How I Took Charge of My Weight Loss Journey

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 trying, a weight-management medication finally helped me do what I once thought I couldn’t: lose weight and keep it off.

I have lost weight and maintained it, but the path was not simple, and I did not do it on my own. I had always been a big kid, even in grade school. I played football as a lineman. I was strong, a little over six feet tall, and my size worked in my favor.

As I got older, got married, and became a father, I did not spend much time worrying about my weight. I kept gaining, but I did not feel as though I was living with obesity. I was not fixated on my appearance, and I was not unhappy with my size.

That changed after two moments that made me see things differently.

Two Wake-Up Calls

A few years ago, my wife and I took our two sons on a big vacation to an amusement park. It was the kind of once-in-a-lifetime trip every parent looks forward to, until my weight got in the way of being there for my kids.

I weighed more than 300 pounds, and after waiting in line, I could not fit into one of the ride seats. I was simply too large. As someone who is heavily involved in my children’s lives and wants to be present for them, that was painful. That was the first wake-up call.

Soon after, my doctor prescribed a second blood pressure medication and spoke with me about obesity. That was the second.

“These moments were a wake-up call that led to a grim realization: If I don’t change, I’m terrified what might happen.”

I was not sure how to handle what I had heard. One thing I did not do was tell my wife the full extent of the conversation. I was embarrassed, and I did not want her to carry the worry about my weight and my health.

Instead, I kept it inside. It was frightening—actually, worse than frightening. My grandfather had been overweight and dealt with heart problems. Those moments forced me to face a hard truth: if I did not make a change, I was afraid of what could happen next.

Making Changes Was Hard

My boys became my reason for trying to lose weight, my “why.” They were the reason I wanted to improve my health. But the process was frustrating. I became a yo-yo dieter. I would start a new plan, it would work for a while, and then the weight would come back. Over and over again.

I tried to lose weight on my own. I cut calories and exercised more, but what I was doing was not working the way I hoped, and I was not seeing the results I wanted. I know that eating fewer calories and being more active matter, but obesity can involve many factors. It is not always as simple as just eating less and moving more. Still, I knew I needed to change for my kids, so I scheduled an appointment with my primary care doctor to ask for guidance.

How My Journey Began

My doctor later suggested Wegovy^® (semaglutide) injection 2.4 mg as an addition to the diet and exercise changes I was already making.

Wegovy^® (semaglutide) injection is a prescription medicine used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity to:

• reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with known heart disease and with either obesity or overweight.
• help adults and children aged 12 years and older with obesity, or some adults with excess weight (overweight) who also have weight-related medical problems to lose weight and keep the weight off.

Wegovy^® (semaglutide) tablets are a prescription medicine used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity to:

• reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with known heart disease and with either obesity or overweight.
• help adults with obesity, or some adults with excess weight (overweight) who also have weight-related medical problems to lose weight and keep the weight off.

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:

• to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events (death, heart attack, or stroke) in people under 18 years
• to help children under 12 years of age lose weight and keep the weight off

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:

• Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your healthcare provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rodents, Wegovy^® and other medicines that work like Wegovy^® caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Wegovy^® will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people
• Do not use Wegovy^® if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)

Do not use Wegovy^® if:

• you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
• you have had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or any of the ingredients in Wegovy^® injection or Wegovy^® tablets. See symptoms of serious allergic reaction in “What are the possible side effects of Wegovy^®?”

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 had never really considered it, so I looked into it. After talking more with my doctor, I felt it was worth trying. At that point, I was willing to try almost anything.

My doctor described it as a tool that could help me along my weight-management journey. I did not know then how useful that tool would be for me. My doctor and I also discussed the side effects of WEGOVY, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, along with other conditions. Everyone is different, so it is important to talk with a healthcare professional about any side effects and work with your care team to decide whether WEGOVY may be right for you.

Once I decided to start taking WEGOVY, I felt more hopeful. I did not expect a miracle or think it would be easy, but I was ready to begin the journey.

The results did not happen overnight. It took time. I knew WEGOVY would not do the work for me. It was only one part of the plan, and I still had to make lifestyle changes, including eating fewer calories and exercising more.

