Semaglutide is an under-the-skin injection that helps the body produce more insulin and has been helping people with Type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar for more than 15 years.
Though this medication was originally intended to help with blood sugar control, researchers soon discovered that semaglutide also assists with weight loss.
Losing weight is hard, and diet and exercise aren’t always enough. Medications like semaglutide may help those struggling to drop those unwanted pounds finally reach their goal weight.
At Skin Shop medSpa in Houston, Texas, we know how hard it is to lose weight and that there’s no real quick fix. Our wellness expert, Dr. Tiffany Su, uses semaglutide to help our patients get the additional support they need to achieve weight loss success.
Here, we want to talk about semaglutide, how it helps with weight loss, and how it might benefit you.
Semaglutide is in a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs).
GLP-1 is a hormone made in your gut that signals the pancreas to make enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels in normal range. The active ingredient in semaglutide acts like this hormone, triggering the release of insulin.
The medication is very effective at improving blood glucose levels in people with Type 2 diabetes.
But like many of the other hormones in your body, GLP-1 performs multiple functions, including helping with weight management
In addition to increasing insulin levels in the blood, the GLP-1 that your body produces helps manage blood sugar levels by controlling your appetite and slowing down digestion. This is how it supports weight management.
The GLP-1 mimicking hormone in semaglutide sends signals to the part of the brain that controls appetite and thirst levels. This signal decreases your desire to eat, making it easier for you to stick to your balanced diet and lose weight.
The medication also signals the stomach to slow down digestion, so you feel full longer. This action helps you feel full sooner when you do eat.
Semaglutide is FDA-approved to treat adults struggling with obesity or who are overweight and in need of long-term weight management. Obesity is a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher and overweight is a BMI between 25-30 (FDA guidelines recommend semaglutide be used for people with a BMI of 27 or higher).
Semaglutide works best when combined with a balanced eating plan and regular physical activity.
The medication is given as a weekly injection. We start out at a low dose and gradually increase the dose over 16-20 weeks to the target dose of 2.4 milligrams. We up the dose slowly in order to prevent gastrointestinal side effects.
Research shows that semaglutide can help people lose about 15% of their body weight. So, if you weigh 220 pounds, you may lose up to 33 pounds using semaglutide.
If you’re overweight or obese and having a hard time reaching your weight goals, then semaglutide may work for you.
We can talk to you about the weight loss injection and other therapies that can help you reach your healthy weight. Call our Houston, Texas, office today or book an appointment online.
