Stomach Injections for Weight Loss

Stomach injections for weight loss typically involve medications like semaglutide (e.g., Ozempic, Wegovy) or liraglutide (e.g., Saxenda) that help regulate appetite and blood sugar.

These injections work by mimicking hormones that signal fullness to the brain, leading to reduced food intake and potential weight loss.

They are usually prescribed alongside a healthy diet and exercise regimen and are intended for individuals with obesity or weight-related health conditions.

What are Weight Loss Injections?

In order to help someone lose weight, weight loss injections entail administering drugs subcutaneously over an extended period of time. These are typically prescribed by doctors to patients with weight-related illnesses and those with a BMI of 27 kg/m² or higher.

Injections for weight loss can be beneficial:

• Decreases a person’s appetite, increases feelings of fullness, and lessens their inclination for foods heavy in fat.
• Lower blood sugar and control obesity and extra weight

Some brands that can be used as injections for weight loss include:

• Although Wegovy
• Zepbound
• Saxanda
• Olympic is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss, a physician may administer it off-label.

A person can learn how to utilise the weight loss injection from a doctor or nurse and perform it at home.

The majority of injections for weight loss serve the same function. A person’s weight and blood sugar levels will drop as a result of this since it will decrease appetite and cravings, promote satiety, and decrease the amount of food consumed.

Thyroid cancer is the FDA’s most serious warning, and it is included in the boxed warning for all of the weight reduction drugs listed above. However, research on rodents has demonstrated these hazards at high doses, and more human trials are required.

Four Types of Weight Loss Stomach Injections

The stomach or other parts of the body can be injected with a variety of injectable weight-loss drugs. These include frequently prescribed medications like Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA), Saxenda (liraglutide), Zepbound (tirzepatide), and Ozempic or Wegovy (semaglutide).

With the exception of Botox, the majority of these drugs function by decreasing hunger and are agonists of the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor. However, Botox relaxes the muscles in the stomach, which also helps control appetite.

Wegovy (Semaglutide) and Ozempic

Semaglutide is the active ingredient of the name-brand injectable prescription medications Ozempic and Wegovy. These drugs fall under the category of GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Although the FDA has approved a variety of uses for them,

Semaglutide, also known as Ozempic, is approved to treat type 2 diabetes in adults and to reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes, in those who have both heart disease and type 2 diabetes. For weight loss, doctors frequently prescribe Ozempic off-label, or for purposes not permitted by the FDA.

Semaglutide, also known as Wegovy, is a long-term medication that has been approved to help adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older who are obese or overweight and have at least one weight-related medical condition, such as high cholesterol, lose and maintain weight. Additionally, it has FDA approval to reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular events in individuals with heart disease who are overweight or obese.

Other significant details regarding semaglutide for weight loss:

How it works: The GLP-1 hormone, which regulates appetite and food intake, functions similarly to semaglutide. Additionally, because it slows down the emptying of the stomach, you feel fuller for longer and eat less. It is advised to utilise semaglutide in conjunction with dietary and activity modifications.

How to take it: The lowest dose of semaglutide is used initially. The dose will be increased gradually by your healthcare provider. It is injected subcutaneously once every seven days. The upper arm, thigh, or stomach can all receive injections of it.

Side effects: The majority of these drugs’ common side effects are gastrointestinal (GI) in nature, including constipation, gas, indigestion, diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting.

To What Extent Does It Work?

One clinical trial looked at weight loss in participants who received 2.4 milligrams (mg) of semaglutide once weekly for 68 weeks. This corresponds to the maximum dosage of Wegovy, which is comparable to the maximum dosage of Ozempic (2 mg).

A greater proportion of semaglutide users had a change in weight loss of the following when compared to a placebo (inactive medication):

• at least 5% (86% vs. 32%)
• 10% or greater (69% as opposed to 12%).
• 15% or more (51% compared to 5%).

Additionally, semaglutide users experienced a change in body weight of almost 34 pounds, while placebo users experienced a change of less than 6 pounds.

Semaglutide users also reported increased physical functioning and improvements in heart health, including decreased blood pressure and cholesterol.

Saxenda (Liraglutide)

Saxenda is a brand-name injectable GLP-1 agonist, similar to Ozempic and Wegovy. Liraglutide is the name of Saxenda’s active component. The FDA has authorised Saxenda for long-term weight control in:

• Obese adults
• Adults who are overweight and suffer from at least one weight-related illness
• Children aged 12 and up who suffer from obesity.

Additional crucial details regarding Saxenda’s ability to reduce weight:

Working as a GLP-1 agonist, Saxenda functions similarly to Ozempic and Wegovy and is typically used in conjunction with lifestyle modifications.

Method of administration: Saxenda is administered subcutaneously in the upper arm, thigh, or stomach. The dosage is progressively increased by your healthcare provider. Instead of being injected once weekly, Saxenda is injected once daily.

Effects: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, and upset stomach are among the common adverse effects of Saxenda. Dizziness, fatigue, headaches, injection site responses, and low blood sugar are among additional typical adverse effects.

How well it works: In a 56-week clinical study, Saxenda users dropped an average of roughly 18 pounds, whereas placebo recipients lost an average of 6 pounds. Saxenda users were more likely than placebo users to lose 5% or more of their body weight (63% vs. 27%) and 10% or more (33% vs. 11%) at week 56.

Zepbound (Tirzepatide) and Mounjaro

Tirzepatide is the active ingredient in the brand-name injectable prescription medications Mounjaro and Zepbound. These drugs are agonists of the GLP-1 receptor and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors.

Their FDA-approved applications differ, though:

The FDA has approved Mounjaro (tirzepatide) to help adults with type 2 diabetes better regulate their blood sugar levels. For weight loss, it is also administered off-label.

