Are you trying to lose weight with diet and exercise, but it doesn’t seem to be working? Losing weight can help stave off certain illnesses, like diabetes and high blood pressure, and help you achieve a new active lifestyle. However, some people don’t get the desired results from diet and exercise alone. If this sounds like you, you may benefit from medical intervention in the form of weight loss medications, like semaglutide. The good news is that our wellness center in Hoover, AL offers semaglutide for weight loss.
What is Semaglutide?
Semaglutide is a prescription medication that is taken for the control of type-2 diabetes or weight loss. It is in a class of medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. These medications are primarily designed to improve blood sugar levels in order to control diabetes. However, they can also lead to weight loss because they help lower your appetite while increasing your feelings of being full. Those two benefits can help you lower your caloric intake, which can help you lose weight.
How is semaglutide taken for weight loss?
Semaglutide is FDA approved for weight loss in individuals who are 12 years of age or older.
Semaglutide Dosage
Your exact dosage will be dependent on an evaluation from our medical doctor. The normal recommended starting dose for weight loss is 0.25 mg, which is administered via a subcutaneous injection. Depending on your results, the dosage may be increased to a maximum of 1.0 mg.
Semaglutide Injection Timing
Semaglutide injections are usually taken once per day at around the same time each day. This means that if you start your injections at 10 in the morning, you should strive to always take them around 10 AM. Since there can be side effects associated with semaglutide, most medical professionals recommend taking the injections with a meal or a small snack.
Semaglutide Administration
Semaglutide is administered using a pre-filled pen device. If you’ve ever taken hormone injections, you may already be familiar with these devices. However, our medical doctor will show you how to use the pen device and properly administer the injection.
Monitoring
While taking semaglutide, our doctor will monitor you and keep track of your progress. This involves tracking your blood sugar levels, weight loss and any side effects you may be experiencing.
What side effects are associated with semaglutide?
While semaglutide is effective at helping people lose weight, it is not without side effects. During your course of treatment, you may experience nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, headaches and dizziness. In some cases, semaglutide has been known to cause pancreatitis, which is a severe illness that requires emergency medical intervention. Symptoms of pancreatitis include extreme abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Our medical doctor will go over all the side effects of semaglutide with you at the time of your appointment and provide you with an instructional sheet that lists all the information about the medication.
Who’s a good candidate for taking semaglutide for weight loss?
You may be a good candidate for semaglutide for weight loss if you have a BMI of 30 or higher, which is the criteria for determining if someone is obese. Additionally, individuals who are prescribed semaglutide have tried other diet and exercise plans but have not achieved their desired weight loss results. If either of these sounds like you, you may be a good candidate. However, it’s important to note that semaglutide works best for individuals who are committed to making long-term lifestyle changes that will lead to achieving and maintaining an ideal body weight. Lastly, individuals who are good candidates for semaglutide do not have a history of pancreatitis.
What is the average weight loss for someone taking semaglutide?
In clinical trials, semaglutide was shown to help individuals lose between 8 and 11 percent of their total body weight. This means that someone who is 5’8” and 200 pounds could lose between 16 and 22 pounds with the help of semaglutide. It’s important to note that your exact weight loss may be different.
All in all, semaglutide is effective at helping individuals lose weight and improve their overall health. To see if semaglutide would be right for you, schedule a consultation with our medical doctor. Call 205-352-9171
