Got body aches on Wegovy? Here's what might be to blame
Body aches aren't listed as a side effect of Wegovy. So, why do so many people report feeling achy or tired? Join us as we explore the facts.
If you're undergoing treatment with Wegovy, you've no doubt experienced its positive effects.
This once-weekly injectable medication can help us manage our portion sizes, control snack cravings and start building a better relationship with food. With continued use and a sensible exercise programme, you can expect to lose around 15% of your body weight on Wegovy.¹
As with any drug, however, there's the potential for negative side effects. Novo Nordisk, Wegovy's manufacturer, lists headaches, nausea, diarrhoea and constipation among the most common.²
Some people also report experiencing body aches. But Novo Nordisk doesn't list body aches as a side effect – common or otherwise.
That doesn't mean people are imagining this symptom, though. The body aches are real, but the medication probably isn't to blame. Not directly, at least.
Let's dig deeper.
What causes Wegovy body aches?
Body aches might not be listed as a side effect of Wegovy, but you don't have to look far to find reports of the symptom online.
'I get body aches the first two days', wrote one user on Reddit. 'I get this flu feeling the next day after every injection', reported another on Facebook. 'The collar bone ache is the worst!'
It's possible that body aches are a direct – but little-understood – side effect of Wegovy. However, like any drug that makes it to market, Wegovy underwent an extensive phase 3 clinical trial. Body aches weren't noted as a side effect during this trial, either.¹
That means it's more likely that other factors are at play. These could include:
Rapid weight loss
If you lose weight too quickly, you risk not just losing fat but also muscle – and sometimes even bone tissue. Bones and muscles depend on the stress of supporting your weight to maintain strength, but rapid weight loss can weaken them. This, in turn, could lead to muscle or joint aches as your body readjusts.
Bones and muscles rely on adequate nutrition to stay strong, too. If you're losing weight but aren't eating a healthy, balanced diet, this could also make aches more likely.
Exercising more
Health professionals recommend lifestyle changes when taking Wegovy. By improving your diet and increasing physical activity, you stand the best chance of achieving safe, sustainable weight loss.
But exercise can come with side effects of its own, including aching muscles. Plus, these aches are likely to be more intense if you're not used to exercising. It's easy to imagine people taking up Wegovy alongside an exercise routine and assuming that the drug, not the exercise, is causing their aches.
Dehydration
Many people who take Wegovy experience gastrointestinal side effects, such as vomiting and diarrhoea. These side effects can lead to dehydration, and dehydration can cause all sorts of problems for the body. That includes body aches, as well as more serious complications like confusion and low blood pressure.
What to do if you experience body aches on Wegovy
- Drink plenty of fluids: staying hydrated doesn't just make body aches less likely. It's also really important for our overall health and well-being. The NHS recommends drinking 6 to 8 cups per day.³
- Don't over-exercise: we know it's tempting to push yourself when you begin an exercise programme. But to avoid body aches and other problems, it's best to start slow and exercise within your limits.
- Take painkillers: pain relief tablets like paracetamol should help relieve body aches. You could also try applying a pain relief gel or cream to the affected area.
- Know when to get help: seek medical advice if your body aches don't get better with painkillers or they significantly affect your day-to-day life.
Remember: if you're a SemaPen subscriber, our dietitians can support you to maintain muscle and bone health while using Wegovy. You can get in touch via WhatsApp here: https://wa.me/message/F4UOIVRQPJDXP1
Founded by UK specialists, SemaPen is an online weight loss clinic specialising in expert-led treatments for obesity. For more useful information and tips, read our Mounjaro and Wegovy guides.
Sources
1. Wilding, J.P.H. et al. (2021) "Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity" The New England Journal of Medicine, 384(11) https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
2. Novo Nordisk (2025) Getting started with Wegovy® [brochure]. Retrieved from https://www.wegovy.co.uk/content/dam/nnsites/wegovy-co-uk/en/support-materials/pdfs/Wegovy-WM-Adult-Patient-Brochure-2025.pdf
3. NHS (2023) Water, drinks and hydration. Retrieved from https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-guidelines-and-food-labels/water-drinks-nutrition/
This article was reviewed and approved by Lujain Alhassan, Bariatric Dietitian, and Sarah Abdula, Specialist Dietitian, on 3 December 2025.
