Why Am I Still Hungry on Semaglutide? Reasons & What to Do
Semaglutide is the active ingredient in the type 2 diabetes medicines Ozempic® and Rybelsus®, and the obesity medicine Wegovy®. It can reduce appetite and food cravings to promote weight loss.
But if you’re still hungry on semaglutide, don’t fret. It can take time for the appetite-reducing effects to set in, or you may need a higher dose. And you should still feel some hunger on semaglutide — just less of it.
Let’s look into why you might still be hungry on semaglutide and what you can do to manage your hunger levels and achieve your weight loss goals.
Semaglutide is the active ingredient in the type 2 diabetes medicines Ozempic® and Rybelsus®, and the obesity medicine Wegovy®. It can reduce appetite and food cravings to promote weight loss.
But if you’re still hungry on semaglutide, don’t fret. It can take time for the appetite-reducing effects to set in, or you may need a higher dose. And you should still feel some hunger on semaglutide — just less of it.
Let’s look into why you might still be hungry on semaglutide and what you can do to manage your hunger levels and achieve your weight loss goals.
Why Am I Still Hungry on Semaglutide?
Your GP (general practitioner) or private provider likely discussed the appetite-reducing effects of Ozempic® or Wegovy® with you, and now you’re wondering what’s up. Why am I still hungry on Wegovy®? Or Ozempic®? Or another GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist medication?
Well, there are quite a few reasons you might be feeling hungry when taking a semaglutide medication. Let’s look at the possible explanations and what really happens with the weight loss drug’s appetite-suppressing effects.
Hunger Won’t Disappear on Semaglutide
First, hunger is a normal bodily sensation, and semaglutide won’t make it stop altogether. The medication can suppress your appetite so you feel less hunger — but not zero hunger.
You might still feel hungry on semaglutide, but not as hungry as you used to. Or maybe you feel hungry, but snacks and meals fill you up a lot quicker than before.
Plus, appetite suppression isn’t the only way semaglutide works as a weight loss medicine.
For instance, Wegovy® acts on areas of the brain to reduce appetite. But the medication can also curb food cravings and slow gastric emptying (the speed at which food leaves the stomach), which helps you feel fuller for longer.
These changes can help you opt for nutritious food choices, eat the proper portion sizes, and reach a lower body weight, even though you’re still experiencing hunger.
This effect of Wegovy® was studied in animal models — the impact of Wegovy® in the human brain isn’t fully understood.
Low Doses of Semaglutide May Not Affect Appetite
Just like any medication, semaglutide comes with possible side effects. Based on clinical trials of Wegovy®, common side effects include constipation, nausea, and diarrhoea.
To limit these gastrointestinal side effects, your GP or private healthcare provider will likely start you on a low dose of semaglutide and gradually increase your dose over time.
For example:
For Ozempic®. Your GP or provider may prescribe a 0.25-milligram (mg) dose to start. This may increase gradually every four weeks until you reach a dose of 2 milligrams.
For Wegovy®. Your GP or provider might prescribe a 0.25-milligram dose to start. This may increase gradually every four weeks until you reach a dose of 2.4 milligrams.
So, does semaglutide suppress appetite immediately? No, it can take a bit of time.
You may find that low doses of semaglutide don’t impact your appetite, so you still feel the same amount of hunger as before when starting the medicine. But this could start to change as your dose increases.
Everyone Reacts Differently to Medication
What do we have in common with snowflakes? We’re all unique. That’s particularly true in terms of how you react to medication.
It may take different amounts of time or different doses for the effects of semaglutide to be noticeable from one person to the next. So, if you’re still in your first month or two of taking the weight loss medication, it might be worth sticking with it.
Other Factors Can Influence Hunger Levels
Semaglutide injections aren’t the only thing that can affect hunger levels. Lifestyle factors, such as sleep, physical activity, food choices, and stress, can all play a role.
So, if you’re thinking, Semaglutide makes me hungry, it may not be semaglutide at all.
Here’s what we mean:
Sleep. When you’re sleep-deprived, your hunger hormones are thrown off-balance. You may have higher levels of the hormone ghrelin, which is responsible for hunger, and lower levels of the hormone leptin, which is responsible for satiety (the feeling of fullness after eating).
Movement. If you’re on a weight loss journey, you might have begun moving more each day. Your body may then need more food to fuel this extra physical activity. Don’t worry — this is a good thing. Reach for nutritious, whole foods to give your body the fuel it needs to achieve weight loss results.
