How long does it take for semaglutide to work for weight loss?

Whether you’re considering semaglutide for weight loss, or you’ve been prescribed it, you may be asking “how long does it take for semaglutide to work?” We answer this question and more in this article. 

Keep reading to learn when semaglutide starts working for weight loss. And, find out how much weight you could lose, how semaglutide works, and what else it’s used for.

Interested in losing weight with semaglutide or another medication? Find a provider on Klarity Health to talk with about a prescription for weight loss medication in as little as 24 hours.

Semaglutide starts working in a few weeks

People who take semaglutide for weight loss notice it suppresses appetite within the first few weeks. But actual weight loss takes longer. 

The table below shows how long it takes for semaglutide to work for weight loss.

How much weight do people lose on semaglutide?

You can expect to lose more weight on semaglutide than on most prescription weight loss pills and other glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist medications. In clinical trials, participants taking semaglutide for weight loss lost 14.9% of their body weight over 68 weeks, on average. This compares to up to 10% body weight loss with Ozempic (semaglutide), Saxenda (liraglutide), and Contrave (bupropion-naltrexone). 

The amount of weight you lose while taking semaglutide depends on your situation, health history, and any lifestyle changes you make, such as eating less or exercising more. A healthcare provider can give you a better idea of how quickly it’ll work for you and how effective it will be in the long term. 

How does semaglutide make you lose weight?

As a GLP-1 agonist medication, semaglutide mimics GLP-1 — a natural hormone released by your pancreas after you eat. GLP-1 works by lowering blood sugar and slowing how quickly food moves from your stomach to your intestines. These effects cause you to feel full faster and longer after eating. And as a result, you eat less and potentially lose weight.

If you’re taking semaglutide for weight loss, you’ll likely be prescribed Wegovy (semaglutide). It’s U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for weight loss and long-term weight maintenance in adults and children aged 12 and older with obesity, and adults who are overweight with at least 1 weight-related health condition. 

Wegovy also reduces your risk of a major cardiovascular event, such as heart attack or stroke, if you’re obese or overweight and have heart disease. It’s meant to be used as part of a medical weight loss program, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

Other brand-name drug that contains semaglutide are Ozempic and Rybelsus. More on these below.

What else does semaglutide do to people?

In addition to Wegovy for weight loss, semaglutide in Ozempic is approved by the FDA to lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is also approved to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death in people with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It’s an injectable medication with the same active ingredient as Wegovy, though Wegovy doses of semaglutide are higher. 

Your healthcare provider can prescribe Ozempic for weight loss, but this is off-label (not FDA-approved) use. And you’re less likely to get Ozempic covered by insurance if you don’t have type 2 diabetes. 

An oral form of semaglutide, Rybelsus (semaglutide), is also available. It’s FDA-approved to improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes. When comparing oral vs injectable semaglutide, you can still lose weight with Rybelsus, but it’s off-label and you’ll typically lose less than with Wegovy or Ozempic. 

In clinical trials, people with type 2 diabetes taking Rybelsus to lower their blood sugar lost an average 8.4 pounds over 26 weeks.

Talk to a healthcare provider about whether semaglutide or another medication is best for you. If you can’t get insurance coverage for Wegovy or Ozempic, compounded semaglutide may be a cheaper alternative — if your provider agrees it’s right for you. There isn’t an FDA-approved  generic version of semaglutide available.

Key takeaway

• Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Wegovy and an FDA-approved weight loss injection that takes time to work. You’ll feel less hungry in the first few weeks, but probably won’t lose weight for 2 to 3 months.
• You can lose more weight with semaglutide than other GLP-1 agonist medications.
• As a GLP-1 agonist, semaglutide works in the body to make you less hungry. As a result, you eat less and lose weight over time.
• Semaglutide, as brand-names Ozempic and Rybelsus,  is approved to lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Their weight loss-approved counterpart is Wegovy. 

Find out if semaglutide is right for you

To find out if semaglutide is right for you, talk to a healthcare provider specialized in weight loss. Your provider will evaluate your needs and create a treatment plan that may include medication, like Wegovy, Ozempic, or something else. Find a weight loss provider on Klarity Health today.

Sources

DailyMed, Label: Ozempic- semaglutide injection solution, https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=adec4fd2-6858-4c99-91d4-531f5f2a2d79

DailyMed, Label: Rybelsus- oral semaglutide tablet, https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=27f15fac-7d98-4114-a2ec-92494a91da98

DailyMed, Label: Wegovy- semaglutide injection solution, https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ee06186f-2aa3-4990-a760-757579d8f77b

Diabetes Care, Oral Semaglutide Versus Empagliflozin in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Uncontrolled on Metformin: The PIONEER 2 Trial, Helena W. Rodbard et al., Sept. 2019, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31530666/

JAMA Network Open, Weight Loss Outcomes Associated with Semaglutide Treatment for Patients with Overweight or Obesity, Wissam Ghusn, MD, et al., Sept. 2022, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9486455/

Mayo Clinic, How fast does semaglutide kick in?, https://diet.mayoclinic.org/us/blog/2024/how-fast-does-semaglutide-kick-in/

NovoMedLink, Rybelsus, https://www.novomedlink.com/diabetes/products/treatments/rybelsus/efficacy-safety/A1C-and-weight-data.html

The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health.

How we reviewed this article: This article goes through rigorous fact-checking by a team of medical reviewers. Reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the author.