13 evidence-labelled guides · Updated Aug 2026
Explore the medicines people call “weight-loss injections” — including authorised obesity treatments, diabetes medicines, rare-condition therapies, research compounds and products that are not approved for weight loss.
The useful answer
Semaglutide, tirzepatide and liraglutide have authorised weight-management products in major reference markets. Setmelanotide is for defined rare conditions. Several other injectable GLP-1 medicines are diabetes products, while newer names such as retatrutide remain investigational.
03 guides
Authorised in at least one major reference jurisdiction for defined weight-management use.
Wegovy; Ozempic (diabetes brand)
Semaglutide mimics the GLP-1 hormone pathway and can affect appetite, fullness and glucose regulation. The product name matters because semaglutide brands and formulations are not automatically interchangeable.
Mounjaro; Zepbound in the United States
Tirzepatide acts on GIP and GLP-1 receptor pathways. It is a prescription medicine requiring an individual eligibility assessment, dose plan and follow-up.
Saxenda; Victoza (diabetes brand)
Liraglutide is a daily GLP-1 injection with a longer history in weight management than newer weekly options. Product-specific reassessment rules are part of its authorised use.
01 guides
Authorised only for specific genetic or acquired obesity conditions.
Imcivree
Setmelanotide is not a general alternative to GLP-1 medicines. It targets a different pathway and is used only for carefully defined rare conditions under expert supervision.
03 guides
Injectable incretin medicines that are not general weight-management products.
Trulicity
Dulaglutide can appear in weight-loss searches because some people experience weight change during diabetes treatment. That does not turn its diabetes indication into a weight-management indication.
Bydureon; Byetta
Exenatide was among the earlier injectable incretin medicines. Its appearance in weight-loss discussions does not mean it is an authorised general obesity treatment.
Lyxumia; Adlyxin in some markets
Lixisenatide can remain in old comparison articles even where products are no longer marketed. This illustrates why publication dates and regional authorisation matter.
05 guides
Clinical-trial medicines that should not be bought or self-injected.
No approved brand
Retatrutide is being studied across glucagon, GIP and GLP-1 receptor pathways. Trial reporting does not make a product sold online legal, authentic or safe.
Investigational combination name
CagriSema combines investigational cagrilintide with semaglutide and has been studied in the REDEFINE programme. It should not be confused with an authorised semaglutide product.
No approved brand
Survodutide is an investigational injection designed to act on glucagon and GLP-1 receptor pathways. It belongs in the research pipeline, not in a current pharmacy shopping list.
MariTide (development name)
Maridebart cafraglutide, commonly called MariTide, uses a different long-acting design from currently authorised weekly GLP-1 products.
Development names vary by market
Mazdutide is another dual-pathway injection in the global obesity research landscape. International headlines can obscure major differences between national approvals.
01 guides
Injections marketed for weight loss without an approved weight-loss indication.
Various fertility products; no approved weight-loss brand
HCG weight-loss programmes commonly combine hormone products with extreme calorie restriction. FDA states HCG has not been shown to increase weight loss beyond calorie restriction.
Commonly confused
Vitamin B12 and “lipotropic” shotsMarketing terms do not establish an authorised obesity indication.
Fat-dissolving injectionsThese are local cosmetic procedures, not systemic obesity treatment.
InsulinAn essential diabetes medicine, not a weight-loss injection.
Tesamorelin or metreleptinMedicines for specific lipodystrophy contexts, not general weight management.