Food choices. We’re not here to shame any food group, but some foods fill you up a lot more than others. If you’re eating processed foods without many nutrients, you may find you’re hungry again before your next meal.
Dehydration. Your brain can mistake thirst signals for hunger. So, if you don’t keep up with your water intake, you might find yourself feeling hungry when, really, your body’s in need of a glass of water (or two).
Stress. Some people turn to high-calorie foods or overeating to help deal with emotions like stress, boredom, anxiety, or depression. In these cases, your emotions — and how you typically deal with them — may be driving your eating habits more than semaglutide.
Healthy habits can help you get the most out of your weight loss injections and improve your health and wellness all around.
Weight loss your way
What to Do If I’m Still Hungry on Semaglutide?
Here’s what to do if your appetite is high, despite taking semaglutide.
Give It Time
As your body adjusts to semaglutide or when your dose increases, you might start noticing a difference in your appetite.
If you’ve just started taking Ozempic® or Wegovy®, give the medication time to have an effect, especially if you’re still on a lower dose.
Prioritise Sleep
We know this is easier said than done, but try to get a good night’s sleep each night.
Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep a night. To improve your sleep, try to:
Keep a consistent sleep schedule, even on weekends
Limit caffeine, especially in the afternoons and evenings
Avoid screens at least an hour before bed
Make your bedroom dark, cool, quiet, and comfortable
This can keep your hunger levels regulated, aid weight loss, and help you feel your best.
Find Healthy Ways to Lower Stress
Try to lower your stress levels to manage emotional eating. Keeping stress under control can also help improve your sleep and overall health and wellness.
Stress-management techniques include:
Meditation
Journaling
Exercise and general movement
Taking a walk in nature
Calling a loved one
If you find yourself stress eating, try practising mindful eating. Check in with yourself when you reach for food and see if you’re hungry or soothing an emotion. If it’s true hunger, go right ahead. If not, see if there’s another activity you can do to feel better.
Reach Out to a GP or Private Provider
If you haven’t noticed any changes to your hunger levels while taking semaglutide, don’t be afraid to reach out to your GP or the private provider who prescribed your medication.
A healthcare professional can work with you to find a semaglutide dose and treatment plan that works for you.
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Tips for Eating Well to Manage Hunger on Semaglutide
You’ll probably be prescribed healthy lifestyle changes when taking semaglutide to help with weight loss and weight management.
In addition to following any advice you’re given, here’s what you can do to give your body the nutrients it needs and minimise persistent hunger:
Eat plenty of protein. Protein can help you feel fuller, regulate blood sugar levels, and help you retain and build muscle. Choose lean protein sources like chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, beans, tofu, and tempeh.
Increase your fibre intake. Fibre can also help you feel fuller for longer and decrease your appetite. You can find fibre in fruit, vegetables, lentils, chickpeas, seeds, and complex carbohydrates like brown rice, quinoa, and other whole grains.
Have nutritious snacks on hand. You don’t need to give up snacking to lose weight. If you feel hungry between meals, have nutritious snacks like nuts, seeds, yoghurt, dried fruit, hard-boiled eggs, or hummus and carrot sticks.
Stay hydrated. Don’t let dehydration fool your body into thinking it’s hungry. Sip water throughout the day and, if you find yourself overeating at mealtimes, try a glass of water 30 minutes before eating. Research shows that drinking water before meals can reduce your appetite and help you lose weight.
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Why Am I Hungry on Semaglutide? In Summary
If you’re still hungry on Ozempic®, Wegovy®, or another semaglutide medication, don’t fret.
Here’s what to remember:
You’ll still feel some hunger on semaglutide. Semaglutide can suppress your appetite, but it won’t get rid of hunger altogether. And that’s normal! You may still find that your hunger is lower than usual, giving your weight loss efforts a boost.
You may need a higher dose to feel less hunger. If you haven’t noticed any changes to your appetite and are currently still hungry on semaglutide, stick with it. You might need more time for your body to adjust or possibly a higher dose of semaglutide before you feel the difference.
Take steps to manage your hunger. Remember to eat nutritious, whole foods (with plenty of protein), drink lots of water, get enough sleep, and manage stress. These steps can ensure nothing else is messing with your hunger levels.
And finally, don’t be afraid to reach out to your GP or private provider. They can help you find the right semaglutide dose and recommend a healthy diet to try. If the medication really isn’t making a difference to your hunger, they can recommend other weight loss treatments that may be more suitable, like Mounjaro® (tirzepatide).
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your GP about the risks and benefits of any treatment.