The following story was sponsored by Novo Nordisk. Heath McFarland is a real Wegovy® patient and a paid spokesperson for Novo Nordisk.
AFTER YEARS OF attempts, a weight management medication finally helped me do something I thought was impossible: lose weight and keep it off.
Today, I have lost weight and kept it off, but it was not easy and I certainly did not do it alone. I’d always been big, even as far back as grade school. I was a lineman on the football team. I was strong, just over six feet tall, and in a position where my size was an advantage.
As I got older, got married, and had kids, weight wasn’t necessarily something I spent a lot of time thinking about. I kept getting heavier, but I wasn’t living with obesity. I wasn’t struggling with self-image. I wasn’t unhappy with my weight.
At least, that was the case until a couple of eye-opening experiences changed everything.
IT WAS ABOUT six years ago, in the fall of 2019, that my wife and I took our two boys on vacation. A big amusement park, trip-of-a-lifetime stuff—until, for the first time, my weight got in the way of being there for my kids.
I was more than 300 pounds and, after a long wait in line, I wasn’t able to fit into the seat of a ride. I was too big. As someone who’s deeply involved in my kids’ lives and relishes the chance to be there for them, it hurt. Strike one.
Shortly after that, my doctor put me on a second blood pressure medication and talked to me about obesity. Strike two.
I wasn’t entirely sure what to do with that information. One thing I didn’t do, though, was tell my wife the extent of what the doctor said. It was embarrassing, and I didn’t want her to carry the burden of being concerned about my weight and my health.
Instead, I internalized it. It was scary—that’s not even the right word. It was more than that. My grandfather was overweight and had heart problems. These moments were a wake-up call that led to a grim realization: If I don’t change, I’m terrified what might happen.
MY BOYS BECAME my reason for trying to lose weight, what I call my “why.” They were why I was going to improve my weight. But it was frustrating. I became a yo-yo dieter. I’d start a new diet, it would work for a bit, then I’d put the weight back on. Rinse and repeat.
I started trying to lose weight on my own. I reduced my calorie intake and tried to exercise more, but the things I was doing weren’t working for me, and I wasn’t seeing the results I was looking for. I know that it’s important to maintain a reduced-calorie diet and increase physical activity, but when it comes to obesity, many factors may be at play. It’s not always as simple as just eating less and moving more, but I know I needed to change for the sake of my kids. So, I decided to make an appointment with my primary care physician to see what advice he may have.
IN LATE 2022, my doctor brought up Wegovy® (semaglutide) injection 2.4 mg to add along with the exercising and the diet changes I was already doing.
Wegovy® (semaglutide) injection is a prescription medicine used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity to:
Wegovy® (semaglutide) tablets are a prescription medicine used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity to:
Wegovy® contains semaglutide and should not be used with other semaglutide-containing products or other GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines.
It is not known if Wegovy® injection is safe and effective:
It is not known if Wegovy® tablets are safe and effective for use in people under 18 years of age.
What is the most important information I should know about Wegovy®?Wegovy® may cause serious side effects, including:
Do not use Wegovy® if:
Wegovy® FlexTouch® pen: Do not share your Wegovy® FlexTouch® pen with other people, even if the needle has been changed. You may give other people a serious infection or get a serious infection from them.
Please see Medication Guide and Prescribing Information, Including Boxed Warning, for Wegovy® at: Novo-pi.com/wegovy.pdf, and see additional Important Safety Information below.
I’d never considered it, so I looked into it and after talking about it more with my doctor, I felt like it was worth a shot. To some extent, I was willing to try anything.
My doctor called it a tool that I could have to assist in my weight management journey. I didn’t know it at the time, but putting that tool in my kit was so helpful for me. My doctor and I also discussed the side effects of WEGOVY, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, as well as other conditions. Everyone is different. So, be sure to discuss any side effects with your healthcare professional and work with your healthcare team to see if WEGOVY may be right for you.
Once I made the decision to start taking WEGOVY, my excitement grew. I wasn’t under the impression that a miracle was about to take place or that it would be simple, but I was hopeful to start the journey.
Of course, the results weren’t instant. It was a process. I knew WEGOVY wasn’t going to just do the work for me. It was just one piece of the puzzle, and I’d still have to make lifestyle changes, including a reduced calorie diet and increased exercise.
I remember when I first noticed a change. My wife had made spaghetti for dinner. About halfway through the big bowl in front of me, I realized I was full. I didn’t need to eat more.
My wife was concerned. Stopping mid-bowl wasn’t how I usually handled meals. “Is it bad?” she asked. “Did I mess up dinner?”
“No, it’s great,” I said. “I’m just… full.”
Then it dawned on me. I felt full and simply didn’t need to eat more. I didn't exactly know it then, but I was starting to take charge of my weight.
I felt like the pieces were falling into place. I had started WEGOVY and realized I had a reduced appetite which let me eat smaller portions. I was losing weight, but I could still eat food I enjoyed. I would smile as I stopped onto the scale, watching as I shed a pound or two. I felt proud of the results that were showing up on the scale.
Seeing pounds slowly fall away, I continued to push myself. I wasn’t just taking WEGOVY and reducing my calorie intake—I was increasing my physical activity by taking walks and throwing the ball with the boys in the yard. The will was there, and these little actions, in conjunction with WEGOVY and healthy lifestyle changes, kept the wheel turning.
I SAID MY “why” was my two boys. That changed. And that’s good! When it comes to managing your weight, your “why” can and probably should change, because the whole journey isn’t just about today or this year. It’s a lifelong journey.
I’m proud of my journey. But the “why” had become my wife. She was my pillar through the hardest times and has been absolutely, wholeheartedly on board every step of the way. She became the reason why, after losing weight, I’m still going and feel capable of maintaining the progress I am so proud of.
What is the most important information I should know about Wegovy®?Wegovy® may cause serious side effects, including:
Do not use Wegovy® if:
Wegovy® FlexTouch® pen: Do not share your Wegovy® FlexTouch® pen with other people, even if the needle has been changed. You may give other people a serious infection or get a serious infection from them.
Before using Wegovy®, tell your healthcare provider if you have any other medical conditions, including if you:
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Wegovy® may affect the way some medicines work and some medicines may affect the way Wegovy® works. Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking other medicines to treat diabetes, including sulfonylureas or insulin. Wegovy® slows stomach emptying and can affect medicines that need to pass through the stomach quickly.
What are the possible side effects of Wegovy®?Wegovy® may cause serious side effects, including:
The most common side effects of Wegovy® may include: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach (abdomen) pain, changes in skin sensations, headache, tiredness (fatigue), upset stomach, dizziness, feeling bloated, belching, low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, gas, stomach flu, heartburn, and hair loss.
Please see Medication Guide and Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning, for Wegovy® at https://www.novo-pi.com/wegovy.pdf
Wegovy® is a prescription medication.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
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