Semaglutide is an injectable prescription medication originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes. More recently, semaglutide has been found to be highly effective for weight loss when prescribed in higher doses than what is typically used for diabetes.
Semaglutide works by mimicking the hormone GLP-1, which helps regulate blood sugar levels and appetite. It sends signals to the brain to reduce hunger and calorie intake. By suppressing appetite and reducing food cravings, semaglutide makes it easier to eat less and lose weight.
Studies have shown that people using semaglutide for weight loss lost an average of 15-20% of their body weight over 68 weeks. This amount of weight loss can lead to dramatic improvements in overall health.
Semaglutide shots need to be administered once weekly. The most common side effects are mild gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These side effects typically go away within 4-8 weeks as the body adjusts.
Below we will explore semaglutide for weight loss in more detail - the benefits, how it works, dosage protocols, lifestyle recommendations, and more. We will also highlight why Hormone Health Institute in Andrews is a top choice for getting semaglutide shots and support for successful weight loss.
Using semaglutide specifically for weight loss provides significant benefits beyond what traditional diet and exercise programs can achieve. Some advantages include:
Semaglutide enables people to lose a significant amount of weight fairly rapidly compared to traditional approaches. Losing weight faster helps keep people motivated to stick with their weight loss plan.
And even though initial weight loss is fast, semaglutide promotes sustainable, long-term results. In studies the majority of weight lost with semaglutide was still maintained a year after stopping treatment.
Feeling unsatisfied after meals and intense food cravings can sabotage anyone's best weight loss intentions.
Semaglutide is particularly effective because it actually reduces feelings of hunger. People naturally eat less without constantly battling the urge to snack or overeat at meals.
Bariatric surgery is an option for significant weight loss, but it's expensive, invasive, and poses risks.
Semaglutide provides comparable weight loss results without surgery. It also helps sustain weight loss long-term which surgery doesn't always provide.
Carrying excess weight places excessive stress on the body, making physical movement difficult and painful. Losing weight can provide tremendous relief.
Those using semaglutide lost 2-3 times more body fat than placebo groups. As less weight is carried around, everyday physical functioning improves.
Being overweight severely impacts quality of life and emotional health. Losing weight with semaglutide significantly increases overall wellbeing.
Semaglutide helps people lose significant weight through the following mechanisms:
Semaglutide activates areas of the brain involved in appetite regulation. This leads to reduced hunger and fewer cravings making it easier to consume fewer calories.
By slowing digestion, semaglutide promotes longer feelings of fullness after eating meaning less desire and urge to snack frequently.
Semaglutide improves insulin sensitivity helping stabilize blood sugar variations which influence food cravings. Steadier blood sugar means fewer cravings.
Levels of satiety hormones like peptide YY and GLP-1 are increased with semaglutide. These hormones signal the body it is no longer hungry.
Together, these effects make it easier for the body to consume less food and feel satisfied with smaller meal portions leading to safe, reliable fat loss.
Hormone Health Institute has customized semaglutide weight loss protocols tailored to each patient's unique health profile and weight loss goals. Our experienced medical team determines appropriate dosing, injection instructions, and support.
Semaglutide dosing always starts low at 0.25 mg weekly and gradually increases every 4 weeks until the target maintenance dosage is reached. This allows the body to adjust to side effects.
The highest semaglutide dose for weight loss is 2.4 mg per week. Patients stay at the maximum dose for 3-6 months depending on how much weight needs to be lost.
Doses are administered once weekly by self-injection at home. Patients follow-up monthly with our medical team to monitor progress.
Total treatment duration is customized for each patient depending on their desired weight loss results.
Most patients stay on the maintenance dose of semaglutide for 6 months to 1 year in order complete their weight loss journey.
The maximum length of prescription therapy is typically 2 years although semaglutide has not been studied for longer than 68 weeks. Significant, sustainable weight loss is still achievable in under a year of treatment.
In addition to the semaglutide injections, Hormone Health Institute will provide nutritional consultations, fitness recommendations, emotional support, and other integrative care to optimize and sustain weight loss success while improving overall wellness.
Lifestyle modifications are key to keeping lost weight off long term. Our staff guides patients step-by-step through necessary diet, exercise, and behavior habit changes.
Semaglutide was originally developed as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, but researchers unexpectedly found it also causes significant weight loss. Further studies showed that non-diabetic obese people taking semaglutide lost on average 15% of their body weight over 68 weeks compared to placebo, leading to its recent approval specifically for chronic weight management.
