What the ingredient does
Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) is an altered copy of a gut hormone involved in feeling full and handling blood sugar.
National Library of Medicine · how semaglutide worksAs of September 2026, Ozempic and Wegovy each have tablet and injection forms.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) · product recordsThe use depends on the product
As of September 2026, Ozempic’s approved uses concern diabetes and related heart or kidney problems. Wegovy’s approved uses include weight reduction and keeping weight off.
FDA · product uses for semaglutideAsk for the form and the reason for prescribing it. A shared ingredient does not make the labels or coverage rules identical.
What a weight trial found
A weight-loss study called STEP 1 included adults without diabetes who had obesity or excess weight plus a related health problem. Average weight loss was 14.9% on semaglutide versus 2.4% on a dummy injection over 68 weeks.
Journal study · STEP 1 weight trialA dummy injection has no active study medicine.
The study included regular visits plus advice on food and physical activity. Its funding came from the medicine’s maker.
Journal study · support and fundingAn average is not a promise for an individual.
Stomach effects can matter
Nausea means feeling sick to your stomach.
In the adult weight trials in Wegovy’s label, nausea affected 44% on the injection and 16% on a dummy injection.
National Library of Medicine · nausea in trialsAsk how concerns will be assessed and who can reply between visits.
Understand the warning about a neck gland
The thyroid is a small part of the body in the neck, called a gland. Semaglutide’s medicine information has its strongest warning, called a boxed warning, about tumors in that gland found in rats and mice. Whether the medicine causes these tumors in people is unknown.
National Library of Medicine · boxed warning