Podcast episode 13 (in German)
Semaglutide (Ozempic & Wegovy): the weight-loss injection fact-checked
July 12, 2026
Almost everyone knows Ozempic and Wegovy by now. Behind both is the same active substance, semaglutide, an approved medicine from diabetes treatment with large human trials, extending to fewer heart attacks and strokes.
What it is about
Semaglutide mimics GLP-1, a gut hormone that the body releases after eating. It acts in three ways: the stomach empties more slowly, hunger becomes quieter in the brain, and the pancreas releases insulin matched to blood sugar. The episode tells the path from lizard venom to a weekly preparation, goes through the STEP trials and the SELECT trial on the heart and discusses what users report about the quieter thoughts about food. Added to this are side effects, muscle loss and stopping the drug. At the end stands an effective, medically prescribed drug that works best together with protein, strength training and good habits.
Key points
- In the large STEP trials, participants lost on average around 15 percent of their body weight, an order of magnitude previously known almost only from surgery.
- The SELECT trial in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2023 showed a markedly lower risk of heart attack and stroke in people with overweight without diabetes.
- The body’s own GLP-1 is broken down after 1 to 2 minutes; semaglutide is built so that 1 injection per week is enough.
- The same active substance is found in 3 products: Ozempic for type 2 diabetes, Wegovy for weight loss and Rybelsus as a tablet.
- The ancestor of the drug class comes from the saliva of the Gila monster, whose GLP-1-like molecule was much more stable than the human one.
- As a report: many users describe that the constant circling of thoughts around food falls silent, and some also report less craving for alcohol or nicotine.
Where the data stop
The effect lasts as long as the drug is taken: after stopping, part of the weight often returns because the hunger comes back. Gastrointestinal complaints are common, especially at the beginning, which is why the dose is increased slowly. As with any rapid weight loss, muscle mass is also lost; protein and strength training help counter this.
The effects on addiction, kidneys, liver and brain are being researched but are not proven. According to the episode, there is no clear data on microdosing. Semaglutide is prescription-only, as of July 2026, and belongs under medical supervision; that is also the safe route.
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Published on July 12, 2026.
The topic in the database
- The blockbuster among the “weight-loss injections”: approved as Ozempic/Wegovy, highly effective for weight and with proven cardiovascular benefit – a legal, medicallySemaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy)
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Information only, not medical advice and not a usage or dosage recommendation. Prescription-only and unapproved substances belong in the hands of a physician. Last updated: 2026-10-09.