Semaglutide is appropriate for most patients struggling with overweight and obesity. Those likely to benefit and be good candidates include:
Semaglutide is indicated for anyone with a BMI over 27, which is considered overweight. But the medication will have the biggest impact on those with moderate to severe obesity.
Per national guidelines, people with BMIs of 30 to 40 (obese) tend to experience the most significant weight improvements with semaglutide.
Uncontrolled hunger and lack of satiety often sabotage traditional diet and exercise programs. If someone has tried to lose weight without success using other methods, semaglutide can help overcome these barriers.
Those with a history of more significant lifelong obesity tend to lose the most weight with semaglutide since they have more weight to take off.
While the medication provides assistance with appetite suppression, patients still must follow a reduced calorie diet and ideally increase physical activity to achieve the best weight loss. Semaglutide complements other efforts.
In clinical studies evaluating its safety and efficacy, semaglutide has been well tolerated with mostly mild side effects. Still, there are some precautions and contraindications to be aware of.
Semaglutide should not be used by people with the following conditions:
Semaglutide also has special considerations for people with diabetic retinopathy, gastrointestinal disease, or congestive heart failure that will need monitoring.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not take semaglutide due to lack of research on effects.
Hormone Health Instituteians carefully screen medical histories and risk factors to ensure semaglutide is a safe treatment option before prescribing it.
Hormone Health Institute medical clinic now offers semaglutide weight loss programs to Andrews area residents struggling with overweight or obesity.
Our integrative care team specializes in supervised medication protocols for sustainable fat loss and metabolic health. We are committed to helping patients achieve their weight goals while improving overall wellbeing.
Each patient receives an individualized semaglutide prescription plan accounting for their health status, weight targets, and timeline. Hormone Health Instituteians personally educate patients to self-administer injections and provide lifestyle recommendations tailored to augment drug therapy.
Vital signs, body measurements, lab testing, and patient-reported hunger levels are tracked throughout treatment. The medical team adjusts prescriptions accordingly for optimal safety and results.
Sustaining a healthier bodyweight long-term requires life habit changes. Our coaches provide nutritional direction, fitness guidance, and behavior modification techniques to help permanently establish healthy eating and physical activity patterns.
Hormone Health Institute partners with Andrews Pharmacy, a specialized compounding lab to fill semaglutide prescriptions. This enables convenient local pickup without supply delays.
Being one of the first clinics bringing Semaglutide treatments to the Andrews area, Hormone Health Institute staff stay current on the latest medical research about maximizing efficacy, managing side effects, and ensuring safe prescribing protocols.
Interested patients can schedule a consultation to review their health history and decide if a semaglutide program could be beneficial.
The pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk manufactures semaglutide under branded names Ozempic and Wegovy. So yes, Ozempic/Wegovy and semaglutide refer to the same active key difference is that Ozempic is FDA approved for type 2 diabetes while Wegovy is specifically approved for chronic weight management. Off-label, semaglutide can be prescribed for weight loss purposes in customized dosing.
People taking semaglutide lost an average of 15 to 18% of their total body weight over 68 weeks (1.3 years) in clinical trials. Some lost up to 25%.For example, someone weighing 300 pounds could expect to lose about 45 to 60 pounds with semaglutide. But results vary significantly.
Most people notice a reduction in appetite and food cravings within a few days of their first semaglutide dose. However, scale weight takes longer to come off - usually 6 to 8 weeks to start seeing losses pick up speed. Near maximal weight loss effects are seen around 40 weeks.
The most common side effects experienced while taking semaglutide are gastrointestinal in nature like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. Abdominal pain can also gastric side effects usually resolve within 4 to 8 weeks as the body adjusts. If nausea is intolerable, anti-nausea medication can provide relief.
Semaglutide is injected subcutaneously, meaning into fat tissue. A very thin needle is used to administer the medication which most patients learn to self-inject similar to insulin. No IV is involved.
Out-of-pocket costs for semaglutide average $1000 to $1500 per month without insurance coverage. However, many insurances help pay. Medicare covers it under certain circumstances as do some commercial plans. Hormone Health Institute staff helps patients minimize summary, semaglutide is an exciting new option for significant weight loss - on par with results from bariatric surgery. If previous diet attempts have been unsuccessful, consider contacting the medical professionals at Hormone Health Institute to see if a supervised semaglutide protocol could help you finally reach your weight goals, improve health, and enhance quality of life.
