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SemaglutidesOriginally designed to treat diabetes, semaglutide has garnered significant attention in recent years for its use in weight loss treatments. The drug mimics a hormone naturally produced in the gut after meals and can trigger a number of similar responses that effectively trick the body into thinking it is full.
The drug is sold under the trade names Ozempic (injection) and Rybelsus (oral) for diabetes, and Wegovy (injection) for weight loss. As of spring 2026, two GLP-1 pill options were also available for weight loss—a Wegovy option and Eli Lilly's Foundayo.
Semaglutide is in a class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists, which mimic the hormone GLP-1. Humans produce GLP-1 when they eat, and the hormone causes the body to produce insulin—hence its use to treat diabetes. However, GLP-1 also activates receptors in the nervous system, the stomach, and the gut. Each receptor triggers a different response, including slowing the passage of food through the digestive system and prompting the brain to send signals of fullness.Explore Semaglutides
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How semaglutides are both better and worse than we knowThe drugs were developed for use treating diabetes and, later, weight loss, but they have proven helpful with the heart, kidneys, and colon. On the flipside, it may slow digestion and lead to gastroparesis, or stomach blockages, and unexpected babies resulting from the slow effect of birth control pills. SciShowHow to properly use semaglutidesThis podcast with a nutritionist and a medical doctor discusses how useful semaglutide can be for weight loss. It also outlines the need for patients to set reasonable expectations and to make changes to both diet and exercise as part of an overall weight management strategy. The experts note that failure to make meaningful changes outside of using semaglutide may mean patients need to stay on the drug in order to keep the weight off. Melissa McAllisterSemaglutides trigger the release of the appetite-suppressing hormone incretinWe've all heard about these new weight loss drugs. But what are they actually doing inside the human body to help people manage their weight? Health news site STAT has created a clear, concise video that explains what GLP-1 RAs are and how semaglutide works. STATWhat do people do once GLP-1 medications succeed at weight loss?The drugs have been adopted by 1 in 8 Americans, with many achieving their prescribed weight loss. They now face the question of how to keep the weight off, the key issue with any weight loss program that researchers have known about for decades. Each case is unique. Some folks continue to use GLP-1s like Ozempic in minuscule doses, while others taper them off over time. The ConversationResearch suggests Ozempic has benefits beyond weight lossSemaglutide, the key ingredient in Ozempic, is proving to be more than just a diabetes and weight loss drug. Research suggests it may also help prevent strokes, improve heart health, and slow Alzheimer’s. 1440 DailyRisks of GLP-1s include health side effects, counterfeit drugs, and moreThis episode interviews researchers and patients who have used semaglutide to explore some of the potential risks associated with using the drug to lose weight. These include insurance challenges, health scares related to counterfeit versions of these drugs, and some users lose their ability to enjoy food. CNNHow quickly does semaglutide work?While semaglutides begin working almost right away, it may take days or even weeks to notice physical effects. Here, three patients describe their own personal experience with the medications, side effects, benefits, and more. GoodRXTirzepatide: A GLP-1 drug that also acts on separate receptors to promote weight lossTirzepatide, like semaglutide, is a GLP-1 drug used in diabetes treatment and for weight loss. Unlike semaglutide, it also acts on glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptors, proving a second route to reducing appetite as a means to treat diabetes and promote weight loss. GoodRxRead the FDA's statement on concerns over compound pharmaciesGLP-1 drugs popularity for weight loss and treating diabetes, led to a significant supply shortage and the rise of compound pharmacies, which produce customized drug formulations but lack formal approval from regulators. The drugs are ostensibly the same, but manufacturing methods lead to variations in concentration, filler compounds, and more. U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationCompounding pharmacies make custom drug formulations during drug shortagesCompounded semaglutide refers to customized versions of the medication prepared by pharmacies, especially during shortages of FDA-approved products like Ozempic and Wegovy. While compounded forms of brand-name medications can make it easier to access the drugs, the quality of such medications often varies. GoodRXThe popularity of new weight loss drugs has led to a diabetes treatment shortageThe FDA approved Ozempic to help patients with diabetes, but the popularity of semaglutide as a weight loss drug led doctors to prescribe Ozempic to nondiabetic patients who needed to lose weight. Ozempic became so popular that manufacturers could not keep pace with demand, posing risks for Ozempic-users with diabetes. NPRGLP-1 helps reduce obesity through a number of mechanismsClinical studies show GLP-1 drugs, including semaglutide, promote weight loss through a number of effects. These include reduced appetite, slower emptying of the digestive tract, increased insulin production, and more. National Institutes of HealthSee which GLP-1 drugs are currently approved (along with their cost)Around 75% of prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs are used to treat diabetes, while the remainder is used for weight loss. This overview from GoodRX includes a list and overview of currently available options along with prices for each. GoodRXGLP-1 drugs mimic a natural hormone that triggers appetite-suppressing effectsOzempic, one of the brand names for the drug semaglutide, was originally developed in 2012, to help treat Type 2 diabetes. Among other effects, the drug mimics a naturally produced hormone known as GLP-1, which is released while eating to let our bodies know we are full. Vox
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