Semaglutide is an exciting new medication used for treating type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management. It works by mimicking the effects of a naturally occurring hormone called GLP-1 that helps control blood sugar and appetite levels.
When taken as a weekly injection, semaglutide has been shown in studies to have impressive results for weight loss, making it an appealing option for individuals struggling with obesity. In this article, we’ll dive into the specifics of how semaglutide works for weight management and why it's being called a “game changer” medication.
Semaglutide belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists. Here’s a quick overview of how it works in the body:
In studies, people taking semaglutide were able to reduce their food intake by up to 25% compared to placebo groups not taking the drug. This significant appetite suppression makes it easier to lose excess weight.
Using semaglutide specifically for obesity and weight management provides several advantages:
In large clinical trials, people with obesity taking semaglutide experienced 15-18% body weight reduction on average compared to placebo groups after 68 weeks of treatment. For someone weighing 200 lbs at baseline, that could mean losing up to 30 lbs!
Beyond just weight, semaglutide has been shown to improve several markers of health, including waist circumference, BMI, blood pressure, lipid profiles and inflammatory markers. These changes significantly lower cardiometabolic disease risk.
Semaglutide improves insulin sensitivity and lowers A1c levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. This helps optimize blood sugar management.
Unlike some other weight loss medications requiring daily pills, semaglutide is given as a simple subcutaneous injection once per week. This improves compliance for many patients.
With all of these remarkable benefits for obesity treatment, it’s no wonder semaglutide is creating such excitement as a first-line medication option.
Semaglutide has been FDA-approved for chronic weight management in adult patients with:
Ideal candidates have struggled to lose weight through diet and lifestyle changes alone, and have health risks tied to excess weight that would be alleviated through 10% or more weight reduction.
Talk to your doctor about whether semaglutide is the right medical weight loss plan for your needs.
Semaglutide is a new type of injectable diabetes medication that not only helps control blood sugar levels, but also suppresses appetite and promotes weight loss. In clinical trials, people taking semaglutide lost on average 12-15 pounds over 68 weeks without making major diet or lifestyle changes.
If you and your doctor decide semaglutide is an appropriate option, here is a quick rundown of what you can expect:
To ensure it is safe for you to take, your medical provider will order lab testing assessing kidney/liver function, take a full medication/health history, check vitals like blood pressure, and evaluate weight-related health risks.
Let your provider know if you have a personal or family history of thyroid cancer or are currently receiving treatment for thyroid cancer. Also disclose use of other diabetes medications that could interact with semaglutide.
You will receive training on how to properly inject your prescribed semaglutide dose subcutaneously (into fatty tissue) once weekly. Rotating injection sites is recommended to minimize side effects like nausea.
Expect regular follow up visits with your healthcare team. Your provider will monitor weight loss progress, adjustment to medication, metabolic parameters, and any side effects. Dose titration is individualized based on efficacy and tolerability.
As with most medications, semaglutide does have some potential side effects. The most common include:
Most side effects are mild-moderate and resolve within 4-8 weeks as the body adjusts. Let your provider know if any symptoms are intolerable.
There are some rare but serious risks like pancreatitis and gallbladder disease to be aware of as well.
This is why regular monitoring with your healthcare team is so important if taking semaglutide for better safety and optimal results.
Here at Vitality Hormone Clinic, we are excited to now offer semaglutide as part of our comprehensive medical weight loss plans.
With over 15 years specializing in obesity medicine and hormone therapies, our physicians and staff are experts at helping patients achieve sustainable fat loss and better health. We take an individualized approach evaluating medical history, labs, and lifestyle to design integrated treatment protocols utilizing:
- Semaglutide injections
- Contrave, phentermine, saxenda
- Weekly weigh-ins
- Health progress tracking
- Medication management
- Lifestyle counseling
- Genetic, hormone, nutrient testing
- Body composition scans
- Metabolic analysis
We partner each step of the way over 3-6 month treatment periods, providing a level of medical precision and accountability not possible with self-directed dieting and exercise.
Our goal is to help patients not only lose fat fast, but KEEP IT OFF long-term. This is where we set ourselves apart from medi-fast clinics offering injections alone.
