Semaglutide

Peptide Weight Loss

What is Semaglutide?

Semaglutide is a newly FDA-approved weight loss medication sold under the brand name Wegovy. It is a once-weekly injectable medication that is given as a minimal dose to start and gradually increased until a therapeutic dose is reached. Semaglutide belongs to a class of medications called GLP-1. It has been a very effective medication for lowering blood sugar for many years, with the added benefit of weight loss.

How does it work?

Though the exact way that semaglutide causes weight loss is unclear, it has some specific functions that are believed to be responsible for its weight loss effects. A not-so-obvious but very beneficial effect of semaglutide includes its impact on the brain. Semaglutide acts on the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that you could think of similar to a thermostat that controls more than just the body temperature.

The hypothalamus also regulates our mood, blood pressure, sleep, and even sex drive. But an essential function related to weight loss is the sensation of hunger and fullness controlled by the hypothalamus. Semaglutide alters the food-reward system and prolongs our sense of fullness. Patients taking this medication at our practice routinely tell us they no longer crave their favorite unhealthy foods. They have an easier time opting for lower fat and healthier options. Finally, semaglutide slows down the motility of the gastrointestinal tract. Put more simply, semaglutide keeps the food in your stomach for longer than usual, keeping you full longer.

How much weight can I lose with semaglutide?

The average weight loss achieved in studies of semaglutide for weight loss was 14.9% of the initial body weight over 68 weeks. Individual loss varies and depends on how seriously a person commits his or her self to investigating their personal reasons for eating outside of feeling hungry. Likewise, adjusting food intake to appropriate portions and choosing healthier options regularly.

In our practice, it is not unusual to see a patient lose roughly 20% of their starting body weight during treatment. This amount of weight loss is a testament to the commitment made by those patients to improve their relationship with food with sustained positive changes over time.Semaglutide, or any other weight loss medication, is a tool to assist in weight loss while the patient makes other lifestyle changes. No magic pill (or injection) will change your relationship with food. The patients who lose the most make healthy choices most of the time.