Who was studied?
Adults without diabetes were randomized to semaglutide or placebo. Both groups received lifestyle intervention, so the comparison includes that shared background treatment.
- Participants
- 1,961 adults
- Duration
- 68 weeks
- Funding
- Novo Nordisk
What did the study find?
Average body-weight change at 68 weeks was −14.9% with semaglutide and −2.4% with placebo.
What should you keep in mind?
Nausea and diarrhea were common. The trial did not test every population or long-term outcome, and its results do not describe what happens after treatment is stopped.
Why it matters
STEP 1 provides a controlled comparison for weight change. The lifestyle component, eligibility rules, and tolerability findings matter when interpreting the result.
Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity
Published 2021 · PMID 33567185 · DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
Summary by Peptide Lit, checked against the original abstract on October 6, 2026. Read the complete paper for detailed methods and safety results. This page explains published research; it does not recommend a treatment or dose.