{"id":631593,"date":"2025-03-10T20:05:11","date_gmt":"2025-03-11T00:05:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=631593"},"modified":"2025-03-10T20:05:11","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T00:05:11","slug":"semaglutide-weight-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/semaglutide-weight-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"What to know about semaglutide weight loss"},"content":{"rendered":"

Weight loss<\/span> pills have long been popular. More recently, there has been an unprecedented focus on new <\/span>weight loss<\/span> drugs with the same active ingredient: <\/span>semaglutide<\/span>. This <\/span>glucagon-like peptide-1<\/span> (<\/span>GLP-1<\/span>) <\/span>receptor agonist<\/span> is the active ingredient in <\/span>Wegovy<\/span>, Rybelsus, and <\/span>Ozempic<\/span>\u2014the last of which has become a household name after countless celebrities spread the word that it helped them lose weight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep reading to learn about <\/span>semaglutide<\/span> weight loss<\/span>, how it works, and how to get it.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is <\/span>semaglutide<\/span>?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Semaglutide<\/span> belongs to a class of drugs called <\/span>GLP-1 receptor agonists<\/span><\/a>. The <\/span>U.S. Food and Drug Administration<\/span> has approved drugs containing semaglutide to treat <\/span>Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/a> and promote<\/span> weight loss<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>weight management<\/span>. Some are also approved to help lower the risk of <\/span>heart disease<\/span> and <\/span>cardiovascular events<\/span> in people with <\/span>diabetes<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>obesity<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Semaglutide<\/span> is available in oral and injection form. It is the active ingredient in the <\/span>brand-name<\/span>, <\/span>FDA-approved<\/span> drugs <\/span>Ozempic<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Wegovy<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>Rybelsus<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>Novo Nordisk<\/span> is the only pharmaceutical company that makes <\/span>FDA-approved<\/span> medications containing <\/span>semaglutide<\/span>. However, the popularity of these medications has led to<\/span> drug shortages<\/span><\/a>, so some pharmacies make custom-made versions of <\/span>semaglutide<\/span> called<\/span> compounded <\/span>semaglutide<\/span><\/a>, which are not <\/span>FDA-approved<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Semaglutide<\/span> medications were initially intended to treat diabetes. That\u2019s because <\/span>semaglutide<\/span>, like other <\/span>GLP-1<\/span> inhibitors, helps the <\/span>pancreas<\/span> release insulin to process <\/span>glucose<\/span> when <\/span>blood sugar levels<\/span> are too high. However, the <\/span>SUSTAIN<\/span><\/a> clinical trials<\/span> of <\/span>Ozempic<\/span> (<\/span>semaglutide<\/span>) showed that in addition to blood sugar control, the drug caused <\/span>weight loss<\/span> in participants with <\/span>Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>obesity<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“<\/span>Semaglutide<\/span> acts on the brain to suppress appetite,” explains<\/span> Daniel Kim<\/span><\/a>, DO, a board-certified family physician with Medical Offices of Manhattan and<\/span> LabFinder<\/span><\/a> contributor. “It increases the feeling of ‘fullness’ and reduces hunger signals by binding to GLP-1 receptors in the brain.” But <\/span>semaglutide<\/span> doesn’t only combat cravings. Dr. Kim says it also physically “slows down stomach emptying,” which makes people feel full for longer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The bottom line: When a person’s <\/span>appetite is suppressed<\/span><\/a> and they feel full for longer after eating, they eat less. By eating fewer <\/span>calories<\/span>, people on <\/span>semaglutide<\/span> lose weight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How long does it take to work?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Oral <\/span>semaglutide<\/span> is taken once daily, while <\/span>subcutaneous<\/span> injections are administered weekly. In both forms, <\/span>semaglutide<\/span> starts working immediately, but results don’t happen overnight. It can take weeks or even months to notice <\/span>body weight<\/span> changes, and the rate of <\/span>weight loss<\/span> is different for each person.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In<\/span> one study<\/span><\/a> of <\/span>semaglutide injections<\/span> for <\/span>weight loss<\/span>, participants lost an average of 5.9% of their total <\/span>body weight<\/span> in three months and an average of 10.9% in six months.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

No matter what form of <\/span>semaglutide<\/span> is prescribed, people start on the <\/span>lowest dose<\/span><\/a> to help the body adjust to the medication. Not everyone experiences noticeable changes in <\/span>body weight<\/span> while on the lowest dose. That’s normal and not a reason to rush to a higher dose. Regardless of dosage, it takes time for the medication to reach a steady state in the body.<\/span> Ozempic<\/span><\/a> and<\/span> Wegovy<\/span> dosage<\/span><\/a> can be increased after four weeks on the starting dose.<\/span> Rybelsus dosage<\/span><\/a> can be increased after 30 days on the starting dose.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s important to understand that <\/span>semaglutide<\/span> only works for <\/span>chronic weight management<\/span> when taken continuously as prescribed. Quitting <\/span>semaglutide<\/span> could result in <\/span>weight gain<\/span>. Research is ongoing, but<\/span> current studies<\/span><\/a> suggest that <\/span>semaglutide<\/span> users who quit taking <\/span>semaglutide<\/span> regain an average of two-thirds of the weight lost within the first year of quitting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bottom line: <\/span>Semaglutide<\/span> is not a magic bullet for rapid <\/span>weight loss<\/span>. It promotes long-term <\/span>weight loss<\/span>, and research suggests that ongoing treatment is required to maintain the reduced <\/span>body weight<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Efficacy for <\/span>weight loss<\/span><\/h2>\n

Semaglutide<\/span> is very effective for <\/span>weight loss<\/span> (and <\/span>managing <\/span>blood sugar levels<\/span><\/a>), but how much <\/span>body weight<\/span> a person loses\u2014and how fast\u2014depends on dosage and lifestyle choices.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a larger <\/span>double-blind <\/span>clinical trial<\/span><\/a>, participants on once-weekly <\/span>semaglutide injections<\/span> lost an average of 15% of their <\/span>baseline<\/span> body weight<\/span> over 68 weeks. For example, on average, a 200-pound person lost around 30 pounds after 15 months. <\/span>Weight loss<\/span> does not always occur steadily, so it\u2019s possible that a participant could lose 20 pounds within a few months and then the next 10 pounds more slowly. But again, results vary from person to person. <\/span>Some research shows that people can <\/span>lose an average of 5 pounds monthly<\/span><\/a> on <\/span>semaglutide<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is possible to speed up <\/span>weight loss<\/span> on <\/span>semaglutide<\/span> by switching to a higher dose or implementing a healthy diet and <\/span>physical activity<\/span>. Ultimately, <\/span>lifestyle changes<\/span> are necessary to achieve the most significant <\/span>weight loss and to maintain good long-term health<\/span>. People who want to optimize their results on <\/span>semaglutide<\/span> must understand that a long-term commitment to a healthy diet and exercise is required.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can improve effectiveness and speed of <\/span>weight loss<\/span> on <\/span>semaglutide<\/span> with <\/span>lifestyle changes<\/span> such as reduced caloric intake, avoiding processed foods and sugars, and increasing aerobic exercises and strength training,\u201d says Dr. Kim. He adds that staying well-hydrated throughout the day and getting at least seven hours of sleep per night can also improve the odds of effective <\/span>weight loss<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Semaglutide<\/span> side effects<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The most common <\/span>side effects<\/span> of <\/span>semaglutide<\/span><\/a> include:<\/span><\/p>\n