lifestyle
Which GLP-1 Is Best for Weight Loss? 10 Options Compared Side-By-Side
When it comes to tackling weight loss, figuring out which GLP-1 medication is best for you can feel overwhelming, especially with so many options to choose from. With all their clinical data, medical jargon, and marketing lingo, it’s easy to feel lost when trying to make sense of how different GLP-1 medications compare. This article Does Semaglutide Cause Constipation? will break down the differences between the most popular GLP-1s on the market, so you can feel confident choosing the best option for your weight loss goals.
MeAgain’s GLP-1 app is a great tool to help you make this decision. Our app enables you to understand how GLP-1 medications can help you, track your progress, and personalize your weight loss journey.
Table of content
Which GLP-1 is Best for Weight Loss?
GLP-1 drugs mimic a gut hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that regulates blood sugar and promotes weight loss. After you eat, GLP-1 levels increase, helping the body use insulin more effectively and signaling for the reduction of appetite.
People with obesity and diabetes often have impaired responses to GLP-1, which contributes to the metabolic derangements of the two conditions. GLP-1 medications help restore this impaired response, leading to better blood sugar control, appetite reduction, and weight loss.
How Do GLP-1 Medications Compare?
Among the GLP-1 drugs currently available, tirzepatide and semaglutide stand out as the most effective for weight management. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis that included 53 studies lasting between 12 and 78 weeks and 21,349 patients found that, compared with placebo, tirzepatide was most effective for weight loss.
This was followed by semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, and then exenatide. Patients taking tirzepatide lost about 8.5 kg (19 lbs). Those taking semaglutide lost about 3 kg (6.6 lbs).
Liraglutide and Dulaglutide: the Oldest Generation
Exenatide is now rarely used, and two other drugs, called liraglutide and dulaglutide, are now two of the oldest GLP-1 receptor agonists in common circulation. Both were first approved for treating type 2 diabetes. Liraglutide is sold as the weight-loss drug Saxenda and as the diabetes medication Victoza, while dulaglutide is sold as Trulicity, which is only approved for diabetes.
Neither medication manages blood sugar or weight to the same degree as newer versions, but these older drugs are still good options for people with mild diabetes who are not overweight. “I don’t want them to lose a whole bunch of weight,” says Sue Pedersen, an endocrinologist and obesity medicine specialist at the C-endo diabetes and endocrinology clinic in Alberta. “I want to help them improve their metabolic health.”
Both liraglutide and dulaglutide must be taken as regular injections, liraglutide daily and dulaglutide weekly. Their molecular structures differ from each other, but “there really are not major differences in their effects on glucose control and body weight,” says endocrinologist Daniel Drucker of the University of Toronto.
Semaglutide: Beginning a New Era
The first generation of GLP-1 receptor agonists achieved less than 10 percent weight loss on average. Newer medications can help people lose around 15 percent of their body weight, says endocrinologist and diabetes researcher Dimitris Papamargaritis of the University of Leicester in England.
That step up came with the FDA approval of a new GLP-1 receptor agonist called semaglutide, best known as a weekly injection to treat type 2 diabetes that is sold under the brand name Ozempic. The drug was first approved for that purpose in 2017 and was then approved as a type 2 diabetes pill called Rybelsus and, most recently, as an injection to treat obesity called Wegovy.
Superiority of Semaglutide over Dulaglutide
Semaglutide showed a “modest but significant advantage” over dulaglutide for controlling diabetes and enhancing weight loss, Drucker says. It’s not yet clear which aspects of semaglutide give the molecule this advantage. Drucker suspects, however, that it has to do with semaglutide’s ability to circulate longer in the body without degrading, possibly combined with an ability to bind to the GLP-1 receptor more strongly than older drugs.
Semaglutide is also the first (and so far only) GLP-1 receptor agonist shown to decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes among people who don’t have diabetes, “so that’s a game changer in the field of obesity medicine,” Pedersen says.
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10 GLP-1 Drugs and How to Navigate Your Options
1. Ozempic (Semaglutide): What’s it Approved For?
Ozempic is primarily used to treat Type 2 diabetes in adults and can help patients manage their blood sugar levels while also reducing the risk of cardiovascular events.
Does it Work for Weight Loss?
Ozempic isn’t approved for weight loss, but users may notice some weight loss while taking it. This is particularly true for people with obesity or overweight who also have Type 2 diabetes. Clinical trials show that people taking Ozempic lost 8 to 10 pounds on average after 30 weeks.
