What to Expect on GLP-1 Medications

Thank you for listening to The Peptide Podcast. If you enjoyed the show and want to support what we do, head over to our Partners Page. You'll find some amazing brands we trust—and by checking them out, you're helping us keep the podcast going.

Today we’re diving into a topic that’s been everywhere lately: GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide for weight loss. You may know them by names like Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, or Zepbound.

I want to give you a clear, realistic picture of what to expect—because while the media loves to highlight the dramatic before-and-after photos, the real journey can be slower and more nuanced for some.

So in this episode, we’re going to talk about the truth—what these medications can do, what they can’t, how long things really take, and what you need to know to set yourself up for success. Not hype, not magic promises—just real, honest insight to help you understand the process.

Let’s get into it.

How GLP-1 & GIP/GLP-1 Agonists Work

So first things first—how do these meds work?

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, and tirzepatide is a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist. Basically, they mimic natural hormones in your body that help regulate blood sugar, slow digestion, and—most importantly for weight loss—reduce appetite and improve satiety.

That means you feel fuller faster and stay full longer. You're not obsessing over food like before. And that’s powerful.

But—and this is a big one— these peptides don't magically erase years of weight gain overnight. What they do is help make weight loss easier by reducing hunger and supporting your metabolism—but they don't do all the work for you. It’s important to remember they're a powerful tool, not a replacement for your efforts. You're still in control of your choices, habits, and long-term success.

Why We Titrate the Dose—and What "Therapeutic Dose" Means

Now, let’s talk about dosing.

When you start Wegovy, you don’t start at the highest dose. It’s gradually increased over several weeks to give your body time to adjust and to help reduce side effects like nausea or stomach upset.

The usual schedule looks like this:

• You’ll start with 0.25 mg once a week for the first month.
  
  

• Then it increases every four weeks—0.5 mg, then 1 mg, then 1.7 mg.
  
  

• By week 17, most people reach the full dose of 2.4 mg once a week—that’s the dose shown in studies to lead to the most consistent weight loss, with many people losing around 15% of their total body weight over about a year.
  
  

But here’s the thing—not everyone follows this path exactly, and that’s okay. Some people need to slow down or stay longer at a lower dose if they’re having side effects. Others may need to increase sooner if they’re not seeing appetite changes and are tolerating the medication well.

And even though 2.4 mg is considered the “therapeutic dose,” not everyone needs to reach it. Some people feel great and lose weight at a lower dose—and if that’s you, that’s your sweet spot. The real goal is to find the lowest effective dose that controls your hunger, helps you lose weight at a steady pace, and keeps side effects to a minimum.

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all journey, and pushing through side effects just to hit the max dose isn’t necessary—or safe. Your best dose is the one your body handles well and helps you make progress.

*How Much Weight Can You Expect to Lose—and How Fast?

Let’s take a look at the clinical studies.

In large trials, people on semaglutide lost about 15% of their total body weight over 68 weeks. For tirzepatide, it was even higher—20% or more in some cases.

But here’s the thing—those results happened over a year to a year and a half. Not 6 weeks. Not 3 months. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.