Semaglutide is an exciting new FDA-approved weight loss medication that helps patients lose weight and improve their overall health. It works by mimicking the effects of the hormone GLP-1, which helps regulate appetite and calorie intake. Semaglutide makes you feel fuller faster and for longer periods, allowing you to eat less without feeling hungry or deprived.
When used alongside diet and exercise, semaglutide has shown exceptional weight loss results in clinical trials. People lost an average of 12-15% of their body weight over the course of treatment. Beyond the numbers on the scale, it also provided clinically meaningful improvements in cardiovascular and metabolic health parameters.
So how does it stack up against other weight loss medications? Semaglutide appears to be more effective than anything else available. In head-to-head clinical comparisons, it has outperformed popular generics like phentermine and brand names such as Saxenda. It also does not require FollowMyHealth modifications like bariatric surgery. For many people struggling with obesity and overweight, semaglutide could be an excellent step forward for their health.
Semaglutide may be an option if you are an adult living with overweight or obesity, with a BMI over 30, or over 27 with at least one weight-related medical problem. Examples include high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and more. It offers an additional tool alongside lifestyle changes to help you lose weight and improve any associated health issues.
Ideal patients are highly motivated to incorporate healthier eating and increased physical activity into their daily lives. Semaglutide promotes weight loss no matter what you eat, but eating a balanced, low-calorie diet and exercising most days provides the fuel for enhanced results. It is certainly not a "magic pill" that allows you to abandon all good habits!
Talk to your healthcare provider about whether semaglutide is appropriate for your health profile and weight loss goals. If so, they can fully screen you for risks or complications before prescribing the medication.
Now that we have covered the basics of what semaglutide is and who should consider using it, let us explore how it achieves impressive appetite and weight control. The medication activates certain receptors in the part of the brain that regulate food intake and feelings of fullness.
The end result is that with semaglutide you will:
In a sense, semaglutide helps "reset" some hormones and signals in the body to prefer modest, nutritious meals instead of overeating calorie-dense foods. When combined with increased physical activity, patients find it much easier to establish healthy lifestyle habits that promote safe, sustainable fat burning.
Semaglutide comes in a handy auto-injector pen device. To take your weekly dose, simply attach a disposable needle and inject under the skin (subcutaneously) in your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Injection sites should rotate each week. Most patients find it easy and convenient to self-administer at home.
When starting out, your healthcare provider will prescribe a low 0.25 mg dose for four weeks. This minimizes side effects as your body adjusts. The dosage then goes up to the full 1 mg or 2 mg dose shown to really impact weight loss outcomes. Treatment typically lasts around 12-24 months, providing time to establish new healthy habits while the medication is promoting weight reduction.
Semaglutide was originally approved as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, but researchers discovered it also causes significant weight loss. In 2021, a specific semaglutide formulation called Wegovy was approved by the FDA solely for chronic weight management, making it one of the first medications specifically for obesity without diabetes.
As with most medications, semaglutide does come with some potential side effects to be aware of, mostly minor GI issues like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. Due to the nausea risk, you cannot take semaglutide if you have certain stomach problems or a history of pancreatitis. It is not recommended in patients with severe kidney disease or diabetic retinopathy complications either.
Outside of these special cases, semaglutide presents a fairly good safety profile. Side effects often improve after the first month of treatment, as your body adapts to the appetite and digestive changes. Staying well hydrated also really helps manage them.
As always, notify your healthcare provider if you experience severe, persisting, or worrisome reactions. They will handle any dosage adjustments or added support to make semaglutide comfortable for you. Monitoring via regular check-ins ensures you safely meet your health and wellness goals on this promising medication.
Second Spring Hormone Clinic specializes in hormone deficiencies, metabolism disorders, and treatments like semaglutide for medically complicated weight and appetite management. Our experienced practitioners offer compassionate, evidence-based care for patients dealing with excess weight or related health conditions.
We perform advanced diagnostic testing to identify any underlying hormone imbalances or dysfunction that makes healthy eating and activity patterns more difficult. These can include thyroid disorders, insulin resistance, reproductive hormone dysfunction, chronic stress elevation, vitamin deficiencies, inflammation and disrupted circadian rhythms.
Correcting hormone, nutrition and lifestyle factors provides a powerful platform alongside semaglutide medication for transforming patients' health. Our goal is always safe, optimal wellness no matter each person's unique needs and challenges. We partner with each patient to ensure treatments fit their preferences, health history, risk factors, symptoms and goals.
At Second Spring Hormone Clinic you receive:
We know how frustrating weight struggles can be, and that motivation alone is often not enough. Sometimes changes in brain chemistry, metabolism and hormones beyond our control prevent even well-intentioned dieters from seeing desired outcomes. Our integrative treatments finally help tip the scale in your favor so you can realize results from newly possible healthy behaviors. We handle medication access barriers for you, while offering accountability, education and community support.
To enhance your journey with medical weight management solutions like semaglutide, keep these wellness tips in mind:
Second Spring Hormone Clinic connects patients to other reputable establishments in the community for enhanced care during weight loss treatment:
We customize ancillary support and accountability for each patient. This ensures you have all the tools needed, along with gold standard medical therapies like semaglutide, to hit your goals long-term.
With hypertension, heart disease, fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and other weight-related conditions reaching epidemic proportions, having access to proven medical solutions is vital. Semaglutide represents an exciting new chapter in safe, effective pharmacological assistance for people struggling with excess weight or obesity.
However, medication alone cannot override years of habits, lifestyle factors and contrary hunger signals. Thus we only prescribe semaglutide alongside thorough root-cause investigations, individualized diet and movement planning, community referrals and compassionate behavioral counseling.
This integrative approach offered by clinics like Second Spring Hormone Clinic gives patients their best chance for step-changing their weight, health stats and quality of life. We could not be more proud to provide this hope and path forward for so many. Reach out today to explore making semaglutide part of your journey.
