The Mechanism of Action of Liraglutide: How It Works to Regulate Blood Sugar and Support Weight Loss
Thinking about liraglutide for weight loss? Learn how it works, who’s eligible, and what to expect on your treatment journey.
If you're considering a GLP-1 medication like liraglutide to get the most from your weight loss results, the first question on your mind is probably: how does it work? We're here to help you understand how liraglutide helps you regulate your blood sugar and appetite to help you feel prepared for your treatment journey.
What is liraglutide?
Liraglutide is a GLP-1 drug prescribed to treat obesity in adults, and the active ingredient in our Compounded* Liraglutide with B12 treatment. You may also be familiar with the brand-name version of liraglutide, Saxenda. These medications contain the same active ingredient, so they're equally effective, but generic liraglutide is more readily accessible, for a fraction of the cost.
Whether liraglutide is suitable for you or not depends on your body mass index (BMI). You may be eligible for liraglutide treatment if you:
- have a BMI of 30 or over;
- have a BMI of 27 or over, and at least one other weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol or obstructive sleep apnea. [1]
How does liraglutide work?
Liraglutide mimics the action of a hormone in your body called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). [1] This hormone is released naturally after you eat, and it's responsible for controlling blood sugar, hunger and satiety.
Combining a medication that acts like natural GLP-1 — liraglutide, semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro) — with a reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise can help you improve your weight loss results. [2]
Taking liraglutide for weight loss
Before starting a weight loss treatment plan, it's important to understand how the medication works. Not only does this help you know what to expect, but it can help you listen to the changes happening in your body so you can get the most from your treatment.
Liraglutide causes weight loss in three key ways: regulating blood sugar, reducing your appetite, and slowing digestion. [1] Let's look at these in more detail.
Regulating blood glucose levels
Liraglutide affects two hormones that are essential for blood glucose control: insulin and glucagon. When you eat, liraglutide causes insulin secretion. Insulin helps glucose move from your blood into cells for energy, lowering blood sugar levels. At the same time, it lowers glucagon secretion — when stored sugar is released to raise glucose levels. [3]
By stabilizing your blood sugar levels, liraglutide helps prevent spikes, drops and, crucially, the food cravings that often come with them.
Reducing appetite
Liraglutide affects any part of your body that natural GLP-1 does. This includes the areas of your brain that help regulate hunger. When the drug binds to receptors located in these areas, your brain releases satiety signals, telling your body you're full. By suppressing your appetite, liraglutide helps you consume fewer calories and maximize your weight loss. [1]
Another benefit of this action is reduced 'food noise', or those persistent food-focused thoughts that occur even when you're not hungry. Instead, you only experience natural hunger cues when you physically need to eat.
Slowing digestion
Another way liraglutide helps you feel full is by slowing gastric emptying. [4] In simple terms, that's the process of food leaving your stomach. The fuller your stomach is, the less you eat, and the fewer calories you consume.
This part of the drug's action can cause common side effects like nausea, constipation and diarrhea when you first start treatment, or increase your dose. However, these symptoms are usually mild and tend to settle on their own once your body has adjusted to treatment.
How effective is liraglutide for weight loss?
In clinical trials, weight loss with liraglutide is shown to be three times more effective than diet and exercise alone. The SCALE study showed that people taking liraglutide alongside lifestyle changes experienced an average weight loss of 8% of their body weight by week 56 of treatment. [3]
About Compounded* Liraglutide + B12
With ZipHealth, you can access Compounded* Liraglutide with B12 for up to 90% less than branded versions. It contains the exact same active ingredient as Saxenda, with the addition of B12 to help minimize side effects.
We partner with specialized pharmacies to formulate safe, tailored medications that help you get the most from your treatment plan. Although not subject to FDA approval, Compounded* Liraglutide with B12 is prepared by certified, accredited pharmacies and tested rigorously before it's prescribed to you.
See if you're eligible for weight loss support
Get the most from your weight loss journey and reach your goals with a clinician-led treatment plan from ZipHealth. Start a consultation today to find out if it's right for you.
*Compounded drugs are permitted to be prescribed under federal law but are not FDA-approved and do not undergo FDA review for safety, effectiveness, or quality.
References:
1. HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION [Internet]. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/206321s016lbl.pdf
2. Wong HJ, Sim B, Teo YH, Teo YN, Chan MY, Yeo LLL, et al. Efficacy of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Weight Loss, BMI, and Waist Circumference for Patients With Obesity or Overweight: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Meta-regression of 47 Randomized Controlled Trials. Diabetes Care [Internet]. 2025 Jan 22;48(2):292–300. Available from: https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/48/2/292/157724/Efficacy-of-GLP-1-Receptor-Agonists-on-Weight-Loss
3. Pi-Sunyer X, Astrup A, Fujioka K, Greenway F, Halpern A, Krempf M, et al. A Randomized, Controlled Trial of 3.0 mg of Liraglutide in Weight Management. New England Journal of Medicine [Internet]. 2015 Jul 2;373(1):11–22. Available from: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1411892
4. Maselli DB, Atieh J, Clark MM, Eckert DJ, Ann Gill Taylor, Carlson P, et al. Effects of liraglutide on gastrointestinal functions and weight in obesity: A randomized clinical and pharmacogenomic trial. 2022 Jul 27;30(8):1608–20.