Semaglutide shows significant reduction in liver fat and meal intake

New clinical data and expert analysis regarding semaglutide (Wegovy) highlight its impact on metabolic health and weight management. A post hoc analysis from the STEP UP trial, presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 2026 meeting, showed that semaglutide significantly reduced liver fat in adults with obesity. In a subgroup of 55 participants, mean liver fat declined from 8.8% to 3.1% over 72 weeks, with 88.5% of those starting above a 5% threshold reaching normal levels.

Regarding appetite regulation, a 60-week study involving 120 adults found that while the perceived sensation of hunger and food attractiveness diminished significantly in the early stages of treatment, these subjective feelings of reduced appetite became less statistically significant by weeks 40 and 60. However, physical consumption remained lower; at 60 weeks, semaglutide users consumed an average of 270 kcal less per controlled meal than the placebo group.

Medical experts warn against the off-label use of GLP-1 agonists for cosmetic purposes. Professor Alina Kuryłowicz notes that individuals without obesity or diabetes who use these drugs to drastically restrict caloric intake risk metabolic disruption, muscle loss, and nutritional deficiencies.