Victoza is a marketed brand of Liraglutide. Liraglutide is a generic originally promoted to help diabetics with blood sugar management. Victoza mimics a hormone that helps the body better use insulin, but it also suppresses the appetite. Over time, this will naturally lead to weight loss. Some doctors will specifically prescribe Victoza for weight loss in non-diabetic patients. While this is considered an off-label use, it has worked very well, particularly when combined with an exercise program, adequate rest and a healthy diet.

The amount of weight you can expect to lose while taking Victoza varies from person to person. Research also shows a wide variance in weight loss should be expected. However, some trials show a weight loss of 5 pounds over a 26 week period.

While some studies show that patients can expect to lose six percent of body weight if they take Victoza, perhaps a better indication of what to expect can be found in the online forums. There are many first person accounts mentioned in the forums of people losing large amounts of weight because of Victoza. This is not surprising considering that Victoza is an appetite suppressant.

Speak with your doctor before taking Victoza for weight loss. It may help, but there are also risks to think about too. Remember, Victoza is not considered a weight loss medication although it has helped many people lose weight.

Because Victoza has side effects, the good must be balanced against the bad. Your doctor can help you make this decision. One possibly serious side effect of Victoza is the possibility of an increased risk of thyroid cancer. Victoza has also been linked to an increased occurrence of pancreatitis.

Victoza works to control Type II Diabetes because it is chemically similar to insulin, although it is not insulin exactly. Victoza belongs to a class of drugs named incretin mimetics. Essentially, Victoza mimics the hormone GLP-1.

When Victoza imitates the human hormone GLP-1, it enhances the body's ability to use insulin. At the same time, it suppresses the appetite, although this occurs through a different biological process the result is general a loss of weight over time.

Known generically as Liraglutide, Victoza is clinically proven to improve the blood sugar of Type II Diabetics. A beneficial side effect of Victoza is appetite suppression and weight loss. Some doctors prescribe Victoza for weight loss, although this would be considered an off-label use. While Victoza may be quite effective for weight loss, there are risks. Also, if healthy habits are not established while taking Victoza, the weight may return once Victoza is discontinued.