Evidence comes from large-scale studies such as the SCALE and LEAD trials for liraglutide, the STEP 18 program for semaglutide, the SURMOUNT 14 trials for tirzepatide, AWARD-11 for dulaglutide, and DURATION-1 for exenatide (Table 3)
Difficulty breathing or swallowing
Studies by The New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of American Medical Association, two of the most reputable journals in medicine, have shown that Semaglutide can reduce appetite, regulate glucose levels, and reduce food cravings that have resulted in a 15% loss of total body weight
A total of 2,187 people started semaglutide between April 2018 and July 2025, but only 497 started tirzepatide, which was not approved until 2022
Factors That Affect How Fast Semaglutide Works Everyones weight loss journey is unique, and several factors influence how fast Semaglutide works: Starting Weight : Heavier individuals may initially lose more weight at a quicker rate