What Is Semaglutide?

Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) that works as a naturally occurring hormone that signals the brain to regulate appetite and food digestion. Through Semaglutide injections, the peptide is introduced into the body via the circulatory system, helping adults struggling with chronic weight decrease their appetite and feel fuller after meals.

Although it may seem new, semaglutide treatment has been around for almost a decade. The peptide was initially approved in 2014 to help adults with their weight management before lower doses were ratified in 2017 to help control blood sugar in type 2 diabetics as the prescription brand, Ozempic.

At that time, people with diabetes taking Ozempic also noticed that the medication seemed to cause weight loss as an added benefit aside from regulating their blood sugar. Fast-forward four years later, and patients dealing with obesity have made many strides through semaglutide weight loss. Now, semaglutide is considered one of the most effective weight loss medications in endocrinology among physicians and patients alike.

How Does It Work for Weight Loss?

GLP-1 is an incretin hormone in the human body that helps regulate your appetite and digestion. When you finish a meal, incretin hormones are dispersed throughout the body and send signals to the brain to trigger insulin production, which helps lower your blood sugar. As that occurs, incretin hormones slow down the body’s gastric emptying, so food takes longer to leave your stomach. In doing so, the hormones help to keep your appetite satisfied as they work to decrease your blood sugar intake.

Medications like semaglutide are typically produced in doses and work to mimic the effects of the GLP-1 hormone over a prescribed time. Thanks to its properties, Semaglutide has been tested and found very effective for adults with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 or 27 with a comorbidity.

Do You Still Have To Diet and Exercise?

It is essential to stick to an exercise routine while using Semaglutide. Even though Semaglutide is proven to help weight management, it is not a miracle cure for weight loss. However, combining Semeaglute treatment with a balanced diet and exercise regimen can significantly improve your weight loss results.

Who Is the Best Candidate To Receive Semaglutide?

A typical semaglutide dose can be used by anyone suffering from obesity, regardless of ethnicity, age, or BMI. However, the best candidates to receive semaglutide are overweight adults suffering from obesity (BMI levels of 30 or above) or related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, or osteoarthritis.

What Are the Side Effects of Semaglutide?

Due to its weight loss properties, patients may experience gastrointestinal side effects while using semaglutide for weight loss. The most common side effects include:

  • Stomach pain

  • Fatigue

  • Headaches

  • Bloating

  • Constipation

  • Indigestion

For patients with a family history of medullary thyroid cancer, semaglutide may cause more adverse side effects. In addition, the FDA warns that Semaglutide may increase the risk for thyroid tumors, especially for people dealing with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome Type 2.

Speaking of FDA, there are some things you should also be informed on. At Aspire we use compounded Semaglutide. Meaning it is not a brand name drug and even though it is a very similar medication as the brand name it does not come with a FDA approval. No compounded medication comes with FDA approval. We just want everyone to be aware of this and be completely informed. If you have any questions please feel free to ask us!