How is it Administered?
Ozempic is a once-weekly injection that comes in a pre-filled pen. You can inject it on the same day each week at any time of day, with or without food.
What’s its Effectiveness?
In addition to helping lower A1C levels, Ozempic can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications in people with Type 2 diabetes.
2. Rybelsus (Oral Semaglutide): What’s it Approved For?
Rybelsus is an oral medication approved to treat Type 2 diabetes in adults. It helps manage blood sugar levels and may lower the risk of cardiovascular events.
Does it Work for Weight Loss?
Rybelsus isn’t approved for weight loss. However, higher doses of oral semaglutide may be approved for weight loss soon.
How is it Administered?
Rybelsus is taken by mouth once daily. To get the best results, take it first thing in the morning with no more than four ounces of water. Wait 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking other medications. This will allow the drug to be fully absorbed.
What’s its Effectiveness?
Rybelsus can help lower blood sugar levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes. It’s also possible to switch between Rybelsus and Ozempic (the injectable version of semaglutide) if needed.
3. Wegovy: What’s it Approved For?
Wegovy is explicitly approved for weight loss in adults and adolescents age 12 and older. It’s not used to treat diabetes, and you don’t need to have a diabetes diagnosis to use it.
Does it Work for Weight Loss?
Yes, Wegovy is approved for weight loss. In clinical trials, adults receiving Wegovy saw an average weight loss of nearly 15% of their initial body weight. And adolescents saw an average weight loss of almost 15% of their initial body weight.
How is it Administered?
Wegovy is another once-weekly semaglutide injection. Like Ozempic, you can inject Wegovy at any time of day, with or without food.
What’s its Effectiveness?
For the best results, combine Wegovy with a nutritious diet and regular exercise. Wegovy is also approved to lower the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in adults with heart disease and a larger body size. During a recent clinical trial, Wegovy lowered the risk of MACE by 20% compared to placebo (an injection without medication in it).
4. Trulicity (Dulaglutide): What’s it Approved For?
Trulicity is approved to improve blood sugar levels in adults and children aged 10 and older with Type 2 diabetes. Like Ozempic, it can help lower the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in adults who also have heart disease. But unlike Ozempic, Trulicity can provide this benefit even if you have heart disease risk factors.
Does it Work for Weight Loss?
Trulicity isn’t approved for weight loss. But some people using it lose weight as a side effect. One study found that adults taking the highest Trulicity dose (4.5 mg) were able to lose up to 10 pounds over nine months.
How is it Administered?
Trulicity is a once-weekly injection that comes as a single-use pre-filled pen. You can inject Trulicity on the same day each week at any time of day, with or without food.
What’s its Effectiveness?
Trulicity can help lower A1C levels and may also provide some kidney-related benefits.
5. Victoza (Liraglutide): What’s it Approved For?
Victoza is approved to treat Type 2 diabetes in adults and children age 10 and older. It helps improve blood sugar levels and may also lower the risk of cardiovascular complications in people with Type 2 diabetes.
Does it Work for Weight Loss?
Victoza isn’t approved for weight loss, but some people taking it lose weight. During clinical trials, this was around 5 pounds on average. A higher-dose version called Saxenda is available for weight loss.
How is it Administered?
Victoza is a once-daily injection that can be taken at any time of day, without regard to food.
What’s its Effectiveness?
In addition to helping lower A1C levels, Victoza may help prevent kidney problems from getting worse.
6. Saxenda (Liraglutide): What’s it Approved For?
Saxenda is the version of liraglutide approved for weight loss. Like Wegovy, it’s approved for use in adults and adolescents age 12 and older who are considered obese. Adults considered overweight with at least one weight-related health condition can also qualify.
Does it Work for Weight Loss?
Yes, Saxenda is approved for weight loss. In a large clinical trial, adults using Saxenda lost an average of 8% of their starting body weight. In a separate trial, adolescents lost a little over 2.5% of their starting body weight on average.
How is it Administered?
Saxenda is a once-daily injection.
What’s its Effectiveness?
Saxenda also works best when combined with a nutritious diet and regular exercise.
7. Byetta (Exenatide): What’s it Approved For?
Byetta was the first FDA-approved GLP-1 drug. It’s used to treat Type 2 diabetes in adults. You need to inject it more often compared to other options, twice daily within an hour before your morning and evening meals.
Does it Work for Weight Loss?
Byetta can cause weight loss as a side effect. However, Byetta doesn’t have the same proven cardiovascular benefits as other options.
