Semaglutide is an exciting new medication that can help patients struggling with excess weight and obesity. At Butterfly Hormone Center in , we specialize in using cutting-edge therapies like semaglutide to help patients achieve substantial and sustainable weight loss.
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist medication that regulates appetite and calorie intake. Here's an overview of how it works:
- Semaglutide activates areas of the brain that reduce appetite and cravings. This promotes feelings of fullness and allows patients to reduce calorie intake.
- In clinical trials, semaglutide users decreased food intake by up to 500 calories per day compared to placebo groups. This level of appetite suppression drives significant weight loss over time.
- By slowing digestion, semaglutide allows nutrients to be absorbed better. This leads to improved satiety (feeling full).
- Patients report staying satisfied for longer between meals, making it easier to control portion sizes and resist overeating.
- With sustained appetite suppression and satiety effects, semaglutide promotes steady, gradual weight loss over months and years rather than extreme short-term drops.
- In trials, patients lost between 5-15% of their baseline body weight over 68 weeks. This level of weight loss can lead to substantial health improvements.
Semaglutide is approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or who are overweight with at least one weight-related condition. Those who may benefit include:
- Adults with a BMI of 30 or higher (classified as obese) often struggle to lose weight through diet and lifestyle alone.
- Semaglutide is proven to help those with obesity lose significant weight they have not been able to reduce with other methods.
- For adults with a BMI of 27-30 (overweight) who have at least one weight-related condition like diabetes or hypertension, semaglutide can also be helpful for weight loss and improving health.
- Patients who have tried other weight loss medications or programs without success are prime candidates for treatment with semaglutide.
- It provides more powerful appetite suppression than many older weight loss drugs.
In clinical trials, semaglutide has helped adults across these groups lose substantial weight and keep it off. Real world results are also promising.
Like any medication, there are both advantages and potential drawbacks to treatment with semaglutide for weight loss:
- Effective for weight loss in those with obesity or who are overweight
- Can help patients lose 5-15% of baseline body weight
- Provides powerful appetite suppression and satiety
- Leads to reductions in BMI, blood pressure, and other cardiometabolic risk factors
- Convenient once-weekly injection under the skin
- Can cause temporary GI side effects like nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
- Small risk of complications like pancreatitis
- Requires regular monitoring by a healthcare provider
- Can be costly; insurance coverage varies
At Butterfly Hormone Center, we carefully screen and monitor patients on semaglutide to maximize benefits and minimize risks. We also help patients navigate insurance coverage to make this treatment affordable.
At our hormone clinic serving and surrounding communities, we take an integrated approach to using semaglutide for sustainable weight loss.
We thoroughly assess each patient’s health history, BMI, prior weight loss attempts, and goals to determine if treatment with semaglutide is appropriate.
Once a patient is approved for treatment, we provide training on how to properly inject semaglutide just under skin once weekly. The convenience promotes compliance.
We provide nutritional counseling and activity planning to help patients make lifestyle changes that complement the appetite suppressing effects of semaglutide to maximize weight loss results.
Patients have regular body composition analyses and follow-up visits to evaluate progress. We make dosage adjustments as needed to fine tune results. Monitoring safety is also a priority.
Our integrative approach optimizes outcomes with semaglutide weight management. We partner with each patient to help them finally achieve lasting success controlling excess weight and reducing health risks.
Semaglutide was originally developed as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, but researchers discovered it also caused weight loss as a side effect. Further studies found that non-diabetic obese people taking semaglutide lost on average 15% of their body weight over 68 weeks compared to placebo.
When it comes to treatments like semaglutide for weight management and related hormone deficiency, the Butterfly Hormone Center clinic stands out as a top choice for residents of and nearby communities. Here's how we earn the trust of patients each and every day:
At Butterfly Hormone Center, your health, wellbeing and satisfaction are our top priorities. We set ourselves apart with an integrative approach and commitment to service that makes weight loss manageable and sustainable.
Semaglutide is an injectable medication that mimics a hormone called GLP-1. It works by stimulating insulin production, which helps control blood sugar levels. Additionally, semaglutide slows digestion and makes you feel more full, leading to reduced food intake and weight loss. Studies show that people using semaglutide can lose around 15% of their body weight over 68 weeks.
The most common side effects of semaglutide are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and stomach pain. These gastrointestinal side effects are usually mild to moderate and go away within a few days or weeks of continued treatment. Less common side effects include dizziness, headache, fatigue, gallbladder problems, and low blood sugar in people with diabetes.
Most people lose between 5% and 15% of their starting body weight when using semaglutide along with diet and exercise. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, you may lose about 10 to 30 pounds over several months. Weight loss varies between individuals and also depends on your commitment to lifestyle changes.
You should start seeing some weight loss within the first 16 weeks of beginning semaglutide treatment. However, most people experience progressive and steady weight loss over the course of about 12 months. Make sure to be patient, as every person responds differently to weight loss medications. Tracking your progress monthly can help motivate you.
Semaglutide should not be used in people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2. It is also not recommended if you have severe kidney, liver, heart or gastrointestinal disease. Talk to your doctor about whether you are a good candidate for semaglutide.
