In 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a weight-loss medication for the first time in seven years. The drug, semaglutide (Wegovy®), is administered in 2.4 mg weekly doses as part of a medically supervised weight-loss regimen.
Obesity is considered a life-threatening condition. More than 70% of women, men, and children in the United States are overweight or obese. You may be a candidate for semaglutide if you have:
- BMI of 30 or greater
- BMI 27 or more plus at least one weight-related health condition
Weight-related health conditions include high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, or type 2 diabetes.
At Low Testosterone & Weight Loss Center in Allen, Texas, our health specialists may recommend semaglutide as part of a medically supervised weight-loss program that includes a healthy diet and physical activity. We may start you on a low dose and then increase it gradually until you reach the maintenance 2.4 mg dose.
Semaglutide controls hunger
Originally formulated as a diabetes drug (Ozempic®), semaglutide gained recognition as a possible weight-loss aid when physicians noticed their patients not only lost weight and controlled their blood sugar on the medication, but they also felt less hungry.
Semaglutide is classified as an incretin mimetic. It mimics a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that’s found in your gut. GLP-1 targets areas of your brain that control feelings of hunger and satiety.
GLP-1 also helps stimulate insulin production so you can use glucose sugar for energy and get it out of your bloodstream. When you use semaglutide, you may find that your blood glucose levels improve as you lose weight, too.
You administer semaglutide yourself
Prescription-only semaglutide must be self-injected every week. Ideally, each weekly injection should take place on the same day. If you can’t manage that during a particular week, be sure that the injections are at least two days apart.
Semaglutide alone is not sufficient
Semaglutide is not a “magic injection” that allows you to shed extra pounds without making any other lifestyle changes. Success occurs only when semaglutide is integrated into the kind of healthy changes that help you lose weight and keep it off.
However, you don’t have to worry that semaglutide will lead you down that long and frustrating road back to eventual weight gain, as mainstream “diets” do. When we recommend semaglutide for your weight loss and health, we also custom-design a diet and exercise plan that starts with where you are now and aims for an optimal “dose.”
For instance, the starting dose of semaglutide might be just 0.25 mg per week, working gradually toward the maintenance dose of 2.4 mg. Similarly, we may start you with just 10 minutes of walking per day (i.e., 70 minutes per week), working you gradually toward the recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.
Eventually, your exercise regimen may include a variety of activities that you enjoy. Some choices include:
- Walking
- Swimming
- Cycling
- Weight lifting
- Resistance bands
- Yoga
- Tai Chi
Ultimately, semaglutide makes it easier to stick to a healthy diet and exercise plan. Because semaglutide controls your hunger, you’re more likely to avoid junk foods and concentrate on healthy, whole foods such as high-quality proteins and fresh vegetables.
In addition, once you lose weight, movement becomes easier. Your body may start to crave more activity, so your exercise regimen starts to feel fun and not just another thing on your to-do list.
Don’t take other glycemic control medications
In rare cases, semaglutide may cause hypoglycemia. That could occur if you have diabetes and are already on medications to control your blood glucose levels. Be sure to tell us about every medication you take, including dosage and frequency.
See if semaglutide is an appropriate addition to your weight-loss regimen by calling us at 214- 383-7411 today. You can also use our online form at your convenience.