Semaglutide works as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist and is administered once weekly by injection. The effect is to reduce food intake by lowering appetite and slowing down digestion in the stomach, which helps to reduce body fat and weight.

Most studies evaluated patients after 68 weeks of ongoing weekly use and the average weight loss was 15-20% of body weight over that time period. Study participants also enjoyed greater improvement in cardiometabolic risk factors and an increase in participant-reported physical functioning from baseline.