Find the right GLP‑1 for you

They contain the same drug — semaglutide, made by Novo Nordisk. Ozempic is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes and often prescribed off-label for weight loss; Wegovy is the higher-dose version approved specifically for weight management.

In pivotal clinical trials, average total body-weight loss ranged from about 8% with liraglutide to about 15% with semaglutide 2.4 mg and about 21% with tirzepatide over 68–72 weeks, combined with diet and exercise. Individual results vary widely.

Appetite effects often show up within the first few weeks, but meaningful weight loss builds gradually — doses step up over 4–5 months, and trial results peaked around 60–72 weeks. The early weeks are dose-ramp weeks, not result weeks.

Mostly gastrointestinal — nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, especially around dose increases — and they usually ease over time. Rarer but serious risks include pancreatitis and gallbladder problems, and GLP-1s carry a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodent studies. Read the full safety information before starting.

For weight loss, FDA labels set the bar at a BMI of 30+, or 27+ with at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or sleep apnea. Telehealth providers apply the same criteria — a licensed clinician always makes the final call.

It depends on your plan. Diabetes indications are covered far more often than weight-loss indications, and many employer plans exclude weight-loss medication entirely. Check your specific plan documents or use our coverage checker as a starting point.

List prices run roughly $950–$1,400 a month, but almost nobody pays list. Manufacturer savings programs, cash-pay pharmacy options, and compounded versions bring typical out-of-pocket costs closer to $150–$550 a month depending on the medication and dose.

Semaglutide activates the GLP-1 receptor; tirzepatide activates both GLP-1 and GIP receptors. In trials, tirzepatide posted the largest average weight loss of any approved medication so far.

No. Compounded versions are not FDA-approved and aren't reviewed for safety or effectiveness, and rules on compounding tightened after the branded shortages were declared over. If you consider one, use a licensed provider and pharmacy and talk to a clinician first.

Often, yes — trial extension studies show many people regain a substantial portion of lost weight within a year of stopping. Sustained results usually involve maintenance dosing or long-term diet, protein, and strength-training habits.