Semaglutide is an injectable prescription medication used for treating obesity and helping people with excess weight or obesity lose weight and keep it off. It is the first FDA-approved injectable medication for chronic weight management. Semaglutide works by activating receptors in the brain that reduce appetite, leading to decreased food intake and weight loss.
When used alongside diet and exercise, semaglutide has proven extremely effective for weight loss and weight maintenance. Clinical trials found that people lost an average of 12-15% of their body weight with semaglutide. Even better, over 80% of people maintained at least 10% weight loss even a year after stopping treatment.
So if you have struggled to lose weight or keep weight off with just diet and exercise alone, semaglutide injections could be the solution you’ve been looking for. Read on to learn all about how semaglutide works for sustainable weight loss and improved health.
Semaglutide helps people lose significant weight through the following key mechanisms:
The biggest challenge with losing weight is fighting the body’s natural impulse to eat. With semaglutide, people feel less hungry and have fewer food cravings, making it much easier to eat less.
Semaglutide activates areas of the brain that regulate appetite, increasing feelings of fullness. This leads people to naturally consume fewer calories without constantly battling hunger or resisting cravings.
Semaglutide causes food to be released from your stomach into the intestine more slowly. This slows digestion, meaning you feel physically full for longer after eating.
Semaglutide helps the body control blood sugar more effectively. This may lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
As a GLP-1 receptor agonist, semaglutide stimulates the release of insulin when blood sugar rises after meals. It also lowers the amount of glucagon released into the bloodstream.
Together, these effects on insulin and glucagon help stabilize blood sugar. Losing excess weight–a known risk factor for diabetes–also lowers diabetes risk.
Semaglutide is FDA approved for adults with excess weight or obesity, defined as:
Ideal semaglutide candidates have struggled to lose weight through traditional means like diet and exercise alone. They are highly motivated to follow the treatment plan as directed.
Semaglutide works very well for people with health conditions related to excess weight. Losing even a moderate amount can lead to big health gains.
Some key facts about candidate prerequisites:
Talk to your doctor to see if you meet the prerequisites to start semaglutide. Dramatic yet sustainable weight loss could soon be within reach!
Semaglutide comes in a prefilled injection pen for weekly self-administration. The injection schedule ramps up over 5 weeks, building up effectiveness:
The maintenance 1 mg weekly dose showed greatest weight loss in trials. Treatment can safely continue for up to 2 years based on benefit vs. risk.
Semaglutide does not require calibration or mixing–simply inject just under skin of stomach, thigh or upper arm. Rotate injection sites weekly.
To get started with semaglutide, schedule an in-person or telehealth consultation with a hormone and weight loss specialist. Bloodwork, medical history and BMI measurement allow personalized dosage recommendations.
Semaglutide is a new type of injectable medication for diabetes that works by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1. Unlike other diabetes drugs, semaglutide has been shown in studies to also aid significant weight loss in addition to improving blood sugar control, an unexpected extra benefit for a diabetes medication.
Now let’s explore 5 key areas regarding semaglutide injections for sustainable weight loss and improved health:
With semaglutide, most people lose 12-15% of starting body weight over 6 months then maintain or continue losing. For example:
However, results vary significantly. Some lose 5-10% while others lose 20% or more.
The most rapid weight loss occurs in the first 16 weeks, with over 75% of total loss in 6 months happening during that period. But many people continue gradually losing weight through 1-2 years.
Regardless of total pounds lost, maintaining 10% weight loss–which 80% of people accomplish– has tremendous health benefits. Sustained weight loss is the key, rather than short-term rapid loss.
Semaglutide works best alongside diet, activity and lifestyle changes. Make changes early for optimal 6 month and 1 year success. Consider meeting with a nutritionist or personal trainer to make your regimen sustainable.
As an injected medication altering physiological processes, semaglutide may cause certain temporary side effects including:
These typically resolve within days to weeks as the body adjusts. Taking injections with food or lowering doses helps manage side effects. Rarely, serious complications like pancreatitis arise.
Semaglutide should not be used in people with certain health conditions. Tell your doctor about any history of:
Pregnancy/breastfeeding: Do not use due to unknown infant risk
With precautions and medical oversight, semaglutide offers relatively low risk and high safety. However, extended regimen safety beyond 2 years awaits further studies.
Semaglutide is available under brand name Ozempic® or as FDA approved generic semaglutide.
Cost: Approximately $1000-1500 monthly without insurance.
Insurance: Coverage varies greatly. Many policies cover semaglutide due to its clear benefits for obesity-related conditions like diabetes or heart disease. Self-injectable and oral medications for diabetes often have lower co-pays which may apply. Speak to your provider about potential out-of-pocket costs.
Unfortunately, barriers like high deductibles, exclusion of weight loss drugs or insufficient obesity diagnosis may prevent coverage. Appeals and prior authorizations can sometimes lead to coverage. Free discount programs from manufacturers and patient assistance programs are also available to help reduce cost.
Again, consult your specific insurance plan for details on current coverage policy. Be persistent if coverage beyond diabetes/pre-diabetes is not initially granted.
How does semaglutide stack up against other prescription medications or medications administered in clinics?
Below are comparisons with some key options:
Key Takeaway: For directly maximizing weight loss itself, semaglutide outperformed other single medications/therapies in nearly all comparative studies. Combined medications showed slightly better results but introduce higher side effect risks and costs.
No other injectable option offers easier weekly dosing with better long-term results. However, contrave or short term phentermine could be good alternatives based on patient factors.
Our Clinic offers key benefits for those seeking semaglutide:
We also offer care navigation assistance in obtaining insurance approvals plus financial assistance reviews to maximize affordability.
Managing weight and related health conditions is most effective through early and prompt treatment methods. The longer excess weight goes uncontrolled, the more damage occurs within the body that may become irreversible over decades.
Processes like:
All progressively worsen over time. They become harder to counteract at older ages due to this accumulated damage plus natural aging effects.
Furthermore, weight-related diseases like diabetes and hypertension inevitably inflict worsening harm if not timely controlled. Organs deteriorate. Markers like A1C and cholesterol go out of the optimal range–leading to stroke, heart attack and more.
Therefore establishing control early through methods like semaglutide injections helps avoid years or decades of 3 key problems:
Hormone Harmony Clinic now offers people of Ocoee and surrounding Central Florida areas unrivaled obesity treatment options, featuring innovative new medications like semaglutide. Call today to schedule your initial consultation– critical first steps to getting your health and hormones balanced before ongoing issues arise.
