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How does semaglutide help treat obesity and overweight?

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Close-up of hands using a measuring tape to measure the waist circumference of an obese man wearing a white shirt and beige pants. — obesity The excessive accumulation of body fat can cause serious medical conditions.

Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist used to manage obesity and weight-related conditions. It functions by mimicking the natural GLP-1 hormone, which regulates appetite and glucose metabolism.1

The drug aids weight loss through several physiological mechanisms:
* Appetite Suppression: It interacts with receptors in the brain to reduce hunger.1
* Delayed Gastric Emptying: It slows the movement of food through the gut, which induces a sustained feeling of fullness.1
* Metabolic Regulation: It increases the production of insulin, helping to stabilize blood glucose levels.21

Marketed as Wegovy for weight management, it is typically administered via a once-weekly injection at higher doses than those used for diabetes treatment. While highly effective for long-term weight management when combined with diet and exercise, it is intended for use under medical supervision, as it can cause gastrointestinal side effects and carries risks if misused, particularly regarding unapproved compounded formulations.1