Large-scale clinical trials have reported that 68 weeks of semaglutide (2.4 mg as a once-weekly injection) reduced body weight by 9.6%–17.4% (up to 12.5 kg or 27.5 lb) in adults with a BMI ≥30 or a BMI ≥27 and at least 1 weight-related comorbidity.[1] Semaglutide appears to reduce weight to a larger degree compared to other anti-obesity medications (i.e., orlistat, naltrexone-bupropion, phentermine-topiramate, liraglutide), for which weight loss in the range of 2.6–8.8 kg (5.7–19.4 lb) has been reported.[2] Semaglutide appears to be less effective than terzepatide, with a 9.2 kg/20.2 lb greater weight loss reported with once-weekly terzepatide vs. once-weekly or daily semaglutide.[3]
In addition to their effect on weight, semaglutide and other GLP-1 agonists may also improve cardiovascular disease risk factors including waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HbA1c, fasting glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP).[1] Many of these effects are likely due to weight and/or fat loss, however.