Wegovy vs Plenity

Diana Bone MSN, FNP-C

There’s been a lot of buzz lately about Wegovy® (semaglutide) and Plenity® (Gelesis-100). Both medications are used to help with weight loss.

But how are they the same and how are they different?

What is Wegovy?

Recently, the FDA approved a new medicine called Wegovy that you can use to help manage your weight. It’s prescribed to adults who are overweight or obese with weight-related conditions, like diabetes or high blood pressure. For the best results, it should be used with regular exercise and a reduced-calorie diet.

How It Works: Wegovy is a medicine that works like a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). This hormone affects the brain, making you feel less hungry. This helps you eat less but still feel full. The dose of your medication is increased gradually over 16-20 weeks and taken once a week. This helps reduce side effects in your stomach.

Weight Loss Expectations: Individuals who took Wegovy lost an average of 15%-20% of their initial body weight. Those who took the placebo lost 2.5% on average over 68 weeks. A third of the treatment group in the trial lost more than 20% of their overall body weight. The weight loss result with Wegovy is comparable to bariatric surgery.

Side Effects: The most common side effects of Wegovy include nausea, constipation, and abdominal pain. There were a few rare patients in the 68-week clinical trial that developed pancreatitis.

Cost: Wegovy is available by prescription only from your clinician. Not all insurance plans cover weight oss medications.

What is Plenity?

Plenity is a superabsorbent hydrogel pill you take before eating lunch and dinner with 16 ounces of water. It helps you lose weight combined with physical activity reducing your calorie intake.

How it Works: Plenity is a weight loss device because it makes your stomach full, which takes up less space for food. It’s best for people who are mildly overweight and people with obesity (BMI 25-40). When swallowed with 16 ounces of water, the pill releases a gel, which absorbs 100x its weight in water. This causes the stomach to lose about 25% of its volume. Plenity travels the same path as food, from the stomach to the small intestine or large intestine. Then enzymes and gut bacteria will break it down in the colon.

Weight Loss Expectations: A recent clinical study found that 60% of participants lost 10% or more of their body weight in six months. On average, participants lost about 22 pounds and 3.5 inches from the waistline. Twenty-five percent lost about 30 pounds. Some patients who took Plenity for more than six months did not lose any more weight. But they were able to keep off the weight they had lost.

Side Effects: Plenity is very well tolerated. The most common side effects of Plenity are abdominal distension, bloating, and irregular bowel movements.

Cost: Plenity is available by prescription only from your Clinician. Not all insurance plans cover weight loss medications. Most patients will pay about $100 a month for the prescription.

Weight Loss with Results

Weight loss methods are not one size fits all. Both Wegovy and Plenity offer a new approach to weight management with the help of personalized meal plans and exercise. If you’re ready to say goodbye to your extra pounds for good—once and for all—then these medications could be just what you need. To find out more about how they work and see it’s right for you, contact us!