To enhance your results with semaglutide for long-lasting success:
Work with your bariatric doctor or dietician to determine an optimal calorie intake and nutrition composition for steady fat burning. Tracking macros can help increase adherence.
Low-glycemic diets may be recommended to regulate blood sugar response.
Aim for 150-300 minutes of moderate activity per week to boost caloric deficit. This has synergistic effects with semaglutide to accelerate fat utilization.
Our clinic partners with local gyms and studios like OrangeTheory Fitness to make exercising more convenient and fun during your weight loss journey.
Getting 7-9 hours of sleep each night supports metabolic health and healthy hormone balance. This leads to easier weight maintenance.
We provide patients personalized sleep hygiene protocols drawing from the latest chronobiology research.
Reflect on social and environmental cues that lead to overeating. Stress management and mindset work can help break unhealthy patterns.
Our physicians integrate coaching on mindful eating habits and leveraging support systems to make positive food choices easier.
With a comprehensive approach combining semaglutide injections, physician guidance, and healthy lifestyle changes together, you can finally conquer your weight loss goals, feel great, and reduce obesity-related health risks.
We are honored to be your partner along the way!
A: Patients losing 15-20% of body weight is common over 30 week treatment periods. However, results vary based on the individual and other interventions prescribed.
A: Currently semaglutide is only FDA-approved for chronic weight management, not diabetes, so insurance coverage may require an appeal process proving medical necessity. Speak to us about the process and discounts if needing to pay out-of-pocket.
A: Yes, clinical trials have shown excellent safety data over 2 years thus far. However, lifelong use has not been evaluated yet, so providers do recommend periodic breaks.
A: Yes, semaglutide can be safely combined with other hormone or metabolism therapies. Our doctors specialize in custom combination protocols for enhanced results.Reach out today to learn more about adding semaglutide to achieve your weight loss goals!Here is a 5-topic FAQ with answers about Semaglutide shots in markdown format with an H2 header and approximately 500 words total:
Semaglutide is an injectable prescription medication used to improve blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists that work by stimulating the release of insulin when blood sugar levels are high while suppressing the production of glucagon, which raises blood sugar. Semaglutide also slows digestion and helps a person feel fuller longer after eating, leading to potential weight loss benefits.
Semaglutide is thought to promote weight loss in a few key ways. First, it suppresses appetite by slowing gastric emptying to keep you feeling fuller for longer. One study found people lost up to 17 pounds over 68 weeks on a 2.4mg dose of semaglutide. It also reduces food cravings and portion sizes. Lastly, semaglutide may boost metabolism through effects on brown fat activity and calorie burning. So while the medication alone won't lead to weight loss, pairing it with diet and exercise shows excellent promise for substantial slimming.
Like all medications, semaglutide shots may cause some side effects. The most common are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, indigestion, and constipation. These tend to be temporary and often improve with time on the medication. Less common side effects include pancreatitis, kidney problems, blurred vision, diabetic retinopathy complications, low blood sugar, gallbladder disease, and an increased heart rate. It's important to stay in close contact with your doctor and let them know if any worrisome or persistent side effects develop while on semaglutide.
Semaglutide dosing starts with a lower 0.25mg or 0.5mg injection once weekly for four weeks. This helps minimize side effects like nausea. The dose then increases incrementally up to a maintenance dose of either 1mg or 2.4mg injected under the skin of the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm once weekly. The full dose needed to have a clinical effect on blood sugars or induce weight loss can take up to 20 weeks to achieve. So consistency with the shots is vital. Talk to your provider about finding the optimal timing, injection locations, and dosage regimen for your individual health status.
Many patients want to know when they can expect to see results after starting semaglutide shots. Most people notice an improvement in blood sugar control within 1-2 weeks. However, the full effects on A1c levels may take up to 16 weeks. In terms of weight loss, you can expect to lose around 5-10% of your body weight over 3-12 months on the medication. But results can vary drastically from person to person based on factors like dosage, diet, exercise regimen, and more. Patience is key, but persistently working with your provider will help customize your treatment for the best response.
