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People from all walks of life have struggled to eliminate excess weight and the pain it causes for centuries. Modern science has grappled with many solutions, including surgeries and various weight loss medications. Hope has recently been reignited through a new treatment that produces astounding results — the semaglutide injection.
According to recent studies, semaglutide for weight loss treatment is an exciting, novel development with many additional benefits. In this concise guide, we'll explore how semaglutide works, why it's so effective at helping people lose weight, what similar medications are on the market and how safe it is for different groups of people.
Semaglutide is a revolutionary medication that helps people lose weight. Scientists originally developed semaglutide injections to manage type 2 diabetes, although people discovered its unprecedented weight loss benefits over the last five years. Physicians generally prescribe three well-known brand names to their patients:
When you eat, your digestive system releases hormones that communicate with receptors throughout your body. Two critical hormones involved in metabolism are glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and insulin, the hormone GLP-1 promotes. People with type 2 diabetes often don't release enough insulin or are resistant to it, so they need medication that helps their pancreas secrete more. That's where semaglutide comes in.
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), meaning it stimulates the same receptors as GLP-1. Semaglutide tells the pancreas to release insulin, which then helps glucose move from the blood to inside the cells. In higher doses, semaglutide also signals to the brain that you're full and regulates how fast food moves through your digestive system.
Although Wegovy is currently the only semaglutide injection created for weight loss specifically, the semaglutide in Ozempic, Wegovy and generics perform the same job — imitating GLP-1, which is naturally produced in the digestive tract and, to a lesser extent, your brainstem. Semaglutide's role as a GLP-1 RA makes it a helpful weight loss tool in four key ways:
If your blood sugar is too high, you may develop insulin resistance, which causes your body to store more glucose as fat. That excess fat then increases insulin resistance, creating a vicious cycle of weight gain. Semaglutide encourages insulin production, converting glucose into fuel for your cells instead of stored fat.
Your brain relies on GLP-1 to know when you're full. GLP-1 or GLP-1 RAs like semaglutide send signals to the brainstem via the vagus nerve, causing a chain reaction between neurons that reduces your appetite. GLP-1 produced in your gut and brain has a very short half-life of only one to two minutes, while semaglutide's half-life is one week, making it immensely effective as an appetite suppressant.
Sometimes, you may feel like eating even though you aren't necessarily hungry. These feelings are called cravings and come from blood sugar spikes, subsequent drops, psychological relationships with food and other triggers. Studies show that semaglutide is excellent at suppressing cravings because it helps balance blood sugar and modulates reward systems in the brain.
Like GLP-1, semaglutide binds to receptors in the stomach, slowing down digestion. Food takes longer to move from the stomach to the intestinal tract, helping you stay fuller for longer. It's important to note that if you take oral medication, your pills may take longer to digest, although some studies disagree. Discuss semaglutide with your physician if you're on chronic medication.
Semaglutide has proven its efficacy in treating type 2 diabetes and prediabetes before it was ever considered a weight loss solution. Excess weight is linked with a long list of secondary health concerns. Because semaglutide can help you lose weight and curb cravings, studies have shown it may also help prevent or alleviate maladies such as:
One study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that semaglutide reduced the amount of insulin newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic patients needed. This is likely because semaglutide is a GLP-1 RA that helped release some reserve insulin from the patients' pancreatic beta cells.
Semaglutide is an excellent option for people struggling to lose weight with a traditional diet and exercise regimen alone. People with prediabetes and insulin resistance can reduce their risk of developing full-blown type 2 diabetes with semaglutide. Studies show that semaglutide can decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes in overweight patients by 60%.
Although semaglutide is generally well-tolerated, a handful of people shouldn't take it because of preexisting conditions. People with severe kidney problems, gastroparesis or a family history of pancreatitis or thyroid cancer should discuss the risks of semaglutide with their specialists before using it in any form. If you take any chronic medication orally, discuss semaglutide with your doctor, as it may affect how you absorb your pills.
The media has been abuzz with tales of “Ozempic babies,” conceived unexpectedly after these women started semaglutide. This phenomenon is likely because weight loss helps improve female fertility.
It's important to note, however, that experts suggest women who plan to get pregnant in the near future should wean off semaglutide as a preventive measure. Studies are still being done to determine its safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
The FDA approves several brands of semaglutide, meaning it's safe when taken as prescribed in the U.S. While semaglutide weight loss side effects were so well-received in diabetes treatment that they became off-label and eventually FDA-approved weight loss drugs, other side effects are less desired. Luckily, semaglutide side effects like nausea, vomiting, constipation, heartburn and bloating are uncommon and usually easily treatable.
Apart from Ozempic and Wegovy semaglutide injections and Rybelsus pills, several weight loss drugs are available with a prescription. The following medications also work by mimicking GLP-1, just with slightly different molecular structures and some different effects:
The excellent results patients have achieved by using semaglutide for weight loss are sparking a new perspective on body size. Excess weight is not a moral failing or a lack of willpower — it is a disease with debilitating symptoms, dangerous secondary conditions, identifiable physiological causes and now, finally, viable treatment options. This shift in the zeitgeist of weight loss could mean a global health revolution with cost-effective semaglutide made available to the general public.
Lone Star IV Medics in Texas specializes in intravenous (IV) health and wellness services expertly formulated to address your unique needs. We offer various IV packages, including immune support infusions and several essential vitamin and mineral add-ins.
For people taking semaglutide, our Myers' Cocktails for weight loss can be particularly helpful. Its electrolyte balance, including blood-sugar-regulating magnesium, helps support the body through potential GLP-1 RA side effects that lead to fluid loss and dehydration. The cocktail also includes zinc and vital B vitamins the body needs for energy and healthy metabolism.
Our mobile IV nurse service can bring recovery right to your door if you live near Dallas, Houston, San Antonio or Austin.
Feel free to schedule an appointment with us today or contact us online to start your wellness journey.