A new 60-week trial found that adults taking semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) maintained substantially lower calorie intake compared with people on a placebo. The study suggests the medication can support ongoing weight loss even after some appetite-related benefits begin to wane.
Study design and main findings
The randomized trial enrolled 120 adults with overweight or obesity. Participants received either a once-weekly 2.4 mg dose of semaglutide or a placebo, and all took part in regular lifestyle counseling focused on healthy eating and physical activity. At baseline and again at weeks 20, 40, and 60, participants ate standardized meals and were instructed to eat until comfortably full while researchers measured calorie intake.
Across each assessment through week 60, those taking semaglutide consumed 24% to 30% fewer calories than the placebo group. The reduced intake translated into greater weight loss: the semaglutide group lost an average of 15.1% of initial body weight after 60 weeks, compared with 3.4% in the placebo group.
Appetite, food thoughts, and sustained effects
Researchers also tracked subjective measures of hunger, fullness, and food preoccupation (sometimes called “food noise”). Semaglutide users reported less hunger, fewer food-related thoughts, and stronger appetite control during the first 20 weeks. By weeks 40 and 60, those self-reported differences largely diminished and were no longer statistically significant. Despite that convergence in self-reported appetite metrics, the semaglutide group continued to eat notably fewer calories through week 60.
How GLP-1 drugs work
GLP-1 medications mimic a natural gut hormone that helps regulate appetite. They slow gastric emptying, increase feelings of fullness, reduce cravings, and can lower circulating insulin levels—changes that together help decrease appetite and calorie consumption.
Clinical perspective and practical implications
Clinicians emphasize that semaglutide is a tool within a broader weight-management plan rather than a standalone cure. In practice, many patients show durable benefits, though some may become somewhat less sensitive to the drug’s effects over time. Experts recommend combining medication with nutrition counseling and behavior changes to reduce the risk of weight regain if treatment is stopped. For people who tolerate the drug well, continued treatment can be an important part of maintaining weight loss and improving metabolic health.
Bottom line
This trial indicates semaglutide can sustain a substantial reduction in calorie intake for at least 60 weeks, producing meaningful weight loss. However, best long-term outcomes usually come from pairing medication with lasting lifestyle and dietary changes and working with healthcare professionals to plan ongoing care.
