Semaglutide is an injectable prescription medication originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes. More recently, it has also been approved by the FDA for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition.
Semaglutide works by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1 that is released after eating. It signals the body to produce more insulin when blood sugar is high. It also tells the stomach to slow down food emptying into the intestines which makes you feel fuller longer after eating.
When used specifically for weight loss rather than diabetes, semaglutide helps people eat less and reduce their body weight. In clinical trials, participants lost on average 12-15% of their body weight over 68 weeks when combined with counseling on diet and exercise.
Table 1: Key Facts About Semaglutide for Weight Loss
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Brand Name | Wegovy, Ozempic |
| Administration | Self-injected under skin once weekly |
| Expected Weight Loss | 12-15% in 68 weeks on average |
| Side Effects | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain |
Unlike some weight loss medications that act in the brain, semaglutide works through several mechanisms in the gastrointestinal tract which combine to increase feelings of fullness, reduce appetite, and promote weight loss.
There are three key ways that semaglutide helps with losing weight:
Research also shows it may have additional effects like increasing resting energy expenditure although more studies are still needed on these secondary impacts.
Overall, semaglutide makes it easier stick to a reduced calorie meal plan since it helps control hunger signals. Along with counseling on lifestyle changes, it can lead to clinically significant long-term weight reduction.
Using semaglutide for weight management provides several meaningful benefits compared to attempting weight loss through diet and exercise alone:
Greater magnitude of weight loss - Most people struggle to lose a significant amount of weight through lifestyle changes only. Semaglutide users lost 2-3 times more weight than placebo groups relying on diet/exercise alone in clinical trials.
Helps sustain long-term results - Many people experience "yo-yo dieting" where lost pounds eventually return. The appetite control and fuller feeling from semaglutide helps avoid regaining weight over time.
Reduces risks from obesity - Weight loss itself lowers cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other obesity-related condition risks. Semaglutide provides robust reductions for improved health.
Convenient weekly dosing - Only needing one self-injection per week promotes better medication regimen adherence compared to daily doses. This leads to better treatment outcomes.
Well-studied safety profile - Semaglutide has been used extensively in type 2 diabetes so its side effects are well-characterized. The most common issues like nausea diminish over time for most people.
For those struggling with being overweight or obesity despite diet and lifestyle efforts, semaglutide can provide additional efficacy for achieving significant weight reductions and maintaining long-term results.
Semaglutide has been studied and approved for chronic weight management in adults living with overweight or obesity. Specifically, it is indicated for those with:
It is important to have realistic expectations about results as well. On average, 68-week trial participants receiving semaglutide lost:
However, there was a wide range of responses. About 1 in 8 achieved ≥ 20% weight reduction. Your individual results depend on your level of adherence, baseline weight, and other factors.
Table 2: Key Factors in Determining if Semaglutide is Appropriate
| Considerations | Description |
|---|---|
| Committed to Comprehensive Program | Must adopt long-term lifestyle changes like improved nutrition and 150 minutes/week of activity for best results |
| Endocrine Workup | Evaluate for underlying endocrine disorders contributing to weight like hypothyroidism, Cushing's, polycystic ovarian syndrome, etc. |
| Risk Evaluation | Assess factors like family history, smoking, activity level, diet, etc. to quantify risks and set goals for risk reduction from weight loss |
| Medication Trials | Try other anti-obesity agents first like phentermine if no contraindications or history of inadequate response |
| GLP-1 Agonist Naïve | Semaglutide not indicated if previously took saxenda, dulaglutide, liraglutide or other GLP-1 drugs with limited efficacy |
Talk to your doctor about whether trying semaglutide for weight loss is appropriate after thoroughly reviewing the considerations above. Those committed to making lifestyle changes and accepting realistic expectations tend to have the best outcomes.
If semaglutide is determined to be a good fit after the clinical evaluation, your doctor will outline the treatment process:
The whole treatment process requires extensive lifestyle counseling, health measurement, and follow-up care. Like most chronic diseases, lifelong management is necessary for success. Semaglutide promotes weight loss most effectively as part of this comprehensive approach.
Taking semaglutide alone is usually not enough for satisfactory weight reduction or sustaining lowered body weight long-term. Adopting healthy lifestyle changes - especially regarding nutrition and exercise - leads to dramatically better treatment outcomes.
