Wegovy pill helps early responders lose 21.6% weight in obesity trial
Novo Nordisk has presented fresh data from the OASIS 4 trial at the European Congress on Obesity 2026, showing strong weight-loss results with the oral version of Wegovy. Researchers also found that people taking the pill reported major improvements in mobility, stamina and everyday physical function.
A new analysis presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO2026) has shown that the oral version of Wegovy may help people with obesity lose significant weight while also improving their ability to move and perform daily activities comfortably.
The new findings were shared by Novo Nordisk from its phase 3 OASIS 4 clinical trial on oral semaglutide 25 mg, the active ingredient used in Wegovy.
According to the company, nearly one in three adults who responded early to the treatment lost an average of 21.6% of their body weight by the end of the 64-week trial.
The study also highlighted another major benefit beyond weight loss and improved physical function. People who had difficulty moving, bending, standing for long periods or staying active reported nearly double the improvement in mobility compared to those taking a placebo.
The findings come at a time when obesity drugs are rapidly changing the treatment landscape worldwide, especially with growing demand for easy-to-use oral medications instead of weekly injections.
WHAT DID THE STUDY FIND?
Researchers analysed adults living with obesity or obesity-related health conditions who were taking oral semaglutide 25 mg.
The trial found that around 28.8% of participants were “early responders,” meaning they lost at least 10% of their body weight within the first 16 weeks of treatment.
This group went on to achieve an average weight loss of 21.6% by week 64 of the study.
Even participants who did not meet the early-response category still experienced meaningful weight reduction, losing around 11.5% of their body weight by the end of the trial.
According to Prof. W. Timothy Garvey, the findings can help doctors understand how quickly patients respond to treatment and guide long-term obesity management plans.
“It is important for patients and healthcare professionals to understand that there are differences in the early rapidity of weight loss,” he said while discussing the findings presented at ECO2026.
BETTER MOVEMENT AND PHYSICAL FUNCTION
Apart from weight reduction, researchers also studied how the drug affected physical function in people who already struggled with mobility issues.
The analysis showed that nearly 77.3% of participants taking the Wegovy pill experienced clinically meaningful improvement in physical function scores, compared to 42.9% in the placebo group.
These scores included measurements linked to:
Range of motion
Ability to bend comfortably
Standing for longer periods
Stamina and physical activity
Researchers said participants who improved physically also achieved similar levels of weight loss seen across the overall trial population.
Martin Holst Lange, Chief Scientific Officer at Novo Nordisk, said the findings show that obesity treatment is not only about losing kilos but also improving quality of life.
He said excess weight can affect everyday movements that many people take for granted, such as bending down or standing comfortably.
WEGOVY PILL COMPARED WITH RIVAL OBESITY DRUG
Novo Nordisk also presented additional analyses comparing the Wegovy pill with another experimental obesity drug called orforglipron.
According to the ORION indirect comparison analysis:
Wegovy pill showed greater average weight loss
Orforglipron users had much higher chances of stopping treatment because of gastrointestinal side effects
Researchers estimated that the odds of discontinuing treatment due to stomach-related side effects were around 14 times higher with orforglipron.
In another patient preference study called OPTIC, 84% of participants reportedly preferred a treatment profile similar to Wegovy over the rival drug.
WHY ORAL OBESITY DRUGS MATTER
Most GLP-1 obesity medications currently available are injectable drugs taken weekly. However, oral versions are expected to become highly popular because many people prefer pills to injections.
Experts believe oral semaglutide could improve treatment access and long-term adherence among patients struggling with obesity.
The original OASIS 4 trial had already shown that adults taking oral semaglutide achieved an average weight loss of 17%, compared to just 2.7% in the placebo group.
The latest analyses provide deeper insights into which patients respond best and how the drug may improve day-to-day functioning in addition to reducing body weight.
A new analysis presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO2026) has shown that the oral version of Wegovy may help people with obesity lose significant weight while also improving their ability to move and perform daily activities comfortably.
The new findings were shared by Novo Nordisk from its phase 3 OASIS 4 clinical trial on oral semaglutide 25 mg, the active ingredient used in Wegovy.
According to the company, nearly one in three adults who responded early to the treatment lost an average of 21.6% of their body weight by the end of the 64-week trial.
The study also highlighted another major benefit beyond weight loss and improved physical function. People who had difficulty moving, bending, standing for long periods or staying active reported nearly double the improvement in mobility compared to those taking a placebo.
The findings come at a time when obesity drugs are rapidly changing the treatment landscape worldwide, especially with growing demand for easy-to-use oral medications instead of weekly injections.
WHAT DID THE STUDY FIND?
Researchers analysed adults living with obesity or obesity-related health conditions who were taking oral semaglutide 25 mg.
The trial found that around 28.8% of participants were “early responders,” meaning they lost at least 10% of their body weight within the first 16 weeks of treatment.
This group went on to achieve an average weight loss of 21.6% by week 64 of the study.
Even participants who did not meet the early-response category still experienced meaningful weight reduction, losing around 11.5% of their body weight by the end of the trial.
According to Prof. W. Timothy Garvey, the findings can help doctors understand how quickly patients respond to treatment and guide long-term obesity management plans.
“It is important for patients and healthcare professionals to understand that there are differences in the early rapidity of weight loss,” he said while discussing the findings presented at ECO2026.
BETTER MOVEMENT AND PHYSICAL FUNCTION
Apart from weight reduction, researchers also studied how the drug affected physical function in people who already struggled with mobility issues.
The analysis showed that nearly 77.3% of participants taking the Wegovy pill experienced clinically meaningful improvement in physical function scores, compared to 42.9% in the placebo group.
These scores included measurements linked to:
Range of motion
Ability to bend comfortably
Standing for longer periods
Stamina and physical activity
Researchers said participants who improved physically also achieved similar levels of weight loss seen across the overall trial population.
Martin Holst Lange, Chief Scientific Officer at Novo Nordisk, said the findings show that obesity treatment is not only about losing kilos but also improving quality of life.
He said excess weight can affect everyday movements that many people take for granted, such as bending down or standing comfortably.
WEGOVY PILL COMPARED WITH RIVAL OBESITY DRUG
Novo Nordisk also presented additional analyses comparing the Wegovy pill with another experimental obesity drug called orforglipron.
According to the ORION indirect comparison analysis:
Wegovy pill showed greater average weight loss
Orforglipron users had much higher chances of stopping treatment because of gastrointestinal side effects
Researchers estimated that the odds of discontinuing treatment due to stomach-related side effects were around 14 times higher with orforglipron.
In another patient preference study called OPTIC, 84% of participants reportedly preferred a treatment profile similar to Wegovy over the rival drug.
WHY ORAL OBESITY DRUGS MATTER
Most GLP-1 obesity medications currently available are injectable drugs taken weekly. However, oral versions are expected to become highly popular because many people prefer pills to injections.
Experts believe oral semaglutide could improve treatment access and long-term adherence among patients struggling with obesity.
The original OASIS 4 trial had already shown that adults taking oral semaglutide achieved an average weight loss of 17%, compared to just 2.7% in the placebo group.
The latest analyses provide deeper insights into which patients respond best and how the drug may improve day-to-day functioning in addition to reducing body weight.
