Victoza for weight loss: what 9 months of GLP-1 data actually shows

What did @gwen.in.doubt actually say?

Gwen says she has been on Victoza (liraglutide) for nine months, currently at the 1.8 mg daily dose, and has lost "probably over 50 pounds," bringing her from an implied starting weight down to 165 lbs. She claims "no side effects" and says she just takes her shot daily with no issues. She also mentions an active Crohn's flare and period bloating, which she's careful to separate from the medication's effects. That transparency is worth noting.

She is not making wild promises about the drug. She is documenting her own experience, which is a meaningful distinction. But some of what she implies, especially the zero-side-effect claim and the framing of 50 lbs as a straightforward result of Victoza alone, deserves a closer look.

Does the science back this up?

Partially. Liraglutide at 3.0 mg daily (branded as Saxenda) is the FDA-approved dose for weight management. Victoza is approved for type 2 diabetes at doses up to 1.8 mg. Using Victoza at 1.8 mg for weight loss is off-label, and the clinical weight loss data at that dose is less robust than at 3.0 mg.

The SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes trial (Pi-Sunyer et al., 2015, NEJM) found that liraglutide 3.0 mg produced an average weight loss of about 8% of body weight over 56 weeks in adults without diabetes. Gwen appears to have lost significantly more than that, which is possible depending on starting weight and adherence but is above the average clinical outcome. A 2021 meta-analysis by Shi et al. in Obesity Reviews confirmed that weight loss with liraglutide is dose-dependent, meaning the 1.8 mg dose typically produces less weight reduction than 3.0 mg. Losing 50+ lbs at 1.8 mg is on the high end of what the literature would predict.

What did they get wrong (or right)?

The "no side effects" claim is where this gets complicated. Gwen says she feels fine and has had no side effects from the medication. That experience is real and valid for her. But it is not representative. In the SCALE trial, roughly 40% of liraglutide users reported nausea, and around 13-17% reported vomiting. Diarrhea and constipation are also common. Saying "I have no side effects" is fine as a personal report. Saying it in a way that implies this is normal or expected for everyone is misleading.

What she got right: she is upfront about her Crohn's disease and period bloating, she does not claim Victoza treats or cures anything, and she is not pushing anyone to take the drug. She just answers questions about her own body. That is genuinely responsible content for TikTok. She also correctly identifies her dose (1.8 mg) rather than conflating Victoza with Ozempic or Wegovy, which is a common error in this space.

What should you actually know?

A few things matter here if you are watching this video and considering liraglutide for weight loss. First, Victoza at 1.8 mg is not FDA-approved for weight management. Saxenda (liraglutide 3.0 mg) is the approved version for that indication. They are the same molecule at different doses prescribed for different purposes. Using Victoza off-label for weight loss is something a prescriber would need to evaluate individually, and insurance coverage may differ significantly.

Second, Gwen's Crohn's disease adds a layer of complexity her video doesn't address. GLP-1 receptor agonists can affect gastrointestinal motility, and their interaction with inflammatory bowel disease is still an active area of research. A 2023 review by Gros et al. in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics noted that GLP-1 agonists may have anti-inflammatory properties relevant to IBD, but the evidence is preliminary. Anyone with Crohn's considering these medications should have that conversation explicitly with a gastroenterologist, not just a general prescriber.

Third, 50 lbs of weight loss in 9 months is not a guaranteed or even average outcome. Managing expectations matters. The drug works for many people, but the average result is more modest than Gwen's experience.

Bottom line

This video is more responsible than most GLP-1 content on TikTok. Gwen is documenting her own experience without overpromising. The "no side effects" framing is the weakest part of the video because it could create unrealistic expectations. Her results are real but above average, and the off-label nature of using Victoza specifically for weight loss is worth understanding before you ask your doctor for the same prescription.