What is it?
The Semaglutide injection (Brand name Ozempic) is a once-weekly weight loss injection that works by suppressing the appetite, delaying the emptying of the stomach, and increasing the production of insulin – a hormone that lowers blood sugar levels. Semaglutide belongs to a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, which mimic the hormone GLP-1 in your body to lower blood sugar levels after you’ve eaten a meal.
Consistent injections showed an average weight loss of 12-15 lbs. per month!
What is the hormone GLP-1?
Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is a hormone that causes huge effects on the regulation of blood sugar by stimulating glucose-dependent insulin secretion. Insulin is a hormone that promotes sugar uptake by the cells, stores sugar as glycogen, promotes the building of fat, and signals the body to build skeletal muscle. In addition, GLP-1 inhibits glucagon release (which slows down the release of sugar into the blood so that you burn more fat), slows down gastric emptying (makes you feel full), and lowers the desire for food intake (because you feel full).
How does Semaglutide work for weight loss?
GLP-1 agonists like Semaglutide help to control your blood sugar, but people taking them also tend to lose weight. GLP-1, the key hormone involved, slows down how fast your stomach empties food (called gastric emptying). And in addition to causing your pancreas to release insulin, Semaglutide also blocks a hormone that causes your liver to release sugar (glucagon). Together, these functions can help you feel less hungry, causing you to eat less food and lose more weight.
Benefits:
- Controls blood sugar
- Aids in weight loss (estimated 15% body fat loss)
- Improved PCOS symptoms
- Increased energy levels
- Decreased risk of Diabetes
- Decreased cholesterol
- Used to reduce the risk of a stroke, heart attack, or death in adults who have type 2 diabetes along with heart and blood vessel disease
How it Works:
The medication is injected under the skin of your upper leg (thigh), stomach area, or upper arm. It is given once every week (every 7 days) and done either in office or at home. Patients will be given detailed instructions and shown how to complete the injections on their own time, making treatment extremely convenient and easy to add into any daily schedule. Along with a healthy diet and exercise, the Semaglutide injection has proven to be a great option for fast weight loss results.
How long does it take to lose weight on Semaglutide?
With Semaglutide, you will slowly work your way up to the target dose at which time you will see the most amount of weight loss. This was the case in the clinical trials, where participants had their dose adjusted until they reached 2.4 mg once weekly. In the phase 3 trial that measured outcomes at 20 weeks, most participants were able to reach the full dose and also lost weight as their dose was increased. They saw additional weight loss over the remaining 48 weeks at the full dose. It is important to keep in mind that weight loss can take time, and you’ll see the best results when you are using your medication in combination with a healthy diet and exercise. Sometimes the medication may not work for you, or you may not be able to tolerate the full dose due to side effects.
