Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist — a lab-made copy of a gut hormone that slows stomach emptying and reduces appetite. It is sold as Wegovy (weight management), Ozempic (type 2 diabetes) and Rybelsus (an oral tablet). It is FDA-approved, which puts it at Tier A — the strongest evidence on this site.
What the studies found. In the STEP-1 trial, 1,961 adults took weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg for 68 weeks and lost about 14.9% of body weight, against 2.4% on placebo.[1] That is a completed human trial with a real comparison group — the standard almost no recovery peptide meets.
What’s reported as a downside. A 2024 FAERS analysis found semaglutide carried the strongest signal in its class for metabolic and nutritional adverse events, such as nausea and vomiting.[2] A 2024 study in JAMA Ophthalmology found a higher rate of a rare eye condition (NAION) among people prescribed semaglutide, though later reviews called the link unconfirmed.[3]
Price is where the real decision sits — the same drug ranges widely by route. See the cost calculator.