Semaglutide is a true game-changer in the world of weight loss and diabetes management.

Let's start with the basics: What is semaglutide? In layman's terms, semaglutide is a medication originally approved to assist individuals with Type 2 diabetes. In medical jargon, it's referred to as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which might sound like a mouthful, but it simply means that it works by mimicking a hormone in your body (GLP-1) that affects both your blood sugar levels and appetite.

Semaglutide entered the medical scene with a specific mission: to help manage blood sugar levels in individuals with Type 2 diabetes. This is of crucial importance, as keeping blood sugar levels under control is a key part of managing Type 2 diabetes and preventing potential complications. And it did a great job at this. In clinical trials, semaglutide showed a notable effect in reducing blood sugar levels, earning its place in the toolkit of diabetes management.

But as scientists and doctors started to use semaglutide, they noticed something quite remarkable. Patients were not just experiencing better blood sugar control – they were also losing weight. This discovery sparked a whole new set of research. Could semaglutide be a potential tool for weight management as well?

That’s when our understanding of semaglutide took a fascinating turn. It went from a medication for managing Type 2 diabetes to an exciting possibility in the world of weight loss. But how does it work in weight loss? What makes it effective? We will dive deeper into these questions in this article.

How does Semaglutide compare to the medications Ozempic® and Wegovy®?

Semaglutide was originally produced by the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk in 2012 and currently available under the following brand names:

• Ozempic® – approved in 2014 for lowering blood glucose and HBA1C in type 2 diabetics as a once-a-week subcutaneous injection

• Wegovy® – approved on June 4, 2021 for chronic weight management in overweight patients with one weight-loss related ailment or obese patients

Semaglutide is the active ingredient in these two popular weight loss drugs and available in generic form from compounding pharmacies at significantly lower prices.

Obesity and Overweight Issues

According to a report by the World Health Organization, worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975. In the United States, the CDC reports that as of 2018, more than 42% of the population was considered obese. That's almost half the population!

Why does this matter, you ask? Well, carrying excess weight isn't just about how you look in a mirror or how your favorite pair of jeans fit. It's about health – both physical and mental. Being overweight or obese puts you at risk for a whole host of medical issues such as heart disease, diabetes, certain types of cancer, and reduced immune function when dealing with common illnesses. And let's not forget the impact on mental health. The stigma attached to being overweight can lead to low self-esteem and mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

Alright, you say, that's all well and good, but why can't people just lose weight? Well, if only it were that simple! Traditional methods of weight loss – think diet and exercise – are important, but they can be challenging to stick to. Plus, they don't always work for everyone. Ever heard of the saying, "What gets measured gets managed"? This often doesn't hold true for weight loss. You might count every calorie and step, only to see the scale barely budge. Frustrating, isn't it?

A study in the journal Obesity Reviews reveals that biological factors like hormones and metabolism significantly affect our ability to lose weight. Essentially, our bodies are wired to resist weight loss as a survival mechanism, which is why shedding those pounds can feel like an uphill battle.

That's where medications like semaglutide come into play. They offer a scientifically-backed approach to weight loss, helping to level the playing field and providing a much-needed boost to your weight loss efforts.

Semaglutide and Weight Loss

Remember earlier when we described semaglutide as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist? Well, let's bring that term back. The GLP-1 hormone, which semaglutide mimics, plays a crucial role in regulating your appetite. Essentially, it's a bit like a traffic cop for your food intake, telling your brain when you've had enough to eat. When you inject semaglutide, it's like sending more of these traffic cops into your body, helping you feel full faster and eat less.

But wait, there's more! Beyond curbing your appetite, semaglutide also works on the metabolism side of things. It helps slow down the rate at which your stomach empties, leading to a lower spike in blood glucose levels after you eat.

So, how well does this all work in reality? Is it really effective? It turns out the answer is a resounding "yes"! Semaglutide's effectiveness isn't just hearsay; it's backed by solid research. In a large clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, participants who received semaglutide lost significantly more weight than those who got a placebo.

Impressed by these results, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved semaglutide for chronic weight management in adults who are either obese or overweight with at least one weight-related condition like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.

Benefits and Effectiveness of Semaglutide Therapy

There’s a reason semaglutide has received a lot of hype. It's been proven to be effective, it has a favorable safety profile, and it requires only a once-weekly injection, which means less hassle in your daily routine.

In fact, when compared to other drugs in the weight loss market, semaglutide comes out ahead. A study published in JAMA pitted semaglutide against other weight loss treatments and found that participants using semaglutide lost significantly more weight than those using other treatments. To give you a visual, it was like shedding the weight of an entire microwave or a border collie. Imagine walking around carrying a border collie all day – now, imagine setting it down. That's the kind of difference we're talking about!

Benefits of semaglutide include:

• Reduces food intake by lowering appetite

• Promotes satiety and fullness by slowing food digestion in the stomach

• Decreases body fat percentage through loss of visceral adipose tissue and belly fat

• Weight loss with decreased waist size (a third of clinical trial participants lost over 20%% bodyweight)

• May improve cardiovascular risk profile including lowering cholesterol, inflammation, blood pressure and blood sugar

• Lowers HbA1c

• Prevents cognitive decline

However, as with any treatment, it's important to remember that everyone's body responds differently, and what works for one person may not work for another.

Taking Semaglutide for Weight Loss

Taking semaglutide for weight loss is relatively straightforward. It's just a once-weekly injection that you can administer yourself, under the skin, similar to how some people take insulin. You don't have to be a medical pro to do it, either. You will start with a lower dosage and your healthcare provider may gradually increase the dose over time, allowing your body to adjust to the medication.

Semaglutide does have potential side effects you should be aware of. Most commonly, people might experience nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting. But don't be too alarmed! These side effects often diminish as your body gets used to the medication. In fact, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that these side effects led to discontinuation of the medication in less than 5% of the study participants.

However, there are some folks who aren’t great candidates for semaglutide. Those with a history of thyroid cancer or certain thyroid disorders, people with a history of pancreatitis, or those with kidney problems should consult with their healthcare providers before considering semaglutide therapy. It's also not recommended for pregnant women or those planning to become pregnant.

Remember, semaglutide, like any medication, should be taken under the guidance of a healthcare professional who can provide a comprehensive assessment and monitor progress and side effects. The golden rule? Always communicate with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medication regimen.

Semaglutide Therapy at Harmony Wellness Clinic

Our semaglutide therapy is a medically-guided weight loss program personalized to each individual patient, their health status, and their weight loss goals. We start with a Wellness Consultation to assess your health history and discuss the options that are most appropriate for you.

Semaglutide therapy includes consultation with a Provider, lab work assessment, and resources to help you maximize your weight loss through lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, and sleep recomendations.

Prescribed medications are delivered directly to your door with all of the supplies and instructions you need to self-administer your medication safely and effectively.

Harmony Wellness Clinic does NOT communicate with health insurance companies for any of our services. Even though the health and quality of life of our patients is tremendously enhanced, most health insurance providers consider our services elective. However, because we prescribe generic semaglutide from a compounding pharmacy, the cost is dramatically less than its brand name counterparts while remaining equally effective.

Book an appointment today to get started on your weight loss journey with semaglutide therapy!

Sources:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-01707-4

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1607141

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04184622

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183

https://www.ozempic.com/why-ozempic/what-is-ozempic.html#weight

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3631884/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23859800/