How Does Semaglutide Work for Weight Loss?
Semaglutide (brand names Wegovy and Ozempic) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics the natural hormone GLP-1 to reduce appetite and increase feelings of fullness. In the STEP 1 clinical trial (Wilding et al., NEJM 2021, DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2032183), participants lost an average of 14.9% of body weight over 68 weeks compared to 2.4% with placebo.
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound), a dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist, showed even greater results in the SURMOUNT-1 trial (Jastreboff et al., NEJM 2022, DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2206038), with participants losing up to 22.5% of body weight at the highest dose.
At Thrive RX, Dr. Kiswani-Barley, a board-certified obesity medicine physician, prescribes only FDA-approved GLP-1 medications (no compounded versions) as part of a comprehensive telehealth program available throughout Florida. Initial evaluations are $250, with follow-ups at $200.