“This wasn’t something I was doing for cosmetic reasons. This was about my family. This was for my kids.”

I remember the first time I really noticed a difference. My wife had made spaghetti for dinner, and about halfway through the large bowl in front of me, I realized I was full. I did not need to keep eating.

My wife was worried. Stopping in the middle of a meal was not like me. “Is it bad?” she asked. “Did I mess up dinner?”

“No, it’s great,” I told her. “I’m just full.”

That is when it started to click. I felt satisfied and did not need more food. I did not fully understand it then, but I was beginning to take control of my weight.

Everything started to come together. I had begun WEGOVY and noticed that my appetite had dropped, which helped me eat smaller portions. I was losing weight, but I could still enjoy the foods I liked. I would step on the scale and smile as I watched a pound or two come off. Seeing those results made me proud.

As the pounds slowly came off, I kept pushing forward. I was not only taking WEGOVY and reducing calories; I was also moving more by taking walks and throwing the ball with the boys in the yard. That motivation, combined with WEGOVY and healthier habits, kept everything moving in the right direction.

Finding a New Reason to Keep Going

I said my “why” was my two boys. That changed, and that is okay. When you are managing your weight, your reason can and probably should evolve, because the journey is not just about today or even this year. It is a lifelong process.

I am proud of how far I have come. But my new reason became my wife. She stood beside me through the hardest parts and supported me fully every step of the way. She became the reason I kept going after losing weight, and the reason I feel confident about maintaining the progress I am proud of.

Important Safety Information

What is the most important information I should know about Wegovy^®?
Wegovy^® may cause serious side effects, including:

• Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your healthcare provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rodents, Wegovy^® and other medicines that work like Wegovy^® caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Wegovy^® will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people
• Do not use Wegovy^® if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)

Do not use Wegovy^® if:

• you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
• you have had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or any of the ingredients in Wegovy^® injection or Wegovy^® tablets. See symptoms of serious allergic reaction in “What are the possible side effects of Wegovy^®?”

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:

• have or have had problems with your pancreas or kidneys
• have type 2 diabetes and a history of diabetic retinopathy
• are scheduled to have surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation)
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Wegovy^® may harm your unborn baby. You should stop using Wegovy^® 2 months before you plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with Wegovy^® tablets. It is not known if Wegovy^® when received through an injection passes into your breast milk

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:

• inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using Wegovy^® and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without nausea or vomiting. Sometimes you may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back
• gallbladder problems. Wegovy^® may cause gallbladder problems, including gallstones. Some gallstones may need surgery. Call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms, such as pain in your upper stomach (abdomen), fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored stools
• increased risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), especially those who also take medicines for diabetes such as insulin or sulfonylureas. This can be a serious side effect. Talk to your healthcare provider about how to recognize and treat low blood sugar and check your blood sugar before you start and while you take Wegovy^®. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include dizziness or light-headedness, blurred vision, anxiety, irritability or mood changes, sweating, slurred speech, hunger, confusion or drowsiness, shakiness, weakness, headache, fast heartbeat, or feeling jittery
• dehydration leading to kidney problems. Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration), which may cause kidney problems. It is important for you to drink fluids to help reduce your chance of dehydration. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea that does not go away
• severe stomach problems. Stomach problems, sometimes severe, have been reported in people who use Wegovy^®. Tell your healthcare provider if you have stomach problems that are severe or will not go away
• serious allergic reactions. Stop using Wegovy^® and get medical help right away, if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat; problems breathing or swallowing; severe rash or itching; fainting or feeling dizzy; or very rapid heartbeat
• change in vision in people with type 2 diabetes. Tell your healthcare provider if you have changes in vision during treatment with Wegovy^®
• increased heart rate. Wegovy^® can increase your heart rate while you are at rest. Tell your healthcare provider if you feel your heart racing or pounding in your chest and it lasts for several minutes
• food or liquid getting into the lungs during surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation). Wegovy^® may increase the chance of food getting into your lungs during surgery or other procedures. Tell all your healthcare providers that you are taking Wegovy^® before you are scheduled to have surgery or other procedures

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.