Medical Review by Jennie Stanford, MD, FAAFP, DABOM
Summary:
- As a GLP-1 receptor agonist for weight management, Wegovy® slows down digestion—which can lead to constipation, bloating, and discomfort due to reduced bowel movement frequency.
- Increasing fiber intake while staying hydrated can help soften stools and ease constipation.
- Regular exercise can stimulate digestion, while stress management techniques like meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy may help prevent stress-induced constipation.
- If dietary and lifestyle changes aren’t enough, osmotic laxatives, stimulant laxatives, stool softeners, or probiotics may provide relief—though stimulant laxatives should only be used short-term.
- Persistent constipation accompanied by symptoms like vomiting, fever, severe abdominal pain, or rectal bleeding may indicate serious complications requiring medical intervention. Seek help from a qualified healthcare provider right away if you have any of these experiences.
If you’re experiencing constipation while taking Wegovy®, you’re not alone. Characterized by infrequent, difficult, and often uncomfortable bowel movements, constipation is one of the more common digestive issues that can disrupt your day-to-day life. But with the right approach to diet, hydration, and lifestyle habits, you can manage these side effects and keep your bowel movements regular.
Lemonaid Health is here to help guide you on managing any constipation symptoms you may experience while taking Wegovy® as part of your weight loss plan. From educating yourself on what to expect, to tips and tricks on how to eliminate it, we’ve got your back with a helpful guide on managing the effects of constipation associated with this medication.
Why some people experience constipation when taking Wegovy®
Characterized by infrequent, difficult, or uncomfortable bowel movements, constipation is a relatively common digestive issue that can make it hard to go about your normal day-to-day activities. Symptoms including bloating and bodily discomfort can leave you feeling frustrated and irritable.
A branded form of semaglutide, Wegovy® is a GLP-1 receptor agonist designed to help with long-term weight management in those with obesity. However, since it works by slowing down digestion, a common complaint is constipation. Constipation, along with other gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, are the most frequently reported issues when taking a semaglutide medication.
Understanding the causes of Wegovy®-induced constipation
Wegovy® works by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone, which targets areas of the brain that regulate blood sugar levels and appetite. It slows digestion, increasing your feeling of fullness and in turn–reduces hunger. Because the rate of digestion is slower, your bowel movements may become difficult and less frequent, leading to bloating, discomfort, and even nausea.
A reduced appetite can also mean a reduction in water intake. With a slower rate of digestion and less water in the digestive tract, constipation becomes a likely side effect of taking Wegovy®.
Fortifying your diet
To avoid negative gastrointestinal effects, your healthcare provider may recommend that you change the way you eat, not just what you eat. Eating slowly, having small portions with more frequency, and stopping eating at the first sign of fullness can help to reduce the occurrence and severity of side effects.
Adding fiber to your snacks and meals
To combat constipation, consider making a few small changes to your diet.
For one, increasing your dietary fiber can help make stools softer and increase their frequency. This helps get things moving–easing constipation. For a diet high in fiber, try adding the following:
- Fiber: Found in fruits such as apples, pears, and berries, vegetables (broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes), legumes (lentils, chickpeas, black beans), nuts, seeds (chia, flaxseeds), and whole grains (oats, brown rice, quinoa).
- Cellulose: Found in leafy greens, celery, nuts, seeds, and the skins of fruits and vegetables.
- Plant Extracts: Naturally present in teas (green tea, chamomile), herbs (mint, rosemary), and spices (turmeric, cinnamon).
- Cereals: Including oats, wheat, barley, rye, and corn-based products like cornflakes and whole grain cereals.
- Bran: Found in wheat bran, oat bran, rice bran, and bran-based cereals.
- Psyllium (Plantago husk): Found in psyllium husk supplements, high-fiber cereals, and some fiber-enriched foods.
It is important to eat well-balanced meals as too much fiber can actually have the opposite desired effect and make you even more constipated.
Keeping your body hydrated
When you’re feeling full, you may not feel like drinking water. However, in order to lower your risk of constipation, it is important to stay on top of your hydration.
In addition to water and other sugar-free liquids, drinking coffee can also induce bowel movements. Coffee has been shown to stimulate the colon up to 60% more than water alone, and there’s good news for decaf drinkers as well—decaf coffee intake in studies also showed positive effects on bowel movements.
Eating a high-fiber diet and increasing the amount of fluid you consume to 1.5-2.0 liters/day has been shown to significantly decrease instances of constipation. If you are taking Wegovy®, you may want to adopt these habits to make constipation less likely.
