Semaglutide is an injectable prescription medication approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition. It is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that regulates appetite and food intake.
The key steps for using semaglutide for weight loss are:
- Get assessed by your doctor to see if you are a suitable candidate for semaglutide treatment. Factors like your BMI, existing health conditions, and inability to lose weight through diet and exercise alone will be considered.
- Undergo required health screenings as advised by your doctor before starting treatment. This may include assessments for thyroid function, liver enzymes, kidney function etc.
- Learn how to properly inject semaglutide. Your doctor or nurse will provide training on injecting the medication under the skin of your abdomen, thigh or upper arm.
- Injections are given once weekly with a pre-filled, disposable pen device.
- The dose is gradually increased over 5-8 weeks until reaching a maintenance dosage.
- Expect to lose around 12-15% of your body weight over 40 weeks when combined with diet and exercise. Results can vary from person to person.
- Stick closely to the prescribed treatment plan. Take injections regularly without missing doses for best weight loss outcomes.
- Manage side effects - the most common being nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation. Side effects are usually mild and improve over time.
- Attend follow-up appointments for weight and health monitoring, prescription refills, dosage adjustments if needed. Treatment is prescribed up to 2 years based on therapeutic response.
*Before considering semaglutide, understand it is:
- A chronic weight management drug, not for short-term or cosmetic weight loss.
- Reserved for patients meeting obesity criteria (BMI ≥30) or overweight (BMI ≥27) with at least one weight-related health issue.
- Used along with lowered calorie diet and increased physical activity for optimal impact.
- Expensive - costing around $1,300 monthly without insurance coverage. Many insurers now covering owing to its proven weight loss effects.
- Comes with side effects - discuss pros and cons with your physician.
For those struggling with excess weight,
semaglutide offers new hope. When combined with lifestyle intervention, it delivers
significant and sustained weight loss known to improve health.
If looking to try semaglutide, consult a weight loss specialist like
Peak Performance Hormone Institute. Their personalized programs couple semaglutide with nutritional counseling, fitness guidance and vital health tracking for safe, optimal outcomes.