Losing weight is difficult for many reasons. Your body can fight you every step of the way, from hunger pangs and cravings to hormone imbalances that slow your metabolism. If you have tried to lose weight and struggled, there may be a product that can make it easier to reach your goals. Semaglutide is an FDA-approved weight loss medication that has been helping people overcome their weight loss challenge – it may be the secret you have been waiting for to lose your excess weight.
What Exactly Is Semaglutide?
Hormones play a significant role in every system in the body, so it makes sense that they impact your metabolism, appetite and satiety. Insulin is known for its impact on blood sugar, but it does much more than just regulate glucose. It has an effect on the brain and how it triggers cravings and hunger, as well as affects the digestive system. Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) receptor agonist which mimics GLP-1 hormones and how they regulate insulin and other functions.
The GLP-1 RA in semaglutide stimulates the GLP-1 receptors to produce more insulin in the pancreas. This triggers a plethora of changes in the body that can help with both type 2 diabetes and obesity. The increase in insulin helps bring down A1C and control blood sugar levels. It also helps trigger the satiety feeling in the brain, which cuts down on brain hunger and cravings. The digestive system is affected as well, slowing down how quickly food is released from the stomach, helping to reduce stomach hunger.
Semaglutide was first approved by the FDA for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Drugs like Rybelsus and Ozempic have been used for several years for controlling A1C in type 2 diabetics. One of the side effects was that many of these patients lost weight. After several FDA trials, semaglutide was FDA-approved as a weight loss drug and is sold under the brand name Wegovy.
Does Semaglutide Really Work for Weight Loss?
There have been several large studies performed on semaglutide for weight loss. These were controlled scientific studies that measured weight loss with semaglutide in participants against others in the studies that did not use semaglutide. One of the largest studies was 56 weeks long – those who used semaglutide lost on average 10% of their body weight. Another study showed an average of 14.9% body weight loss with semaglutide compared to 4% in the control group.
The scientific evidence shows that semaglutide can be very effective for weight loss. Many people lose weight without following any particular diet or exercise program. However, like all weight loss products, those that use semaglutide with a lower-calorie diet and exercise program will have much better results and reach their weight loss goals faster.
What To Expect with Semaglutide Treatments
Semaglutide is usually given as an injection on a weekly basis. The weight loss program starts with a lower dosage and increases the dose over several weeks. The effects of semaglutide can begin as soon as a few days after the first injection, but increase as the program continues. Patients using semaglutide notice a difference in their appetite and cravings, but these effects wear off in about a week. Receiving the weekly injections keeps hunger under control and impacts fullness after eating.
Semaglutide for weight loss should be used for at least eight weeks to be effective, but many patients stay on the injections for a year or longer. Some patients lose a significant amount of weight in the first eight weeks, making it very popular. It is the first weight loss drug to be FDA-approved in several years and performs better for most people than other GLP-1 receptor agonists like Liraglutide and Orlistat.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Semaglutide?
The recommendations from the FDA for semaglutide are targeted at those who are obese or struggling with an obesity-related diseases. This is based on body mass index (BMI), with semaglutide recommended for those with a BMI over 30 or over 27 with obesity-related disease. While this is the recommendation, there are many people who have success using semaglutide that are not obese but do have excess weight they need to lose. Semaglutide has been rumored to help many celebrities become “red carpet ready” and lose those extra pounds before they get before the cameras.
Those that have a significant amount of weight to lose that struggle with hunger and controlling their appetite are good candidates for semaglutide. The medication can make it easier to eat less, which leads to weight loss. It can also help control A1C for those that have type 2 diabetes or are in the pre-diabetic category.
Where Can I Find Semaglutide Near Me?
If you live in the greater Phoenix, AZ area, you can find semaglutide weight loss treatments at Arcadia Wellness Center. We offer a wide selection of effective medical weight loss options to help our patients reach a healthy weight. Our nurse practitioner and medical director, Sarah Quinn, as well as our medical staff can provide support and recommendations for weight loss.
Semaglutide is the latest and greatest option for fast and safe weight loss, but there are other options to achieve your ideal weight. Like all weight loss treatments, semaglutide may not work for everyone – if you have a hormone imbalance or other metabolic issues occurring, you may benefit from different weight loss options. Our medically-supervised weight loss treatments include:
– HCG Injections. For fast weight loss, the HCG program combines a low-calorie diet with HCG injections. This can be very effective to lose a significant amount of weight in a short period of time.
– Semaglutide. We can prescribe semaglutide injections for long-term weight loss to control hunger and improve your metabolism, as well as control blood glucose levels.
– Hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Many people struggle with their weight due to hormone imbalances. Men with low testosterone often gain weight and lose muscle. We offer hormone testing and hormone replacement therapy which can help with weight loss.
– Fat burner injections. Need help with energy and burning fat? Our fat burner injections include MIC (L-Methionine, Inositol and Choline) and vitamin B-12 to help your body effectively burn fat while improving your energy levels during your weight loss program.
Many of our medical weight loss treatments can be combined for improved results. You can begin a semaglutide program and also receive fat-burning injections that can support your body’s metabolism. We also offer supplement support for weight loss with our L-Thermo Lean supplements which contain vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other nutrients that your body needs when losing weight.
Semaglutide for Weight Loss in Phoenix, AZ
The secret is out! If you are ready to tackle your weight loss goals, make it easier with the help of semaglutide. For those who live in the Phoenix, AZ metro area, you can find semaglutide at Arcadia Wellness Center. Just call our office or contact us online to schedule your consultation with one of our medical weight loss experts. We can discuss the benefits of semaglutide and our other weight loss treatments to determine the best option to support your weight-loss goals.