The pairing of Wegovy and alcohol can lead to specific health effects. Explore why alcohol and weight loss are not a great combination. Delve into how alcohol affects Wegovy and the potential hindrances it poses to weight loss efforts
What is Wegovy?
Wegovy, a weekly prescription medication for weight management, contains semaglutide. It is a GLP-1 receptor agonist and is the active ingredient in both Ozempic and Wegovy. The first is used in treating diabetes and the later for weight loss.
Semaglutide works in the brain to regulate appetite. It reduces the rate at which the stomach empties, effectively curbing hunger and providing an extended sense of fullness.
Weight loss drugs, like wegovy, are recommended for individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. It can also be for those with a BMI of 27 or higher accompanied by weight-related health concerns.
Information on Wegovy
Alcohol and weight loss
Alcoholic beverages have calories. A can of beer usually contains 155 calories and a glass of wine contains around 125 calories. In a weight loss regime a typical snack is around 100 calories to 200 calories to lose weight effectively.
Alcohol drinks are often referred to as empty calories because they provide a large amount of calories and little nutrients. If an individual has multiple drinks per day or during a night out they may consume 100s of extra calories.
Wegovy and Alcohol
Interaction
When combined with Wegovy (semaglutide), the effect of alcohol can intensify its impact on your body. Alcohol enhances the calming impact of GABA in the brain and spine while reducing its impact on exciting signals. This can strain the body and lead to unwanted outcomes, potentially affecting your food choices and weight management goals.
Alcohol and Wegovy affect dopamine levels in the brain, causing physical and mental distress. Even small doses of alcohol can be problematic, and it’s hard to predict how they will affect an individual.
Blood sugar
Wegovy and alcohol can influence blood sugar levels. Drinking alcohol might increase the risk of low blood sugar for some individuals, which can be especially concerning as Wegovy already affects blood sugar regulation.
If you decide to consume alcohol, keep a close watch on your blood sugar levels and seek guidance from your healthcare provider.
Metabolism and Calorie intake
Drinking alcohol can slow down the metabolism, which means the body might not burn fat as effectively, making it harder to lose weight with Wegovy.
Like many beverages, alcohol contains calories. Consuming alcohol can contribute extra calories to your daily intake, potentially affecting the calorie counting needed for weight loss. Opting for low-calorie alcoholic beverages whenever possible to minimize the additional caloric intake.
Side effects
Combining Wegovy and alcohol can increase the chances of experiencing symptoms like nausea, chills, and sweating. These are potential side effects that each substance can cause on its own, and when used together, they might make these feelings stronger.
Alcohol can be harsh on the stomach, which could worsen any digestion problems experienced by taking Wegovy. It can also make you feel even more tired and dizzy than usual.
How to have drinks whilst on Wegovy?
While it may be okay to enjoy an occasional drink, drinking alcohol on Wegovy requires careful consideration and moderation.
Weight management and overall health benefits should be the primary focus. Any uncertainties regarding alcohol consumption and Wegovy use, should be discussed with the healthcare provider.
Wegovy availability
Wegovy has been registered in 2022 it is not yet available in Australia. Following the release of Wegovy, it has shown many promising results in other countries.
Clinical trials studies show adults with obesity who took Wegovy were able to lose 15% of body weight accompanied with reduced calorie diets and exercise. Once Wegovy is available, it can be a good alternative as it’s proven in studies that it’s as effective as other medications.
Wegovy received FDA approval and was released in the USA in 2021, in Europe in mid 2023 and is expected in Australia by early 2024.
