents.
Feeling preoccupied by incessant food noise and hunger cues can impact your behaviour. If you’re bombarded with thoughts about eating, it follows that you may be more tempted to reach for the nearest snack to try and quiet the noise. But this can have negative consequences for your weight, depending on what you choose to snack on and how often you eat.
Semaglutide targets your hypothalamus, the part of the brain involved in regulating hunger. By influencing your appetite, Wegovy can help you feel less distracted by food-related intrusive thoughts (FRITs).
Fewer thoughts about food mean you might be able to think more clearly about your meals and snacks, and plan ahead for the day. With more clarity of thought regarding your diet, you can prepare for the times when ‘food noise’ feels like it’s been turned up again.
Improved food choices
Changing your relationship with food is about more than eating fewer calories. A calorie (or energy) deficit is thought to be the most important factor for losing weight. Wegovy can help you eat less by decreasing your appetite and making you feel fuller, which can create the deficit you need for steady weight loss. But eating healthily has benefits beyond a slimmer waistline.
A balanced diet can support your mental health, boost your energy levels and improve your general sense of well-being. In a study that looked at individuals trying to change unhealthy eating habits, participants listed numerous positive benefits of eating healthily. Better mood stability, increased energy, increased self-confidence and improved gut health were all mentioned as benefits of eating a more balanced diet than they did previously.
Choosing what goes on your plate can encourage long-term changes for maintaining weight loss. When your eating habits are healthy, you’ll want to stick with them even if you decide you no longer need Wegovy to keep your weight down.
Better digestion
Wegovy can slow the rate at which food is absorbed from your stomach. This helps you stay fuller for longer, reducing your urges to snack throughout the day.
Slower digestion also means your body has longer to absorb vital nutrients from the food you eat. And certain foods that take longer to digest can raise your blood sugar levels slowly, rather than causing them to spike. Aiming to eat foods with a low glycemic index, or GI, can help to stabilize your blood sugar by helping you avoid fluctuations.
