Semaglutide is an injectable prescription medication originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes. More recently, a lower dose formulation was approved specifically for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight.
Semaglutide works by mimicking the effects of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). This hormone helps regulate blood sugar levels and appetite. By acting like GLP-1, semaglutide:
Research shows that using semaglutide for weight loss can be highly effective when combined with lifestyle changes. In clinical trials, people taking semaglutide lost on average 12-15% of their body weight over 68 weeks.
There are several ways that semaglutide facilitates weight loss:
One of the major ways semaglutide helps with losing weight is by curbing appetite. It does this by improving signals between the gut and brain that control hunger and fullness.
People taking semaglutide tend to feel more satisfied after eating smaller portions. Over weeks and months, eating less food can directly translate to shedding excess pounds.
Semaglutide also helps you feel fuller for longer by slowing down digestion. It causes food to stay in the stomach longer before moving into the intestines.
This delayed gastric emptying effect allows time for appetite signaling hormones to kick in. The result is often feeling sated with smaller meal portions.
Many people struggling with overweight and obesity also live with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. Poor blood sugar regulation is linked with packing on extra pounds.
Semaglutide improves the body’s ability to control blood glucose by stimulating insulin production and reducing glucagon levels after meals.
As blood sugar levels normalize, easier weight management often follows. Losing as little as 5% body weight can help lower A1c and reduce diabetes complications.
Semaglutide may be an appropriate weight loss treatment if:
You have a BMI of 30 or higher (or 27 with an obesity-related condition) - indicating obesity
You have already tried losing weight through diet and exercise without success
You do not have any conditions that make using semaglutide unsafe
Semaglutide is most likely to help if you combine the injections with improving nutrition, increasing activity, and making other beneficial lifestyle changes. These complementary efforts boost semaglutide’s effects.
Working closely with an experienced medical weight loss provider further improves your chances of losing significant weight and keeping it off long-term.
Semaglutide reaches its maximum effect 10-14 weeks after starting treatment. Most people take it for at least 68 weeks (over 1 year) for optimal weight loss results.
Semaglutide was originally developed as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, but researchers unexpectedly found it also caused significant weight loss. Further studies showed that non-diabetic people taking semaglutide lost on average 15% of their body weight over 68 weeks, leading to its recent approval specifically for chronic weight management.
In the main clinical trials, semaglutide for weight loss showed impressive efficacy:
Plus 76% of study participants reduced their BMI by at least one category, indicating substantially lower disease risk:
So in well-designed studies, semaglutide demonstrates considerable benefits for supporting medically managed weight reduction and metabolic improvement.
Succeeding with weight loss - especially losing 10% or more as is common with semaglutide - significantly lowers your chances of developing major medical problems down the road.
Specific health benefits linked to dropping excess pounds include:
The more excess weight you lose - and the longer you maintain that loss - the more dramatic and long-lasting these health payoffs.
Starting semaglutide for weight management gives you an advantage in losing significant fat mass to prevent or mitigate serious medical conditions.
Semaglutide has been extensively studied for safety as a medical product. When used appropriately under medical supervision, risks of serious problems are very low.
However, as with any medication, side effects may occur. The most common include:
Rare but serious side effects can include:
To stay safe while using semaglutide, stay well hydrated and watch for signs of dehydration like increased thirst, headache, dizziness or dark urine.
Stop semaglutide right away and call your doctor if you have:
Attending all follow up appointments allows monitoring for uncommon side effects. Reporting any concerning symptoms promptly also keeps you healthy while shedding pounds.
The standard medical protocol for semaglutide weight loss treatment includes:
Pre-Treatment
Initiation Phase
Continuation Phase
Transition Phase
Following this standardized obesity treatment protocol allows getting the most benefit from semaglutide with minimal risks.
The physicians at Elite Hormone Therapy specialize in medically supervised weight management tailored individually for results that last.
We provide:
A Customized Approach
Comprehensive Support
Proven Medical Management
Our clinicians have over 15 years experience helping people suffering with excess weight and obesity-related health conditions. We stay current on the latest research and best practices.
This medical expertise combined with genuine compassion gives you the highest likelihood of losing substantial weight and keeping it off long-term.
With obesity now a global epidemic, having access to effective treatments like semaglutide matters more than ever. When combined with lifestyle improvements, it offers life-changing weight reduction to improve health and longevity.
Our knowledgeable providers customize cutting edge medical solutions for sustained success. We consider all aspects - medical, nutrition, fitness, mental health - when designing weight management programs.
At Elite Hormone Therapy our mission focuses on delivering the best possible care for you to lose weight, prevent disease, and truly optimize wellbeing. We invite you to meet our amazing clinicians and take the first step toward a healthier future for yourself!
