GLP-1 weight-loss comparison
Every GLP-1 and incretin drug, sorted by how much weight people actually lost in its pivotal trial. Each bar is a published, peer-reviewed figure — tap any drug for the dose, trial, and primary source. Filter to what’s approved today, or see the whole pipeline.
Bars show the mean percent body-weight change at the highest studied dose in each drug’s pivotal obesity trial. Trials differ in length and population, so figures are directional, not head-to-head — tap any row for the dose, duration, and primary source.
How we built this
Each figure is the mean percent change in body weight at the highest studied dose, taken from the drug’s pivotal obesity trial and verified against the trial’s published results — not from summaries or marketing. Because the trials differ in length (48–72 weeks) and in the population enrolled, the bars are best read as a directional ranking, not a true head-to-head. Where a genuine head-to-head exists (semaglutide vs tirzepatide), we say so in our full comparison. See our methodology for how we source every claim.
Primary sources
- Phase 2 (obesity) — Retatrutide, −24.2% at 48 wk. PMID 37366315
- SURMOUNT-1 — Tirzepatide, −20.9% at 72 wk. PMID 35658024
- REDEFINE 1 — CagriSema, −20.4% at 68 wk. PMID 40544433
- OASIS 1 — Semaglutide (oral), −15.1% at 68 wk. PMID 37385278
- STEP 1 — Semaglutide, −14.9% at 68 wk. PMID 33567185
- ATTAIN-1 — Orforglipron, −11.2% at 72 wk. PMID 40960239
Compare GLP-1 telehealth providers
Once you know which drug, see how the major providers compare on pricing transparency and care.
Common questions
- Which GLP-1 drug causes the most weight loss?
- On published trial figures, the experimental triple agonist retatrutide produced the largest mean weight loss (about 24.2% at 48 weeks in its Phase 2 trial; Eli Lilly has also reported larger Phase 3 results that are not yet peer-reviewed). Among FDA-approved obesity medications, tirzepatide (Zepbound) leads at about 20.9% in SURMOUNT-1, ahead of semaglutide (Wegovy) at about 14.9% in STEP 1. Trials differ in length and population, so these are directional rather than head-to-head.
- Is tirzepatide better than semaglutide for weight loss?
- In their separate pivotal obesity trials, tirzepatide produced a larger mean weight loss (about 20.9%) than semaglutide (about 14.9%). A head-to-head trial, SURMOUNT-5, also favored tirzepatide. Tirzepatide acts on two receptors (GIP and GLP-1) versus semaglutide's one.
- Are retatrutide, CagriSema, and orforglipron available?
- Orforglipron is: the FDA approved it in April 2026 as Foundayo, a once-daily pill for chronic weight management. Retatrutide and CagriSema are still investigational. Novo Nordisk filed CagriSema for FDA approval in December 2025, and Eli Lilly plans to file retatrutide in early 2027. On this chart, semaglutide (Wegovy injection and Wegovy pill), tirzepatide (Zepbound) and orforglipron (Foundayo) are approved for chronic weight management.
- Is there a GLP-1 weight-loss pill?
- Yes, two are FDA-approved for weight loss. The Wegovy pill (oral semaglutide 25 mg once daily) was approved in December 2025, and Foundayo (orforglipron) in April 2026. In trials, the approved 25 mg semaglutide dose produced about 13.6% mean weight loss at 64 weeks in OASIS 4, and a higher 50 mg dose reached about 15.1% in OASIS 1. Orforglipron, a non-peptide pill that can be manufactured at scale, reached about 11.2% in ATTAIN-1. The Wegovy pill must be taken on an empty stomach with up to 4 ounces of plain water, 30 minutes before food or drink; Foundayo can be taken with or without food.