Semaglutide is an injectable prescription medication that is approved by the FDA for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or who are overweight. It helps people lose weight and keep it off.
Semaglutide works by acting like the hormone GLP-1 to reduce appetite. It sends signals to the brain to make you feel more full after eating, causing you to eat less. It also slows digestion to keep food in the stomach longer. These effects result in reduced calorie intake and potential weight loss.
Key benefits of using semaglutide for weight loss:
Semaglutide is taken as a once-weekly injection that patients can learn to self-administer at home. The medication helps with weight loss through two key mechanisms:
1. Slowing digestion
By slowing the emptying of the stomach and digestion, semaglutide helps promote fullness and delays hunger between meals. This can lead to reduced food intake.
2. Acting on appetite centers in the brain
Semaglutide acts on receptors in the brain that regulate appetite and food intake. It increases feelings of fullness after eating and decreases hunger hormones. This helps patients eat less without feeling deprived.
Semaglutide may be an option for individuals struggling with obesity or who have a BMI over 30. It can also help those who are overweight (BMI 27-30) and have at least one weight-related health problem such as:
Talk to your doctor about whether prescription semaglutide is appropriate for your weight loss goals and health status. Those with a history of certain health conditions may not be candidates.
At Balanced Hormone Clinic, our experts can determine if you are a candidate for semaglutide weight loss treatment. We will review your health history and BMI to see if this medication may be beneficial for you.
In addition to significant weight loss, semaglutide treatment offers other advantages:
If you start semaglutide treatment, here is an overview of what you can expect:
With support from our weight loss experts at Balanced Hormone Clinic, semaglutide treatment can help you successfully lose weight and improve your health. We offer customized meal plans, activity tracking, accountability coaching and more to help you meet your goals.
At Balanced Hormone Clinic in , our experienced medical staff specialize in customized weight loss plans featuring prescription medications like semaglutide combined with nutrition and lifestyle changes.
We perform advanced testing to get to the root causes of weight gain for each patient. Then we craft tailored treatment plans to help you lose weight safely and effectively and improve any underlying hormone imbalances or other issues hindering weight loss.
Our clinic offers:
Don't struggle with obesity or excessive weight any longer. Reach out to Balanced Hormone Clinic in to see how our medical weight loss programs with semaglutide can help you lose weight and transform your health.
Semaglutide was originally developed as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, but researchers unexpectedly found it also caused significant weight loss as a side effect. Further studies showed that by adjusting the dose, semaglutide can be used specifically for chronic weight management in obese patients without diabetes.
Semaglutide is an injectable prescription medication that mimics a hormone called GLP-1. It works by suppressing appetite, reducing food cravings, and slowing digestion to promote weight loss. Specifically, semaglutide activates receptors in the brain that reduce appetite and food intake. It also delays gastric emptying so you feel fuller for longer after eating. Ultimately, these effects promote weight loss by decreasing overall calorie intake.
In clinical trials, most people lost between 5% to 15% of their body weight over 68 weeks on semaglutide. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, you could lose about 10 to 30 pounds. However, weight loss results vary widely. In one study, 26% of people lost 20% or more of their body weight. The more weight you have to lose, the more likely you are to have significant weight reduction. But commitment to lifestyle changes is also key.
Experts recommend combining semaglutide with improved nutrition and increased physical activity. Keep a food log to increase awareness of your eating habits. Focus on nutritious whole foods high in fiber and protein to help keep you feeling full. Get 150-300 minutes of moderate exercise per week, like brisk walking. Building these lifestyle changes while taking semaglutide may help boost and maintain weight loss.
The most common side effects are gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, eructation, flatulence, gastroesophageal reflux and abdominal distension. These tend to be mild or moderate and decrease over time. There is also a potential risk of thyroid tumors, so your thyroid function should be monitored. In clinical trials, semaglutide did not appear to increase cardiovascular or neurological problems. Speak with your doctor about any side effects or health concerns.
No, semaglutide is generally more expensive than other prescription weight loss drugs. The average retail price is around $1,300 per month. However, since obesity leads to many serious health complications like diabetes and heart disease, the downstream medical cost savings could be substantial if semaglutide successfully helps patients lose weight and improve related health markers. Speak to your insurance provider - some may cover semaglutide given this long-term potential for reducing healthcare utilization through weight loss.