The FDA has approved Zepbound (tirzepatide) for the long-term control of weight in individuals who have been identified as obese or overweight and who have at least one weight-related medical condition. Additionally, Zepbound has FDA approval for treating obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).

Additional crucial details regarding tirzepatide for weight loss:

How it works: Tirzepatide helps regulate appetite and food intake by acting on GIP and GLP-1 receptors.

How to take it: Tirzepatide is started at the lowest possible dosage and then progressively increased. Once a week, tirzepatide can be administered subcutaneously into the upper arm, thigh, or stomach. It is advised to use this in conjunction with lifestyle modifications, just like other weight loss injections.

Side effects: GI-related side symptoms such as burping, indigestion, diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, and vomiting are common. Reactions at the injection site can also occur.

To What Extent Does It Work?

For 72 weeks, participants in a clinical study were given different dosages of tirzepatide (5, 10, or 15 mg) or a placebo. The following are the outcomes:

• About 15% of their body weight was decreased by those who took 5 mg of tirzepatide, 20% by those who took 10 mg, and 21% by those who took 15 mg. Approximately 3% of the body weight was lost by those who got a placebo.
• 85% of patients who took 5 mg of tirzepatide lost 5% or more of their body weight, compared to 89% who took 10 mg and 91% who took 15 mg. By contrast, just 35% of those who received a placebo saw such a significant weight loss.
• Additionally, compared to only 3% of the placebo group, 50% of those taking 10 mg and 57% of those taking 15 mg lost 20% or more of their body weight.

Onabotulinumtoxin A, or Botox

Onabotulinumtoxin A, or Botox, has numerous authorised uses in medicine and cosmetics. Although it is not approved for this usage, it has been investigated as an injectable therapy for obesity:

How it works: Botox for weight loss works by relaxing the muscles in the stomach wall, which slows down digestion, prolongs the feeling of fullness, and helps you hold food in the stomach longer.

How to take it: The injection of botulinum toxin A into the stomach muscles is done as an outpatient procedure at an endoscopic centre. An endoscope, which passes through the mouth and into the stomach, is used by the surgeon to direct the injections while you are sedated. Although the treatment can only be done every six months, the benefits of these injections last for roughly three months.

Side effects: Although the majority of people do not have any negative effects, some people may experience mild stomach bleeding.

Its efficacy: Research indicates that during a six-month period, Botox can result in weight loss of 5% to 10%.

Which injection is most effective for losing weight?

Semaglutide (Wegovy) and liraglutide (Saxenda) are the only FDA-approved stomach injections for weight management. Neither has been thoroughly investigated in obese or overweight individuals.

According to a 2022 assessment of the literature, Wegovy was the most effective weight-loss treatment when compared to placebo and other antidiabetic drugs. Additionally, Wegovy caused people to lose more weight than Saxenda.

Wegovy reduced the risk of heart attack death in individuals with diabetes who were both obese or overweight. The study also saw a decline in the rates of nonfatal heart attacks and strokes.

However, Mounjaro was not included in that study. The 2022 study discovered that while the larger dosages (10 and 15 mg) of tirzepatide were more efficacious, the lower dose (5 mg) was just as effective as the 2 mg dose of semaglutide.

However, because the two medications were not compared directly, the comparison was indirect. A direct comparison has been deemed necessary by other scholars.

What is the price of injections for weight loss?

Your insurance plan is one of several factors that affect the cost of weight loss injections. If they are not recommended for specific medical conditions, several insurance companies will not cover them. Injections of GLP-1 agonists can cost up to $1,000 per month because there are currently no generic alternatives.

The following are the prices for an average monthly supply as of May 2023:

• Ozempic: $935
• Mounjaro: $1,023
• Wegovy costs $1,349

What are the advantages?

Weight loss injections offer a number of advantages, such as:

• Decreasing hunger makes someone want to eat less, which lowers caloric intake and delays stomach emptying, which may help in blood sugar control.
• enhancing feelings of fullness, assisting someone in following a diet, reducing blood sugar, especially in people with type 2 diabetes, and assisting in the prevention of weight-related diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.

What adverse effects and hazards exist?

Injections for weight loss carry the following risks:

• bloating and nausea
• constipation and diarrhoea

By beginning with low doses, one can typically avoid these adverse effects. Individuals with the following conditions are more likely to experience more severe adverse effects:

• thyroid cancer, including medullary thyroid cancer and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) syndrome, intestinal problems
• serious problems with mental health
• Disorders of eating, such as anorexia nervosa

Injections for weight loss may also be abused, such as when taken for unnecessary weight loss. Weight loss injections might merely cover up an issue, thus it’s critical to treat the underlying causes of obesity.

When to consult a physician

To find out if weight loss injections are right for them, a person should speak with a healthcare provider. Injections for weight loss are often not covered by insurance unless they are necessary to treat underlying diseases like diabetes.

Summary

In summary, diet and exercise are often recommended in conjunction with injectable weight loss medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda, Mounjaro, and Zepbound. They can be administered by injection into the upper arm, thigh, or stomach.

By slowing digestion and regulating hunger, these drugs function similarly to hormones, which can result in reduced food intake and noticeable weight loss. To enhance feelings of fullness, Botox can also be injected into the stomach; however, this procedure necessitates sedation and repeated treatments.

To learn more about weight loss injections, speak with your healthcare physician.

FAQs

Reference

• PharmD, K. B. (2025, February 23). 4 types of stomach injections for weight loss. Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/weight-loss-injections-in-stomach-8726093
• Edwards, J. M. (2023a, May 17). Stomach injections for weight loss: What are my options? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/weight-loss-injection-in-stomach#side-effects
• Effa, C. (2025, January 28). What to know about weight loss injections. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/weight-loss-injections#contacting-a-doctor