Another reason you may be gaining weight on Saxenda is you need more physical activity. Using medication alone is not enough, and getting enough exercise is essential to achieve weight loss results. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests 150 minutes of physical activity each week.
Several factors could be at play if you're taking Saxenda and not losing weight, including: Diet—Saxenda is approved in conjunction with a low-calorie diet, so if you haven't adjusted your diet accordingly, that could work against the weight loss you might otherwise be achieving.
In conclusion, if you're not losing weight on Saxenda, it's important to talk to a healthcare professional. There may be several reasons for this, including the medication not being the right fit for your needs, not following the recommended guidelines for diet and exercise or weight loss being a slow process.
To get the best results out of Saxenda®, you'll need to be eating a reduced calorie diet and increase the amount of exercise you're getting. This will give you the best chance of losing weight and keeping weight off.
When you first start using Saxenda®, the starting dose is 0.6 mg once a day, for at least one week. Your doctor will instruct you to gradually increase your dose by 0.6 mg usually each week until you reach the recommended dose of 3.0 mg once a day.
Not everyone loses weight with Saxenda, but studies show that most people do when added to a regular diet and exercise plan over a one-year time frame. In studies done over a 56-week period, people at the start of one study had an average BMI of 38.3 kg/m2 and average body weight of 233.9 lbs (106.3 kg).
Saxenda® should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Does Saxenda (liraglutide) burn fat? While the process of losing weight involves decreasing the size of fat cells, Saxenda® is not considered a “fat burner.” Saxenda is an FDA-approved weight loss medication that is categorized as a GLP1 receptor agonist.
When taking Saxenda, it is a good idea to follow a balanced diet to support the actions of the medication. This also reduces possible side effects and promotes your overall health. A balanced diet includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein-rich foods.
In the first month, patients typically lose anywhere from 4 to 11 pounds on average while using Saxenda as directed. Most of the initial lost weight occurs in the first 3 to 6 months, after which the rate of loss slows down. But body weight reduction can still continue for those adhering to the program.
Reduced body weight and improved metabolic control were found with once-daily subcutaneous Saxenda as an add-on to diet and exercise, according to recent study findings published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
On top of this, Saxenda works by reducing your appetite and making you feel full sooner rather than later. It helps you curb cravings and put your focus back on your health rather than only the food you eat.
Why have I stopped losing weight on Saxenda (liraglutide)? For those attempting to lose weight, it is not uncommon to experience a plateau (where one is no longer losing weight) or a slowing in the rate of weight loss.
They will decide if the medication is still the best option for you and is having the desired effect, however you should only continue over a period of 12 weeks if you demonstrate weight loss of 5% when used in conjunction with a calorie-controlled diet and regular exercise.
Foods to avoid while on Saxenda® to reduce side effects
Take these tips from the Calibrate medical team for a spin: Avoid fried, greasy, or fatty foods and foods high in sugar: These tend to be the toughest for your body to digest and the most likely to cause nausea while taking a GLP-1 medication.
Saxenda (liraglutide) works by acting like GLP-1 in your body. It helps with weight loss by slowing down your gut, thus causing you to feel less hungry.
Saxenda is non-addictive, but when you stop taking it, you may experience changes in appetite, and experience nausea and vomiting. This is due to your body adjusting to the change in hormones. Your doctor may suggest slowly reducing your dose in order to minimise the possibility of these side effects.
If you are experiencing acid reflux as a side effect from taking Saxenda, you may want to avoid or reduce your intake of common food triggers such as caffeine, alcohol, peppermint, spicy foods and acidic foods.
Drinking too much alcohol while on Saxenda can increase the risk of low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. Heavy alcohol drinking while on Saxenda can also increase the risk of pancreatitis and should be avoided when taking this medication.
One of the ways that Saxenda works is by delaying gastric emptying (the time it takes food to empty out of your stomach). So you may find that alcohol affects you differently to normal. The effects of excess alcohol consumption such as nausea, vomiting or headache are also common side effects of Saxenda.
Wegovy® is more effective than Saxenda® at supporting weight loss and blood sugar reductions. Wegovy® seems to lead to fewer side effects and is better tolerated than Saxenda®. However, individuals will vary in their response to medications, so choose the right one for you.