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Liraglutide for Weight Loss: How It Works and Its Benefits

Last Updated: August 14, 2025
Liraglutide injection

Liraglutide is a highly effective weight-loss medication that reduces hunger, increases satiety, and boosts insulin release. These liraglutide benefits, when combined with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise plan, can aid you in your weight-loss journey.

Weight loss can be difficult. Weight management is a complicated process in which your body uses complex feedback loops to keep your body weight at a predetermined set point, according to researchers who have investigated how your body maintains body weight.

While a low-calorie diet and regular exercise remain essential components of an effective weight-loss plan, for some people, lifestyle changes alone are insufficient. Liraglutide and other glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists may help you lose weight.

When taking liraglutide, there are risks and benefits, just like any other medication. It is also critical to understand that obesity is treated similarly to other chronic diseases, requiring a long-term commitment to a treatment plan.

What is Liraglutide?

Liraglutide is a prescription weight-loss medication. It is used to help people with type 2 diabetes or those who are overweight or have obesity lose weight when diet and exercise alone have not worked. Overweight and obesity are defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher (obesity) or 27 or higher (overweight) with a weight-related medical condition.

How Liraglutide for Weight Loss Works

The gastrointestinal tract’s L-cells secrete the incretin hormone GLP-1 in response to nutrients in the gut lumen. When you eat food, your body releases this hormone. GLP-1 has multiple effects on the body, including stimulating insulin secretion, reducing plasma glucagon concentrations, delaying gastric emptying, suppressing appetite, and increasing heart rate.1

Slowing stomach emptying and increasing satiety can help you feel full longer and be satisfied with less food, resulting in weight loss.

Besides weight loss, liraglutide also has other benefits. It can improve insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease risk factors. It can also help regulate blood sugar levels, making it particularly beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes.

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Liraglutide Administration

Liraglutide is administered as a daily subcutaneous injection, which means it’s injected under the skin. The injection can be given in your stomach area, thigh, or upper arm. If you inject it in your stomach area, avoid the area within 2 inches of your belly button.

Change your injection site often to prevent skin irritation or hardening under the skin.

Liraglutide can be taken with or without food. Try to take your liraglutide dose at the same time each day.

Liraglutide dosage:

Liraglutide Dosage

A slow increase in liraglutide dose is necessary to minimize side effects. Slowly increasing your liraglutide dose allows your body to adjust to each dosage increase. If you have persistent side effects or your side effects are worsening, contact your doctor to determine whether a liraglutide dosage adjustment is needed.

It’s important to note that while taking Liraglutide for weight loss, you should also follow a reduced-calorie diet and engage in increased physical activity for the best results.

liraglutide for weight loss. "uncover the benefits"

Liraglutide Benefits

Liraglutide has the following weight-loss and other beneficial effects:.

Decreases

  • Blood sugar
  • Blood pressure
  • Hemoglobin A1C
  • LDL (bad) cholesterol
  • Triglycerides
  • Waist circumference (abdominal and organ fat)
  • Glucagon release
  • Appetite

Increases

  • HDL (good) cholesterol
  • Satiety after eating
  • Insulin release
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Side Effects and Precautions

As with any medication, liraglutide can have certain side effects. Some of the common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, and headaches. However, these side effects usually decrease over time as your body adjusts to the medication.

Liraglutide side effects include:

  • Abdominal distension
  • Abdominal pain
  • Anxiety
  • Burping
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Dizziness
  • Dry mouth
  • Fatigue
  • Fatigue
  • Flatulence
  • Gastroenteritis
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease
  • Headache
  • Indigestion
  • Injection site reactions
  • Insomnia
  • Low blood sugar in type 2 diabetes
  • Nausea
  • Upper abdominal pain
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Viral gastroenteritis
  • Vomiting

More serious side effects of liraglutide include:

  • Depression
  • Gallbladder disease
  • Increased heart rate
  • Increased risk of low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes
  • Inflammation of the pancreas
  • Kidney problems
  • Serious allergic reactions
  • Thoughts of suicide

It’s also important to note that liraglutide may not be suitable for everyone. For instance, those who are breastfeeding, planning to become pregnant, or are already pregnant shouldn’t use it. You should also not take liraglutide if you have a personal or family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) or a family history of thyroid cancer. Animal studies showed that liraglutide increases the risk of thyroid cancer. However, scientists are not sure if the risk also increases in humans.

Share your complete medical history with your doctor, especially if you have ever had pancreatitis, depression, suicidal thoughts or actions, or liver, thyroid, or kidney disease. Do not take liraglutide with another GLP-1 receptor agonist or if you have severe stomach problems, especially ones that slow stomach emptying.

Tell your doctor about all the medications you are currently taking. Liraglutide slows stomach emptying, so it may affect how your medications are absorbed. Other drugs you are taking may interact with liraglutide.

Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting Liraglutide to ensure it’s a safe and effective option for you.

Conclusion

Liraglutide presents a promising solution for those struggling with weight loss. By mimicking the effects of a naturally occurring hormone, it helps to suppress appetite and promote a feeling of fullness, thereby aiding in weight loss. However, as with any medication, it’s crucial to use Liraglutide under medical supervision and in conjunction with a healthy diet and regular exercise. You can buy liraglutide online through Invigor Medical.

Written by

Leann Poston M.D.
Leann Poston M.D.
Licensed Physician and Medical Content Reviewer
Dr. Leann Poston is a licensed physician in the state of Ohio who holds an M.B.A. and an M. Ed. She is a full-time medical communications writer and educator who writes and researches for Invigor Medical. Dr. Poston lives in the Midwest with her family. She enjoys traveling and hiking. She is an avid technology aficionado and loves trying new things.

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Every article on Invigor Medical is reviewed by licensed medical professionals to ensure accuracy, clarity, and clinical relevance. Our editorial team works closely with practitioners to verify that content reflects current research, guidelines, and best practices.
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Medical treatments discussed on this site may not be appropriate for everyone. All medications require a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider following an appropriate telehealth consultation, and treatment decisions should be made on an individual basis.
Leann Poston M.D.
Leann Poston M.D.
Licensed Physician and Medical Content Reviewer
Dr. Leann Poston is a licensed physician in the state of Ohio who holds an M.B.A. and an M. Ed. She is a full-time medical communications writer and educator who writes and researches for Invigor Medical. Dr. Poston lives in the Midwest with her family. She enjoys traveling and hiking. She is an avid technology aficionado and loves trying new things.

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