Are Wegovy and Ozempic the same thing?

They contain the same active ingredient (semaglutide) but at different doses. Wegovy (2.4mg) is a higher dose approved for obesity; Ozempic (up to 2mg) is approved for type 2 diabetes.

Why do people use Ozempic for weight loss?

Ozempic is prescribed off-label for weight loss because it's the same drug as Wegovy at a lower dose, and can be covered by insurance for diabetes patients.

Wegovy vs Ozempic

Updated March 19, 2026

Wegovy

Higher-dose semaglutide injection specifically approved for chronic weight management and obesity treatment.

Adults with obesity (BMI ≥30) seeking weight loss

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Ozempic

GLP-1 receptor agonist for diabetes and weight management with established clinical data.

Type 2 diabetes management

Short Answer

Both contain semaglutide (same active ingredient) and are made by Novo Nordisk. Ozempic (0.5-2mg) is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes. Wegovy (2.4mg, higher dose) is FDA-approved for chronic weight management. Wegovy produces greater average weight loss (~15-17%).

Our Verdict

Ozempic is the diabetes treatment; Wegovy is the weight loss version. If you have diabetes, Ozempic is prescribed; if the goal is weight loss without diabetes, Wegovy is the indicated drug.

Wegovy7.5

7.5Ozempic

Choose Wegovy if

Adults with obesity (BMI ≥30) seeking weight loss

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Key Differences at a Glance

🔹

FDA Approval: Obesity/weight loss vs Type 2 diabetes

🔹

Semaglutide Dose: Wegovy wins (2.4mg vs 0.5-2mg)

⚖️

Average Weight Loss: Wegovy wins (15-17% vs ~10%)

See all 4 differences

Key Facts & Figures

Metric	Wegovy	Ozempic	Diff
Monthly Cost (without insurance)(USD)	~$1,300	~$900	+44%
Maximum Weekly Dose(mg)	7.2 mg (HD formulation)	2.0 mg	+260%
FDA Approval Year(year)	2021	2017

Key Differences

Wegovy

Attribute

Ozempic

Obesity/weight loss

FDA Approval

Type 2 diabetes

2.4mg🏆

Semaglutide Dose

0.5-2mg

15-17%🏆

Average Weight Loss

~10%

~$1,300

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Last updated: March 19, 2026Human reviewed

FDA Approval

Wegovy

Obesity/weight loss

Ozempic

Type 2 diabetes

Semaglutide Dose

Wegovy

2.4mg🏆

Ozempic

0.5-2mg

Average Weight Loss

Wegovy

15-17%🏆

Ozempic

~10%

Monthly Cost

Wegovy

~$1,300

Ozempic

~$900🏆

Full Comparison

Attribute	Wegovy	Ozempic

Active Ingredient	Semaglutide	Semaglutide

Average Weight Loss(% body weight)	15-22%	8-12%
Typical Weight Loss at Maximum Dose(% of body weight)	15-22%	5-7%
Average Weight Loss (Clinical Trial)(% body weight)	15-18%	—
A1C Reduction(percentage points)	1.5-2.0%	—

Monthly Cost (without insurance)(USD)	~$1,300	~$900
Average Monthly Cost (Uninsured)(USD)	$1,350-1,600	$900-1,200
Average Retail Price(USD/month)	$900-1,300	—

Maximum Weekly Dose(mg)	7.2 mg (HD formulation)	2.0 mg

FDA Approval Year(year)	2021	2017
FDA Approval Year(year)	2021 (weight management)	2017 (diabetes)
FDA Approval Year (Weight Loss Indication)(year)	2021	—

Primary Indication	Weight Loss & Obesity	Type 2 Diabetes

Cardiovascular Benefits	Proven in overweight/obese patients	Proven in diabetic patients

Typical Insurance Coverage	Limited coverage for weight loss	Widely covered for diabetes

Number of Dose Strengths Available(strengths)	5	4

Active Ingredient	Semaglutide (GLP-1 receptor agonist)	Semaglutide (GLP-1 receptor agonist)

Nausea/Vomiting Incidence(% of patients)	25-40%	25-40%

Injection Frequency(times per week)	1	1
Injection Schedule(per week)	Once weekly	—

Time to Maintenance Dose(weeks)	16	12

HbA1c Reduction in Diabetics(percentage points)	0.5-1.0	1.5-2.0

Active Ingredient Mechanism	GLP-1 receptor agonist (single pathway)	—

Number of Dose Strengths Available(options)	3	—

Time on Market(years)	9 years	—

Wegovy

Ozempic

Active Ingredient

Semaglutide

Average Weight Loss(% body weight)

15-22%

8-12%

Typical Weight Loss at Maximum Dose(% of body weight)

15-22%

5-7%

Average Weight Loss (Clinical Trial)(% body weight)

15-18%

—

A1C Reduction(percentage points)

1.5-2.0%

—

Monthly Cost (without insurance)(USD)

~$1,300

~$900

Average Monthly Cost (Uninsured)(USD)

$1,350-1,600

$900-1,200

Average Retail Price(USD/month)

$900-1,300

—

Maximum Weekly Dose(mg)

7.2 mg (HD formulation)

