Semaglutide is an injectable prescription medication used for treating type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management. It is similar to a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that targets areas of the brain that regulate appetite and food intake. Semaglutide helps people feel full sooner while eating, eat less food, and lose weight over time.
When used specifically for weight loss rather than diabetes, semaglutide is prescribed under the brand name Wegovy. Wegovy was approved by the FDA in 2021 as an adjunct for chronic weight management, making it one of the newest medications available for assisting with substantial weight loss.
The key benefits of semaglutide weight loss treatment include:
Semaglutide may be an option for adults struggling with overweight or obesity (BMI over 27) who have at least one weight-related health condition. These conditions can include:
Additionally, semaglutide can help people who have been unable to lose weight through diet, exercise, and other medications. It is approved for long-term use in patients who need to lose over 10% of body weight.
Semaglutide is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or people with certain medical conditions. Your Renew Hormone Clinic provider will determine if you are a good fit during your consultation.
Semaglutide helps promote weight loss through appetite suppression, increased feelings of fullness, and blood sugar control. Specifically, it works by:
Over weeks and months, this appetite regulation and metabolic control leads to:
Semaglutide for weight loss is taken as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection, usually in the abdomen. Important dosing guidelines include:
This slow ramp-up allows the body to adjust and reduces gastrointestinal side effects. Steady state blood levels are reached approximately 8-12 weeks after starting semaglutide. The full dose of 1 mg weekly should then lead to continual weight loss results.
Patients will need to incorporate lifestyle changes like diet and exercise while taking semaglutide for maximum weight loss effects. Healthcare providers tailor complementary weight management plans to each patient's needs and preferences.
The most common side effects of semaglutide involve the gastrointestinal system. Up to 20% of patients may experience temporary nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, indigestion, or loss of appetite.
These GI issues mostly occur during the first 16 weeks when initiating therapy and resolve on their own. If they persist, providers may adjust medication timing, recommend over-the-counter remedies, or lower the dose.
In clinical studies, semaglutide did not increase heart disease/stroke risk or diabetes-related complications. However, the FDA requires labeling about potential thyroid tumors and diabetic retinopathy issues found in rodent studies. No cause-effect has been shown in humans.
Semaglutide is not recommended if patients have:
Providers should monitor for signs of pancreatitis, kidney function changes, low blood sugar, vision changes, and gallbladder disease. Semaglutide has not been shown to impair the ability to drive or use machinery.
The medical providers at Renew Hormone Clinic specialize in customized weight management centered around prescription medications like semaglutide along with nutritional counseling, activity planning, and accountability support.
We perform an extensive evaluation including:
Our goal is to create tailored weight loss protocols to help patients achieve meaningful results. We incorporate patient preferences, adjust doses to improve tolerability, provide ancillary medications as needed, and frequently monitor progress.
The benefits of our specialty clinic include:
We accept most major insurance plans. Cash pricing is available if uninsured.
Managing weight is about more than just willpower - it requires medical support. Like other chronic health conditions, overweight and obesity complications worsen over time if left untreated.
The longer patients live with obesity, the more likely they are to develop:
Early intervention can reduce, and even reverse, associated medical problems before they progress and cause permanent damage. With new medications like semaglutide, many patients lose 10-15% or more of excess body weight.
This degree of weight loss translates into:
Finding an experienced weight management clinician for comprehensive care is crucial - not just to write prescriptions, but to treat all aspects of health influenced by obesity. Contact Renew Hormone Clinic today for your consultation.
