How Does Semaglutide Work For Weight Loss
How do you get results from semaglutide injections for weight loss? If you often think of that, let me explain! Well, there is always a need for safe and efficient weight loss drugs.
However, more than a year after receiving permission from the FDA in 2021, semaglutide, the newest anti-obesity drug, is still making headlines.
Initially intended exclusively as a diabetic treatment, the injectable drug was licensed for the treatment of chronic weight control in 70% of adult Americans who are obese or overweight.
Semaglutide injections are an excellent weight-loss method, according to many health researchers. They also emphasize how important it is to treat obesity as a chronic metabolic disease rather than putting people’s health in the hands of willpower and lifestyle modifications.
This is not merely a magic medication, though. And not everybody should use it. Obesity has no known treatment. It needs individualized care that lasts a lifetime.
Here’s all you should know about semaglutide for weight loss!
What Is Semaglutide? — An Overview
Semaglutide is a member of a group of drugs called GLP-1 agonists or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists.
It functions similarly to the GLP-1 hormone, which the stomach releases after eating. GLP-1 has a function that includes encouraging the body to create more insulin, which lowers blood sugar (glucose).
Semaglutide also reduces the release of glucagon, another pancreatic hormone. Glucagon raises blood sugar levels by promoting the release of glucose from the liver. By inhibiting glucagon, semaglutide helps control blood sugar levels.
Because of this, doctors have been treating Type 2 diabetes with semaglutide for more than 15 years. Higher doses of GLP-1, however, also affect the brain regions that control hunger and let you know when you’re full.
For those who are obese or overweight, it can result in a significant weight loss journey when combined with diet and exercise, as well as a decreased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
How Well Does Semaglutide Work in Non-diabetics to Lose Weight?
Numerous anti-obesity drugs have been developed that aid in appetite suppression and weight loss. Semaglutide, however, operates at a higher level.
In a preliminary trial including 2,000 obese adults, those who used semaglutide in addition to a diet and exercise regimen were compared to those who made the same lifestyle adjustments without using semaglutide.
Almost a third of the semaglutide-using participants dropped 20% of their body weight after 68 weeks, while half of them lost 15%. Individuals who solely made lifestyle adjustments saw a 2.4% weight loss.
Since then, more research has produced comparable findings. However, they have also shown that when people stop taking semaglutide, they usually gain back the weight they lost.
For Weight Loss, Who Should Take Semaglutide And Who Shouldn’t?
The FDA suggests using Wegovy to lose weight if any of the following applies to you:
Possess at least one weight-related illness, such as high blood pressure.
Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, as well as a body mass index (BMI) of 27 kg/m2 or above.
Possess a BMI of at least 30 kg/m2.
Avoid semaglutide if you have:
Medullary thyroid cancer history
Gallbladder disease history
Pancreatitis history Type 2 Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndrome (MEN2)
The first thing you should do if you’re thinking about using semaglutide to lose weight is speak with your primary care physician (PCP).
They can recommend the best course of action for your disease because they are familiar with your personal and family medical history.
Speak with your doctor about appropriate (and safe) combinations of diabetic medications if you already take another drug and have diabetes.
Semaglutide Injections For Weight Loss?
Semaglutide is currently solely authorized for use in weight loss under the Wegovy brand. Subcutaneous (under the skin) self-injections of 2.4 milligrams are the usual weekly dosage for weight loss.
But, medical experts are coming up with strategies to control the demand as interest in semaglutide for weight loss keeps rising. Many prescribe off-label (using a medicine that is FDA-approved for a different cause) other brands of semaglutide, like Ozempic and Rybelsus.
Semaglutide is frequently used off-label to aid in weight management. There is now a shortage of this drug for those who require it to assist in managing their diabetes due to the increased demand.
The Results of Semaglutide
It typically takes semaglutide two weeks to start working in the body. While most individuals begin to see advantages around 12 weeks, some people start to show benefits within the first eight weeks of taking semaglutide.
Clinical studies show that those who took semaglutide once a week lost 5–10% of their body weight on average. A person on semaglutide for a year or more may see a total weight loss of up to 15%. For anyone wanting to reap the long-term rewards of their weight loss drugs efforts, this is excellent news!
You must follow the recommended dosage and lead a healthy lifestyle in order for semaglutide injections to be effective. This entails eating healthily and exercising on a regular basis. Healthy food consumption, such as eating fruits and vegetables, helps lessen cravings.
Additionally, it can aid in weight loss by assisting in the burning of extra calories during exercise. It maintains your metabolism high enough to allow you to lose weight even after the injections are stopped.
How Am I Supposed to Take this Medicine?
Under the skin, this drug is injected. You’ll learn how to get ready and deliver it. Adhere to the prescription’s directions on the label.
Every seven days, or once a week, it is administered. Unless your care team instructs you otherwise, continue taking it.
It would help if you stored your used pens and needles in a designated sharps container. Never dispose of them in a trash can. Get a sharps container by calling your pharmacist or care team if you don’t already have one.
What Negative Impacts Might Semaglutide Cause?
Semaglutide side effects are usually minor, especially in comparison to the problems that come with being overweight or obese.
When using semaglutide to lose weight, users may encounter:
Lightheadedness Fatigue
Digestive problems, including gas, Stomach pain, Diarrhea, and Constipation
Headache, stomach empties
Gastrointestinal problems, such as discomfort, nausea, vomiting, or distension (bloat), are the most frequent complaint among patients beginning semaglutide. But by starting with a lesser dose and gradually increasing it, you can lessen the adverse effects.
How Long Does Semaglutide Take To Work?
Learn about weight loss medications like Wegovy and whether they’re right for you. What’s the difference between Ozempic and Wegovy? Wegovy is a once-weekly injection approved by the FDA in 2021 for chronic weight management. It’s the first drug approved for this purpose since 2014. The same company makes Ozempic and Wegovy.
You may experience some weight loss medication within the first four weeks of semaglutide therapy.
The full results may only be felt for a few months. In testing, after 68 weeks, adults eliminated an average of 35 pounds.
Your doctor will gradually increase your dosage when you initially start therapy in order to reduce gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea and diarrhea. It typically takes 17 weeks to reach your ultimate maintenance dose of semaglutide.
The company conducted 68-week tests and found that those using semaglutide lost an average of about 35 pounds (15.9 kg), or 15 percent of their body weight.
In contrast, 31 percent of participants who received a placebo (inactive medication) saw a weight loss of about 6 pounds or roughly 2.5 percent of their initial body weight.
After 68 weeks, children 12 years of age and older who received semaglutide experienced a 16.1 percent drop in body mass index (BMI), whereas the placebo group experienced a 0.6 percent reduction.
Additionally, 77 percent of kids on semaglutide showed a BMI drop of at least 5 percent, compared to 20 percent of kids on a placebo.
Conclusion
To sum up, semaglutide, a GLP-1 agonist, has shown promise in the fight against obesity since it targets both insulin production and appetite management.
When paired with a healthy diet and regular exercise, this weekly injection routine has demonstrated notable benefits for weight loss. Before beginning treatment, it’s essential to take into account specific health issues and speak with a healthcare professional.
The possible long-term advantages, such as weight loss and a decreased risk of comorbidities, outweigh any potential adverse effects, such as gastrointestinal discomfort. These benefits emphasize the significance of treating obesity as a chronic condition.
In the end, semaglutide is a valuable supplement to all-encompassing weight-management plans.
