In SCALE, Saxenda produced about 8% average body-weight loss over 56 weeks. That is a trial average; individual results vary widely and depend on staying on treatment.
What Saxenda is approved for
Weight reduction and long-term maintenance in adults with obesity, or with overweight and a weight-related condition, and in children 12 and older who weigh more than 60 kg and have obesity.
Saxenda weight-loss results
Saxenda produced 8% mean body-weight reduction in the SCALE pivotal trial at 56 weeks. That figure is a mean: within the same trial some people lost far more and a minority lost little, so read it as the middle of a wide spread rather than a target.
How effective is Saxenda?
Mean body-weight change at 56 weeks in the SCALE trial. Source: FDA prescribing information.
Vs placebo
+5.4 pts
Moderate signal
Vs GLP-1 class ceiling
36% of ceiling
Mid-range GLP-1
Individual results vary. Trial participants also received lifestyle counseling. Full disclaimer.
Expected weight-loss curve
Mean body-weight change across 56 weeks on Saxenda from the SCALE trial. Curve smoothed from published endpoints; individual results vary significantly.
Trial participants also received lifestyle counseling. Real-world results depend on dose adherence, side-effect tolerance, and lifestyle factors.
When the label says to stop
The label says to check weight 16 weeks after starting and to stop Saxenda if you have not lost at least 4% of your starting weight, because further loss is then unlikely.
Why results vary, what happens after stopping, and how GLP-1 medicines compare with other approaches are covered once for the whole class in GLP-1 weight-loss results. Side effects that make people stop early are on the Saxenda side effects page.
FAQ about Saxenda for weight loss
Is Saxenda FDA-approved for weight loss?
Yes. The label's approved uses: weight reduction and long-term maintenance in adults with obesity, or with overweight and a weight-related condition, and in children 12 and older who weigh more than 60 kg and have obesity.
Educational only, not medical advice. Full medical disclaimer.