Semaglutide is an injectable prescription medication originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes. More recently, semaglutide has been approved by the FDA for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition.
When used specifically for weight loss rather than diabetes, semaglutide is prescribed at a higher dose than what is used for diabetes. Semaglutide promotes weight loss by decreasing appetite, slowing digestion, and affecting parts of the brain that regulate food intake.
Over time, semaglutide's weight loss effects through appetite suppression, delayed gastric emptying, and decreased food motivation lead to better weight control for many people.
Multiple large clinical trials have shown that semaglutide is highly effective for weight loss when combined with lifestyle interventions:
Additionally, semaglutide has demonstrated good safety and tolerability for most patients. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal like nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. These side effects are usually mild-moderate and decrease over time.
For these reasons, semaglutide is considered one of the most effective medications currently available for the pharmacological treatment of obesity.
Semaglutide is taken as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection. The injection goes into the fatty tissue under the skin using a very thin, short needle similar to insulin injections.
The dosage is gradually increased over the first 5 weeks based on tolerability:
The purpose of slowly increasing the semaglutide dose is to minimize side effects like nausea by allowing the body to adjust to the medication. If side effects become bothersome at any point, dosage increases can be delayed or lowered.
Most patients learn to inject semaglutide on their own following some basic training. It only takes a few minutes per week. Semaglutide does not have restrictions around when it needs to be injected as long as the once weekly schedule is maintained.
The FDA has approved semaglutide for chronic weight management in adult patients who meet the following criteria:
Semaglutide is not approved for weight loss in those with a BMI under 27 without an obesity-related condition. Certain medical conditions may require caution with use or be contraindications to treatment. Semaglutide also has specific requirements around use with other medications used for weight loss or diabetes.
A medical provider should carefully screen candidates to ensure semaglutide is an appropriate treatment option given an individual’s complete health profile and goals. Vitality Hormone Clinic has extensive experience with semaglutide to provide comprehensive evaluations.
In addition to significant weight loss, semaglutide has demonstrated other health benefits:
Through appetite control, weight loss, and direct physiological effects, semaglutide helps resolve or mitigate various obesity-related diseases. These additional benefits further improve health and quality of life.
Although semaglutide is very effective for weight loss, medication alone is usually not enough. To get the best and most sustainable results, semaglutide should be combined with lifestyle interventions:
Vitality Hormone Clinic provides complete support to pair semaglutide treatment with diet, exercise, accountability and behavior change coaching. Patients also have close follow up to monitor progress, adjust dosing if needed, and renew semaglutide prescriptions.
Comprehensive semaglutide treatment from Vitality Hormone Clinic delivers an integrative plan for success in Grayslake and surrounding areas.
In clinical trials, semaglutide patients lost an average of 15-18% of their body weight over 68 weeks when combined with diet and exercise support. Some patients lost 6-8% while others lost up to 25%.Every person responds differently based on factors like lifestyle behaviors, baseline weight, genetics, age, gender and length of treatment. Vitality Hormone Clinic carefully evaluates patients to provide realistic weight loss expectations.
Most patients notice a decrease in appetite and food cravings within 1-4 weeks of starting semaglutide. However, the scale may take longer to reflect reductions in body can take 12 weeks at the full dose to realize semaglutide’s peak effects for weight loss. Patience is needed to allow the medication and lifestyle changes time to work. Continued steady losses are common over 9-12 months.
The most common side effects of semaglutide are gastrointestinal like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. These occur in up to 50% of patients but decrease over time. Other possible side effects include dizziness, fatigue, indigestion, cramps or gas.Risk of side effects can be minimized by slowly increasing the dose at the start and making any needed dose adjustments. Vitality Hormone Clinic doctors monitor patients closely to ensure side effects are very rare but could include severe dehydration, kidney failure, pancreatitis, suicidal behavior, vision loss or allergic reaction. Patients are educated on warning signs and when to promptly report to the doctor.
If you or someone you care about struggles with obesity and obesity-related health issues, consider being evaluated for semaglutide weight loss treatment at Vitality Hormone Clinic hormone clinic serving Grayslake and nearby areas.
Our experienced medical providers carefully screen patients to determine appropriateness of semaglutide. We develop customized treatment plans to address diet, activity, behavior and any other factors influencing health.
Through collaborative partnerships, patients gain the knowledge, tools and support needed to successfully lose weight and sustain positive change. We regularly monitor progress, safety and results - adjusting approaches as needed.
To learn more and schedule a private semaglutide consultation, call Vitality Hormone Clinic at PHONE or visit our website URL today. Invest in your health and contact us to start your weight wellness journey!
In summary, the injection medication semaglutide promotes considerable weight loss through effects on appetite, digestion rate and food motivation pathways in the brain. Along with diet and lifestyle adjustments, semaglutide helps patients with obesity or being overweight finally overcome barriers to sustainable success.
Backed by strong clinical evidence, semaglutide provides safe, effective medical treatment for chronic weight management. Combined with coaching and accountability from our fully trained staff at Vitality Hormone Clinic of Grayslake, patients achieve real transformation.
We handle all aspects from medical evaluation, prescription approval, teaching self-injection and providing nutritional and behavioral supports. If unable to lose weight despite best efforts, consider being screened for semaglutide. Reach out today to improve your health for tomorrow!Here is a 5-topic FAQ with answers about Semaglutide Weight Loss in Grayslake:
Semaglutide is an injectable prescription medication originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes. Researchers found it also reduces appetite and food cravings, leading to weight loss. The way it works is semaglutide mimics a hormone called GLP-1 that targets areas of the brain that regulate appetite and food intake. This causes you to feel fuller faster so you eat less without feeling deprived.
In clinical trials, people taking semaglutide had an average weight loss of 12-16% after 68 weeks on the medication. For example, if you weigh 200 lbs, you could expect to lose 24-32 lbs. Of course, weight loss varies from person to person depending on factors like diet, exercise, and more. But overall semaglutide promotes steady, meaningful weight loss when combined with healthy lifestyle changes.
The most common side effects of semaglutide are mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, bloating, or indigestion. These usually subside within 4-8 weeks as your body adjusts. There is also a risk of low blood sugar since semaglutide affects insulin production. Symptoms like dizziness, confusion, sweating or heartbeat changes should be reported promptly to your provider.
Semaglutide is a once-weekly injection you administer yourself using an auto-injector pen similar to an insulin pen. The weekly dosing schedule helps promote compliance compared to medications requiring daily shots. It’s also convenient if you travel frequently. You take the shot on the same day each week so it becomes part of your self-care routine.
You should not take semaglutide if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a personal or family history of thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or have severe kidney disease. It also may not be suitable if you have diabetic retinopathy issues that could worsen with rapid A1C declines. Discuss your full medical history with your provider. If approved, they will monitor you closely while on semaglutide.
