What Is Semaglutide? A Guide to GLP-1 Weight Loss

What Is Semaglutide?

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist — a weekly injectable medication that has become one of the most talked-about treatments for weight loss and blood sugar management. Originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, it has since been prescribed off-label and studied extensively for weight management in adults with a BMI of 27 or higher (with a weight-related condition) or BMI of 30 or higher.

Sold under brand names like Wegovy and Ozempic, semaglutide mimics a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that your body naturally produces. This hormone signals your pancreas to release insulin, slows gastric emptying, and communicates with receptors in your brain that control appetite.

The result: many people taking semaglutide lose significant weight over 24 to 72 weeks of supervised treatment — typically 15-20% of body weight in clinical trials. Combined with diet and regular activity, it’s produced results that have made it one of the most searched-for weight loss treatments in the U.S.

No guarantee of treatment or prescription. A licensed provider determines eligibility during your assessment. Individual results vary.