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By HealthVetted Editorial
Reviewed & updated
GLP-1 medications have become a defining category in weight management and type 2 diabetes care. But "GLP-1" is not one drug. It is a class — and within that class, the active ingredients, FDA approvals, and routes of delivery differ in ways that matter. This is an editorial reference list, not a ranked buy page. For our ordered recommendations, see [best-prescription-glp1](/best-prescription-glp1). For the foundational overview, start with the [GLP-1 weight loss pillar](/glp-1-weight-loss).
This is general information, not medical advice. Whether any of these medications is appropriate — and at what dose — is a decision for you and a licensed clinician.
GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone the body releases after eating that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite. GLP-1 receptor agonists are medications that mimic this hormone. Some are "single-agonist" drugs (acting on the GLP-1 receptor alone). Others are "dual-agonist" drugs that also activate the GIP receptor.
A critical distinction runs through the entire list: the same active ingredient is often sold under two brand names — one approved for chronic weight management and one approved for type 2 diabetes. The molecule is identical; the FDA-approved indication is not.
| Brand | Active ingredient | FDA approval | Mechanism | Route | Average trial weight loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy | Semaglutide | Chronic weight management | GLP-1 agonist | Weekly injection | ~15% over 68 wks |
| Ozempic | Semaglutide | Type 2 diabetes | GLP-1 agonist | Weekly injection | (diabetes trials) |
| Zepbound | Tirzepatide | Chronic weight management | GLP-1/GIP dual agonist | Weekly injection | ~21% over 72 wks |
| Mounjaro | Tirzepatide | Type 2 diabetes | GLP-1/GIP dual agonist | Weekly injection | (diabetes trials) |
The weight-loss percentages above come from the pivotal obesity trials: STEP 1 for semaglutide and SURMOUNT-1 for tirzepatide. They are trial averages, not promises; individual results vary widely.
Semaglutide is a single GLP-1 receptor agonist. It is delivered as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection that is titrated upward over time to reduce side effects.
Wegovy is the version FDA-approved for chronic weight management in eligible adults 3. In the STEP 1 trial, adults with overweight or obesity who took once-weekly semaglutide alongside lifestyle intervention lost roughly 15% of body weight on average over 68 weeks 1.
Ozempic is the same molecule, semaglutide, approved for type 2 diabetes 5. It is frequently discussed in weight-loss conversations, but its on-label indication is glycemic control in diabetes.
Both share a common side-effect profile dominated by gastrointestinal effects — nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation — most pronounced during dose escalation 3. The labeling carries a boxed warning regarding thyroid C-cell tumors observed in rodent studies, and the drug is contraindicated in people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) 3.
You can read our brand-specific breakdowns in the [Wegovy review](/reviews/wegovy) and the [Ozempic review](/reviews/ozempic).
Tirzepatide is a dual agonist: it activates both the GLP-1 receptor and the GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) receptor. Like semaglutide, it is a once-weekly subcutaneous injection that is titrated gradually.
Zepbound is the version FDA-approved for chronic weight management 4. In the SURMOUNT-1 trial, adults with obesity (or overweight with a weight-related condition) lost approximately 21% of body weight on average over 72 weeks at the higher doses studied 2.
Mounjaro is the same molecule, tirzepatide, approved for type 2 diabetes 6.
Tirzepatide's tolerability profile is broadly similar to semaglutide's, led by gastrointestinal effects that are most common during titration 4. It carries the same class boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors and the same contraindications for MTC and MEN 2 4.
See the [Zepbound review](/reviews/zepbound) and [Mounjaro review](/reviews/mounjaro) for details, and our head-to-head [Wegovy vs Zepbound comparison](/compare/wegovy-vs-zepbound).
Every brand in the table above is a weekly injection. Oral GLP-1 options are a distinct category — taken as a daily pill rather than a weekly shot. Pills appeal to people who prefer to avoid injections, though the available oral options and their approved uses differ from the injectables. We cover that landscape separately in [best oral GLP-1](/best-oral-glp1).
There is also a market for compounded versions of these molecules, which exist outside the branded, FDA-approved products and carry different considerations. We address that in [best compounded GLP-1](/best-compounded-glp1).
Prescription weight-management medications are typically considered for adults who meet specific body mass index (BMI) thresholds — generally a BMI in the obesity range, or in the overweight range when accompanied by a weight-related health condition. Eligibility, BMI definitions, and the chronic-disease framing of obesity are described by federal health sources. These drugs are used as part of a long-term plan that includes nutrition and physical activity, not as a standalone fix.
To check where you might fall, try the [GLP-1 eligibility quiz](/tools/glp1-eligibility-quiz). For broader background on the condition itself, see [conditions/obesity](/conditions/obesity) and [conditions/weight-loss](/conditions/weight-loss).
Branded GLP-1 medications are expensive, and coverage varies. Two of our calculators help you map the financial picture: the [GLP-1 cost calculator](/tools/glp1-cost-calculator) and the [GLP-1 savings calculator](/tools/glp1-savings-calculator).
People often ask whether over-the-counter supplements can substitute for prescription GLP-1 drugs. They work differently and are not equivalent; we lay out the contrast in [supplements vs GLP-1](/supplements-vs-glp1) and the specific [berberine vs Ozempic](/berberine-vs-ozempic) comparison.
Because GLP-1 medications affect appetite and digestion, they can interact with other treatments and conditions. Before starting, it is worth checking your full medication list with the [interaction checker](/tools/interaction-checker). If you ever plan to stop, do so with clinical guidance rather than abruptly — our [taper calculator](/tools/glp1-taper-calculator) is a starting reference for that conversation.
Two themes appear across every product label in this list: gastrointestinal side effects concentrated during dose escalation, and the boxed thyroid C-cell tumor warning with MTC/MEN 2 contraindications 34. These are class-level considerations a clinician will screen for.
Treat this page as the map, not the destination. The point is to see clearly that semaglutide and tirzepatide each wear two names, that weight and diabetes approvals are separate, and that injectable and oral routes are different paths. From there:
The right choice depends on your health profile, goals, insurance, and a clinician's judgment — never on a percentage in a headline alone.
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Both contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide, as a once-weekly injection. Wegovy is FDA-approved for chronic weight management in eligible adults, while Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes. The molecule is identical; the approved indication differs.
In their separate pivotal trials, tirzepatide (SURMOUNT-1) showed an average weight loss of about 21% over 72 weeks, and semaglutide (STEP 1) showed about 15% over 68 weeks. These were different trials, so direct comparison has limits, and individual results vary. A clinician can help weigh which is appropriate for you.
The major branded products in this guide — Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, and Mounjaro — are all once-weekly injections. Oral GLP-1 options taken as a daily pill are a distinct category with different approved uses, which we cover on our dedicated oral GLP-1 page.
Prescription weight-management drugs are typically considered for adults meeting specific BMI thresholds — generally obesity range, or overweight range with a weight-related condition. They are used alongside nutrition and activity, not alone. Eligibility is determined by a clinician; our eligibility quiz can give you a rough starting point.
Across all four products, gastrointestinal effects — nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation — are most common during dose escalation. The labels carry a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodent studies, and the drugs are contraindicated for people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or MEN 2.