Easing constipation with lifestyle adjustments
Along with adjusting your diet, there are a few lifestyle changes you may want to consider when starting Wegovy®. Here are a few that may help with relieving constipation:
Regular exercise
Avoiding constipation can be as easy as adding a little exercise to your routine. Aerobic exercise, like walking, cycling, or swimming, can help relieve constipation. The movement itself—whether it’s a bouncing motion, gravity, or engaging your core—can naturally get things moving.
Although more studies need to be conducted, exercise also seems to stimulate the gut in people with obesity. This speeds up digestion, and ultimately may help combat constipation as well.
Stress management
You might not realize it, but stress can affect your bowel movements. It can throw off your routine, leading to less sleep, poor food choices, and skipped workouts—all of which can disrupt any healthy habits you’ve worked hard to build.
When you experience stress, your body releases hormones that can lead to constipation. It is important to identify stressors in your life and work to minimize them. Tactics like meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy can help restore balance and relieve constipation when stress worsens your symptoms.
Using over-the-counter products for constipation
If diet and exercise changes haven’t got your bowel movements back to a regular rhythm, check with your healthcare professional to see if an over-the-counter medication might work for you. Here are some kinds that might help:
Osmotic laxatives
Osmotic laxatives are often the first step in treating constipation. They work by pulling water into the bowel, which softens stool for easier passage. Common options include:
- Polyethylene glycol (MiraLAX®)
- Magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia)
- Lactulose—a prescription option that helps soften stools
Stimulant laxatives
Stimulant laxatives tackle the more serious cases of constipation. They work by activating the muscles and nerves in the intestines, increasing movement and fluid secretion in the gut. Similar to osmotic laxatives, they also help retain water in the bowel, preventing reabsorption into the body. Common options include:
- Bisacodyl (Dulcolax®, Correctol®)—available as tablets or suppositories
- Senna (Senokot®, Ex-Lax®)—a natural plant-based laxative
- Cascara sagrada—a milder herbal option
Stimulant laxatives are the most commonly abused type of laxatives. They should only be a short-term solution as they can also pose certain health risks when used as a long-term solution.
Stool softeners
Stool softeners help by drawing water into your stool, making it softer and easier to pass. They’re considered the next step to relieving constipation if dietary and lifestyle changes have not helped.
Probiotics
Probiotics can help keep things moving by supporting gut function. They work by balancing the good bacteria in your gut like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, creating a healthier microbiome.
In the intestines, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium help fight viruses by producing lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and other protective substances. They also support the gut lining and compete with harmful bacteria for space on intestinal cells. Even after you stop taking them, these beneficial bacteria stick around to help keep your digestion on track.
By helping stool move along faster and even increasing the amount of stool, probiotics can ease constipation.
Knowing when to seek medical advice
If you’ve made changes to your diet and lifestyle and are still experiencing constipation, you may need to seek medical attention. Alert your healthcare provider if you’re exhibiting any of the following warning signs:
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Lower back pain
- Constant abdominal pain
- Weight loss without trying
- Inability to pass gas
- Blood in your stool
- Bleeding from your rectum
Long-term complications from constipation
Making the right diet and lifestyle changes is key to effective constipation management. If left unchecked, constipation may lead to long-term effects such as:
- Abdominal cramps and discomfort
- Hemorrhoids
- Anal fissures
- Pelvic floor damage
- Loss of bowel control
- Difficulty emptying the bladder
- Intestinal tears from hardened stool
- Prolapsed rectum
- Intestinal twisting
- Infected opening near the rectum
- Poor quality of life
Find support for constipation while taking Wegovy® with Lemonaid Health
Starting Wegovy® is a big step toward reaching your weight loss goals, and managing its gastrointestinal side effects can help make the process a little smoother. Staying hydrated, adjusting your diet, staying active, and using gentle remedies when needed can help make the constipation associated with Wegovy® easier to manage.
At Lemonaid Health, we can help make your experiences with Wegovy® easier to navigate. Schedule an online consultation with one of our US-based healthcare providers. We’ll get you the trusted information you need to take charge of your health with confidence.
Wegovy® is a registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S. MiraLAX® is a registered trademark of Bayer. Ducolax® is a trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH. Correctol® is a trademark of Schering-Plough HealthCare Products, Inc.. Senokot® is a trademark of AVRIO HEALTH L.P. Ex-Lax® is a registered trademark of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Holdings (US) LLC.
