Semaglutide is an innovative new medication recently approved specifically for chronic weight management in adults. It is an injectable prescription drug that works by acting on receptors in the brain to reduce appetite, leading to decreased food intake and significant weight loss.
When combined with increased physical activity and improved diet, semaglutide can help overweight or obese patients finally achieve meaningful and sustainable fat reduction. Read on to learn all about using semaglutide for weight loss at Restore Health Clinic.
Being significantly overweight comes with considerable health and quality of life impacts. Common symptoms and signs of obesity include:
Additionally, obesity dramatically increases risks for major diseases like heart attack, stroke, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, fatty liver disease, gallstones, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Losing even a small amount of weight can rapidly improve many obesity-related symptoms and reduce disease risks. Semaglutide often leads to 15% or more weight loss when used with diet and exercise changes.
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue, meaning it mimics the effects of a hormone called GLP-1 that is released naturally by the body after eating. Specific effects that promote weight loss include:
Because of the appetite suppressing effects, most patients decrease calories by 10-15% daily without feeling deprived or hungry. Semaglutide also reduces cravings for sweets and fatty, sugary foods that undermine diets.
Some of the many evidence-based benefits of semaglutide include:
Semaglutide delivers superior weight loss results compared to older medications, diet/exercise alone, or intensive bariatric procedures like gastric bypass with much lower risks.
Semaglutide is appropriate for patients meeting the following conditions:
Semaglutide should not be prescribed to those with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinomas, multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or high risk for adverse events like hypoglycemia unawareness.
Testing like TSH, creatinine levels help determine risks and appropriate dosing. An integrated treatment plan involving prescription adjustments, support services, and lifestyle modifications provides optimal, lasting weight loss outcomes.
Initiating semaglutide treatment involves:
Semaglutide requires consistent use alongside improved nutritional intake and activity levels to achieve best weight loss. Frequent monitoring early on helps maximize benefits while minimizing adverse effects.
Addressing significant overweight issues is vital because extra pounds are often not just a cosmetic nuisance - they exponentially worsen health. Some key reasons that timely obesity treatment like semaglutide is so important include:
In summary, achieving even small reductions in weight by directly treating obesity has tremendous benefits from head to toe, inside and out. And innovative medications like semaglutide make meaningful weight loss easier to accomplish.
The compassionate, experienced physicians and staff at Restore Health Clinic provide cutting-edge non-surgical weight loss solutions personalized for your unique needs. Reasons to choose our practices include:
Regardless of how long you've battled excess weight or how many diets have failed in the past - it's never too late to take control of your health. Together we'll discover your personal path to permanent weight loss success.
Consult our friendly staff about maximizing semaglutide benefits or to schedule an obesity evaluation. Our goal is to help patients enjoy their lives to the fullest extent through achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.
In clinical studies, semaglutide led to average weight reductions around 15-18% over 68 weeks. Many patients lost 10-25% or more of their baseline weight when combined with lifestyle changes.
The most common side effects are gastrointestinal like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, especially when first starting. These typically resolve within 4 weeks with dose escalation. Other possible effects are lowered blood sugar, abdominal pain, fatigue, dizziness, and constipation.
Appetite suppression begins within 2-4 weeks, but maximum weight loss results are seen after 12-20 weeks as the effects build. Patients need to stick with the treatment protocol for best outcomes.
While semaglutide alone does lead to good weight loss, integrating healthy eating, activity, sleep, and behavior changes helps patients lose about 50% more weight long-term. Lifestyle modifications also decrease side effects and health risks.
| Side Effect | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Nausea | 17.2% |
| Diarrhea | 12.0% |
| Vomiting | 6.9% |
| Constipation | 6.9% |
| Abdominal Pain | 5.9% |
| Patient | Starting BMI | Weight Loss | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joan | 40 | 100 lbs | BMI < 25, No knee arthritis, More energy |
| Andrew | 35 | 65 lbs | BMI lowered for knee surgery, Reduced diabetes & cholesterol meds |
After a lifetime of failed diets, I had almost given up hope of getting my weight under control. But finding Restore Health Clinic and starting semaglutide treatment was life-changing. Over the past year, I've lost over 100 pounds and reduced my BMI from 40 to under 25, all without feeling hungry or deprived. My knee arthritis is gone and I have the energy to play whole 18-hole rounds of golf with my friends again! All it took was committing to give the program an honest try - it was the best investment I've ever made in my health.
I was devastated when my long-planned knee replacement surgery was denied due to my poor health from obesity. My doctor recommended the experts at Restore Health Clinic. In 5 months I lost 65 pounds with semaglutide treatment combined with cooking classes and daily walks. This took my BMI just under the requirement for surgery. Beyond just enabling my knee operation, I've reduced medications for diabetes and cholesterol and feel in control of food for the first time in years. My only regret was not getting help sooner!
Semaglutide represents a major breakthrough in medically treating obesity and its related conditions. When combined with the professional expertise, personalized plans, and comprehensive support at Restore Health Clinic, patients have an excellent chance of finally achieving lasting weight loss success. Take the first step today by consulting with our caring providers about whether semaglutide is right for you.
