GLP-1 is a hormone the gut releases after eating. Semaglutide acts at the GLP-1 receptor. According to its labeling, it lowers calorie intake by acting on areas of the brain involved in appetite and food intake, and it delays gastric emptying. In practical terms, that means less appetite and earlier fullness; how much any individual notices varies.
The approved weight-management product is prescribed together with dietary change and increased activity, in defined patient groups based on body mass index and weight-related conditions. It is a medical treatment with eligibility criteria, not a general-purpose slimming aid.
Gastrointestinal side effects are common, particularly early on. Labeling also carries a boxed warning regarding thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodents, and the product is contraindicated in people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2. Those histories have to be asked about before anyone starts.
Risks and limitations
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation are common, especially early.
- Boxed warning regarding thyroid C-cell tumors; contraindicated with MTC or MEN 2 history.
- Pancreatitis, gallbladder disease and other serious effects are described in labeling.
- Chronic weight management is intended as a long-term treatment decision, not a short course.
- Eligibility is defined by labeling and individual medical assessment.