Wegovy is a once-weekly injection of semaglutide, which is a medication that boosts levels of glucagon-like-peptide (GLP-1) in the body. GLP-1 is a key regulator of weight and blood sugar. It helps to suppress appetite through the brain, and it slows stomach emptying to increase the sensation of fullness.
Past treatments were shown to prompt weight loss in the range of 5% to 10% of body weight. But many had relatively serious or unpleasant side effects. Wegovy, however, helped patients lose an average of 15% of their body weight over 68 weeks in the main clinical trial that led to its approval.