Following a reduced-calorie meal plan customized to your food preferences and health status is key. General guidance includes:
Recording meals with an app also encourages adherence and allows adjustment as needed to meet weight loss calorie goals.
Increasing physical activity is the other major pillar for weight loss and maintenance. Aim for at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise like brisk walking. This can be broken into multiple shorter daily sessions.
Also incorporate 2-3 days per week of strength training using machines, free weights, resistance bands or body weight exercises. Preserving and building muscle while losing fat provides health benefits.
Other tips for success include finding enjoyable activities you can adhere to long-term and using fitness trackers to monitor progress. Improving cardio capacity and strength reinforces weight loss efforts.
While nutrition and exercise play the biggest roles, other aspects can support weight management:
Using semaglutide while making lifestyle modifications maximizes success long-term. Sustaining both the medication regimen and healthy behaviors prevents relapsing.
Like any medication, semaglutide does have potential side effects to discuss with your doctor:
Semaglutide has been associated with thyroid tumors in rodent studies but it is unknown if this risk applies to humans. No tumors were seen in trials but longer-term surveillance data is still limited.
Pancreatitis is another serious condition reported rarely. Tell your doctor immediately about any severe abdominal pain with or without nausea/vomiting as this could indicate pancreas inflammation.
Also semaglutide is not recommended in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or those with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2.
Overall however, semaglutide used under medical supervision appears quite safe based on its extensive study. Still, patients considering this medication should discuss all benefits and potential risks thoroughly first with their doctor.
The medication alone averages $1,300-1,500 monthly without insurance. Plus additional costs for doctor visits, labs, lifestyle counseling etc. Some health plans do cover it based on your policy.
It can be used long-term by those continuing to achieve additional gradual weight loss and health improvements without complications. Others transition off after reaching a satisfactory goal.
Yes but evidence shows only about 5% of people relying just on diet and exercise avoid regaining lost weight after 2-5 years. Semaglutide boost adherence.
Everyone responds differently but average 68-week trial loss was 12-15% of body weight. More rapid losses occur at first followed by more gradual long-term downward trend.
Yes, other options include phentermine, liraglutide, naltrexone/bupropion combo pill and more. But not all have strong efficacy data like semaglutide. Discuss any other questions you may have with your doctor when considering using semaglutide for obesity or overweight weight loss management.
Here at Invigorate Medical in Corning, Arkansas, we provide cutting edge medical weight loss programs incorporating semaglutide.
With over 20 years specializing exclusively in weight management and obesity medicine, our clinical team has unparalleled expertise using injectable anti-obesity agents like semaglutide. We stay on the forefront of the latest medical advances for safe, sustainable results.
What sets Invigorate Medical apart is our highly personalized approach evaluating medical, genetics, lifestyle and other factors influencing each patient's weight and health. Then we develop fully customized treatment plans combining counseling, prescription medications when appropriate, and support to meet your needs.
Our outstanding patient outcomes speak for themselves: - Average 12-18% body weight loss in 12 months - Over 85% achieve at least 5% reduction - Less than 3% regain at 2 years
We also accept most major insurance plans to help make effective medical weight loss affordable for more people. Exceptions may apply so contact us to verify your specific coverage.
Are you struggling with being overweight or obesity despite your best efforts? Take the next step by scheduling a free consultation to see if our medical weight loss program with semaglutide is right for you. We look forward to helping you finally achieve sustainable success!
Semaglutide represents a major advance in treating obesity and overweight, helping patients achieve significant and sustained weight loss when used as part of a comprehensive lifestyle modification program. The medication's ability to reduce appetite and promote feelings of fullness makes it easier to adhere to a lower calorie diet for losing weight.
While semaglutide is very effective, it works best when combined with nutritional guidance, increased physical activity, stress management, and other healthy habits. A clinic like Invigorate Medical that specializes in personalized weight loss programs can provide the full spectrum of support needed for optimal results.
If you have struggled with weight despite your efforts at diet and exercise alone, semaglutide may be the key for finally achieving your goals. Discuss this option with a qualified provider to see if this FDA-approved medication is appropriate for improving your health through lasting weight reduction.