2.0 mg

FDA Approval Year(year)

2021

2017

FDA Approval Year(year)

2021 (weight management)

2017 (diabetes)

FDA Approval Year (Weight Loss Indication)(year)

2021

—

Primary Indication

Weight Loss & Obesity

Type 2 Diabetes

Cardiovascular Benefits

Proven in overweight/obese patients

Proven in diabetic patients

Typical Insurance Coverage

Limited coverage for weight loss

Widely covered for diabetes

Number of Dose Strengths Available(strengths)

Active Ingredient

Semaglutide (GLP-1 receptor agonist)

Nausea/Vomiting Incidence(% of patients)

25-40%

Injection Frequency(times per week)

Injection Schedule(per week)

Once weekly

—

Time to Maintenance Dose(weeks)

HbA1c Reduction in Diabetics(percentage points)

0.5-1.0

1.5-2.0

Active Ingredient Mechanism

GLP-1 receptor agonist (single pathway)

—

Number of Dose Strengths Available(options)

—

Time on Market(years)

9 years

—

Full Comparison

Attribute	Wegovy	Ozempic

Active Ingredient	Semaglutide	Semaglutide

Average Weight Loss(% body weight)	15-22%	8-12%
Typical Weight Loss at Maximum Dose(% of body weight)	15-22%	5-7%
Average Weight Loss (Clinical Trial)(% body weight)	15-18%	—
A1C Reduction(percentage points)	1.5-2.0%	—

Monthly Cost (without insurance)(USD)	~$1,300	~$900
Average Monthly Cost (Uninsured)(USD)	$1,350-1,600	$900-1,200
Average Retail Price(USD/month)	$900-1,300	—

Maximum Weekly Dose(mg)	7.2 mg (HD formulation)	2.0 mg

FDA Approval Year(year)	2021	2017
FDA Approval Year(year)	2021 (weight management)	2017 (diabetes)
FDA Approval Year (Weight Loss Indication)(year)	2021	—

Primary Indication	Weight Loss & Obesity	Type 2 Diabetes

Cardiovascular Benefits	Proven in overweight/obese patients	Proven in diabetic patients

Typical Insurance Coverage	Limited coverage for weight loss	Widely covered for diabetes

Number of Dose Strengths Available(strengths)	5	4

Active Ingredient	Semaglutide (GLP-1 receptor agonist)	Semaglutide (GLP-1 receptor agonist)

Nausea/Vomiting Incidence(% of patients)	25-40%	25-40%

Injection Frequency(times per week)	1	1
Injection Schedule(per week)	Once weekly	—

Time to Maintenance Dose(weeks)	16	12

HbA1c Reduction in Diabetics(percentage points)	0.5-1.0	1.5-2.0

Active Ingredient Mechanism	GLP-1 receptor agonist (single pathway)	—

Number of Dose Strengths Available(options)	3	—

Time on Market(years)	9 years	—

Wegovy

Ozempic

Active Ingredient

Semaglutide

Average Weight Loss(% body weight)

15-22%

8-12%

Typical Weight Loss at Maximum Dose(% of body weight)

15-22%

5-7%

Average Weight Loss (Clinical Trial)(% body weight)

15-18%

—

A1C Reduction(percentage points)

1.5-2.0%

—

Monthly Cost (without insurance)(USD)

~$1,300

~$900

Average Monthly Cost (Uninsured)(USD)

$1,350-1,600

$900-1,200

Average Retail Price(USD/month)

$900-1,300

—

Maximum Weekly Dose(mg)

7.2 mg (HD formulation)

2.0 mg

FDA Approval Year(year)

2021

2017

FDA Approval Year(year)

2021 (weight management)

2017 (diabetes)

FDA Approval Year (Weight Loss Indication)(year)

2021

—

Primary Indication

Weight Loss & Obesity

Type 2 Diabetes

Cardiovascular Benefits

Proven in overweight/obese patients

Proven in diabetic patients

Typical Insurance Coverage

Limited coverage for weight loss

Widely covered for diabetes

Number of Dose Strengths Available(strengths)

Active Ingredient

Semaglutide (GLP-1 receptor agonist)

Nausea/Vomiting Incidence(% of patients)

25-40%

Injection Frequency(times per week)

Injection Schedule(per week)

Once weekly

—

Time to Maintenance Dose(weeks)

HbA1c Reduction in Diabetics(percentage points)

0.5-1.0

1.5-2.0

Active Ingredient Mechanism

GLP-1 receptor agonist (single pathway)

—

Number of Dose Strengths Available(options)

—

Time on Market(years)

9 years

—

Wegovy vs Ozempic

Wegovy

Ozempic

Short Answer

Our Verdict

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Key Differences at a Glance

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Wegovy

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Wegovy vs Ozempic

Wegovy

Ozempic

Short Answer

Our Verdict

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Key Differences at a Glance

Key Facts & Figures

Key Differences

Related Comparisons

Related Articles

Explore Entities

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Full Comparison

Visual Comparison

Pros & Cons

Wegovy

Pros

Cons

Ozempic

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources & Learn More

Where to Buy

Wikipedia

Related Articles

Videos

Full Comparison

Visual Comparison

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