How is it Administered?
Byetta is injected twice a day.
What’s its Effectiveness?
Your prescriber may recommend Byetta if you’re experiencing blood glucose spikes after meals.
8. Bydureon BCise (Exenatide): What’s it Approved For?
Bydureon BCise is a longer-acting version of Byetta that’s injected once weekly. It’s approved to lower blood glucose levels in people ages 10 and older with Type 2 diabetes.
Does It Work for Weight Loss?
Like Byetta, Bydureon BCise may cause weight loss as a side effect.
How Is It Administered?
Bydureon BCise is a once-weekly injection.
What’s Its Effectiveness?
While Bydureon BCise may help with blood sugar control in people with Type 2 diabetes, it doesn’t have the same proven cardiovascular benefits seen with other GLP-1 drugs.
9. Mounjaro (Tirzepatide): What’s it Approved For?
Mounjaro is a once-weekly injection that’s closely related to GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs. It’s part of a brand new class called GLP-1/GIP agonists. Mounjaro is approved to treat Type 2 diabetes in adults.
Does it Work for Weight Loss?
Mounjaro isn’t approved for weight loss yet, but studies have shown it can help people lose significant amounts of weight.
How is it Administered?
Mounjaro is a once-weekly injection.
What’s its Effectiveness?
It has been studied head-to-head against Ozempic. After 40 weeks, people receiving Mounjaro saw a better reduction in hemoglobin A1C levels (average blood glucose over 3 months) compared to Ozempic. And they lost more weight, too.
10. Zepbound (Tirzepatide): What’s it Approved For?
Zepbound is the FDA-approved version of tirzepatide for weight loss. It’s also approved for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in people with a larger body size.
Does It Work for Weight Loss?
Yes, Zepbound is approved for weight loss. During clinical trials, people receiving Zepbound lost up to nearly 21% of their starting body weight over 72 weeks (about 16.5 months). This was compared to 3% weight loss in people who received a placebo.
How is it Administered?
Zepbound is a once-weekly injection.
What’s its Effectiveness?
Compared to Wegovy, a recent head-to-head study showed greater weight loss in people receiving Zepbound.
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How Do I Find Out Which GLP-1 Drug is Right for Me?
GLP-1 medications are approved for adults. But some can also be used in children as young as 10 years old. If you’re considering GLP-1 medicines for a child, talk to their pediatrician about their specific needs and how these drugs may help.
Treatment Goals: What's Your Target?
GLP-1 medications have specific approved uses. Some help with weight loss, while others are better for managing diabetes and reducing the risk of heart disease. Your diabetes treatment goals will help determine which GLP-1 medication is proper for you.
Underlying Conditions: What Else is Going On?
If you have existing heart disease or heart disease risk factors, one GLP-1 medication with proven cardiovascular benefits may be preferred. Certain GLP-1 drugs also have proven benefits for people with chronic kidney disease or obstructive sleep apnea.
Preferences: What’s Your Style?
Don’t like needles? You’re in luck. One GLP-1 medication comes in an oral pill form. Others are injectables, but if dosage frequency is a concern, there are once-weekly options to choose from.
Insurance Coverage: Got It or Not?
Your insurance plan may only cover certain GLP-1 medications. And whether one is covered may depend on why you’re taking it. It’s best to check with your specific plan about coverage before getting too attached to one.
Talk to Your Doctor
Your prescriber can help you navigate your options and answer any questions you have. And if you can’t tolerate one GLP-1 medication, they may have you try a different one.
Download our GLP-1 app to Turn Your Weight Loss Journey into Your Favorite Game.
Starting a GLP-1 medication like Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro can feel overwhelming. They can help you lose weight.
But they can also cause nasty side effects like muscle loss and severe constipation. MeAgain can help you avoid these challenges so you can get back to what matters: your transformation.
Get to Know Your Cappybara Buddy
MeAgain is a game, and the adorable capybara that guides you through the process is your buddy. Don’t worry. There’s no actual gameplay or anything scary like that. Your capybara will help you hit your protein, fiber, water, and exercise goals to avoid side effects and stay healthy while you lose weight on GLP-1s.
Track Your Progress with a Journey Card
The MeAgain app features a Journey Card that helps you track your progress over time. Transformations can happen quickly on GLP-1 medications, and if you don’t take photos and document your progress, you might forget how far you’ve come when you reach your goal. Documenting your journey with the MeAgain Journey Card will help you remember every milestone along the way.