{"id":626930,"date":"2024-02-20T15:43:16","date_gmt":"2024-02-20T20:43:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=626930"},"modified":"2026-05-04T15:17:33","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T19:17:33","slug":"victoza-weight-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/victoza-weight-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Victoza weight loss: Why it happens and whether it\u2019s effective"},"content":{"rendered":"

Victoza<\/a> is an injectable prescription medication manufactured by Novo Nordisk that contains the active ingredient liraglutide. It works by mimicking a hormone that lowers blood sugar (glucose) levels after eating and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to <\/span>manage Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/a> in adults and children ages 10 and older. While it\u2019s mainly prescribed for Type 2 diabetes, it’s also approved to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as <\/span>heart attack and stroke<\/span><\/a>, in adults with heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite its FDA-approved use for managing diabetes, some doctors and healthcare providers may prescribe Victoza <\/span>off-label<\/span><\/a> for weight loss. When paired with a <\/span>healthy diet<\/span><\/a> and exercise, Victoza may improve weight management by slowing how long it takes for food to travel through the stomach and reducing appetite. In addition, studies have shown that the drug\u2019s active ingredient, liraglutide, can support weight loss, especially in higher doses. In fact, liraglutide is also the active ingredient in the brand-name drug Saxenda, which is FDA-approved for weight loss.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Read on to learn more about how Victoza can cause weight loss and whether it\u2019s safe for this purpose.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Does Victoza cause weight loss?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Several studies, including animal studies and human clinical trials, have shown that Victoza can lead to weight loss. This effect has been observed in both normal-weight and overweight individuals, as well as people with and without diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>a series of studies known as the LEAD trials<\/span><\/a>, people who took Victoza for about six months to a year lost between 2\u20137 pounds on average. The weight loss was more noticeable with Victoza than with other similar treatments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another <\/span>study published in <\/span>The Lancet<\/span><\/i><\/a> compared the weight loss effects of different doses of Victoza against a placebo (a treatment with no active drug) and another weight loss drug, orlistat. People in this study did not have diabetes. They found that those who took liraglutide lost more weight\u2014between 11 and 16 pounds\u2014over 20 weeks than those who took the placebo or orlistat. Higher doses of liraglutide at 3 mg resulted in more weight loss than lower doses, which led to the approval of Saxenda at this dosage for weight management.<\/span><\/p>\n

While Victoza has been shown to cause weight loss, the amount of weight loss can vary. Different factors like diet, exercise, and overall lifestyle may affect the amount of weight loss with Victoza.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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How does Victoza work for weight loss?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Liraglutide is the active ingredient in Victoza that acts as a <\/span>glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist<\/span><\/a>. It mimics the action of GLP-1, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. By activating GLP-1 receptors, Victoza slows stomach emptying and triggers the release of insulin, which helps lower blood sugar levels after eating.<\/span><\/p>\n

Because Victoza slows stomach emptying, it can also have the following effects:<\/span><\/p>\n