[Cheongdam OK Clinic] Wegovy Side Effects: Things You Must Know (STEP Clinical Study-Based Summary)

Recently

it has been drawing great attention

as a weight loss treatment

Wegovy

(Wegovy, semaglutide)

In a previous post,

based on clinical trial data,

I explained in detail

the effective aspects of Wegovy.

But

drugs are always

a double-edged sword.

Because the effect is so strong,

you must also know the side effects and contraindications accurately

to use it safely.

Dr. Seong Hyeon-ju, the prize draw king

Today,

based on actual clinical research (STEP Study) and

real-world experience,

I will systematically organize

Wegovy side effects.

4 Key Takeaways on Wegovy Side Effects

Just remembering the items above can help you

manage much of the risk of using Wegovy.

1. The most common Wegovy side effects — gastrointestinal symptoms (75~85%)

According to the STEP clinical study,

75~85% of Wegovy users experience them.

Representative symptoms

Nausea, queasiness

Vomiting

Diarrhea or constipation

Abdominal discomfort, indigestion

Headache, fatigue, dizziness

Dehydration

In particular,

because food intake decreases

and gastric emptying is delayed,

first-time users may

feel discomfort.

👉How to manage it

Increase the dose slowly during the initial stage

Drink more water

Avoid greasy foods and heavy drinking

Eat small amounts more often

2. Serious side effects that require caution

In some cases,

side effects that require medical management

may occur.

⚠️ Dangerous side effects

🩺 Main risk factors

• Pancreatitis, gallbladder disease: incidence reported at 0.7~3.7%

• Acute kidney injury: can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration

• Risk of hypoglycemia: especially when used with insulin

• Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors: found in rat studies

In particular,

the risk of hypoglycemia may increase

when used together with insulin or some diabetes medications.

📌 Cases in which Wegovy must not be used

If you have medullary thyroid cancer or a family history of it

Patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome (MEN2)

❗ Cases requiring caution when using it

History of pancreatitis

Gastrointestinal motility disorder

History of depression or suicide attempt

Reduced kidney function

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding

➡️ Please be sure to decide only after 충분한 consultation with your attending physician

3. Loss of muscle mass when using Wegovy

Although often overlooked,

this is one of the most important side effects.

An example of well-maintained muscle

In STEP 4 (JAMA 2021)

it was reported that

40~50% of the weight lost was lean mass (muscle) loss.

In another study,

the muscle loss ratio was found to be

34.9%.

In other words,

if you lose 10 kg,

4 kg of muscle loss could occur.

Reduced exercise performance

Not only muscle mass decreases,

but in the Stair Climb Test, a test of the ability to climb stairs,

power was found to decrease by 42.6%.

👉 Prevention tips

Make sure you get enough protein

Do strength training 3~4 times a week

Get enough sleep and stretch

If you naturally have a body type with a lot of muscle

and have difficulty controlling your diet,

it may actually be suitable for you.

4. Ozempic Face

Your face may look older!

With rapid weight loss,

Facial fat reduction

Loss of volume

Reduced skin elasticity

may occur.

An overseas example of Ozempic Face

👉 Prevention tips

Adequate intake of water and protein

Strengthen sun protection and moisturizing

Strengthen your skincare routine

If needed,

medical improvements such as Botox, fillers, and lifting

may help.

Checklist for using Wegovy

Item	Question
Doctor consultation	Is the medication appropriate, and are there any issues with concomitant medications?
Dosage	Starting and increasing stages
Monitoring	Check gastrointestinal symptoms, health status, and body composition changes
Nutrition	Are protein and water intake sufficient?
Exercise	Whether strength training is being done together

Not only weight,

but also muscle, physical strength, skin, and health must be managed together

to achieve a successful diet.

Cheongdam OK Clinic

Wegovy is

certainly an effective weight loss medication.

However,

that also means there are clear side effects and health risks.

Gastrointestinal problems are experienced by most users,

and side effects such as muscle loss, reduced exercise ability,

facial aging, and changes in appearance

can occur,

and in severe cases,

side effects that may affect life can occur.

👉 Before starting,

consult a specialist

and first check whether it is suitable for your body.

This post is educational material for providing medical information.

Because treatment methods may vary depending on each patient's individual situation,

consultation with a specialist before using medication is strongly recommended.