How to Lose Weight With Semaglutide

Do you want to lose weight healthily and productively? If so, you may want to consider semaglutide, a drug that can help you do that. Initially a treatment for type 2 diabetes, it also aids weight loss by boosting energy and curbing appetite.

What Is Semaglutide?

This medication acts like a natural hormone called GLP-1. Your gut releases this hormone after you eat. It does several things in your body, such as:

• Increase insulin production to reduce blood sugar

• Slow down your stomach to make you feel full longer

• Stop your liver from releasing too much sugar into your blood

• Control appetite and food intake in your brain

You take semaglutide as a weekly injection under your skin. The weight loss version, called Wegovy, has a higher dose (2.4 mg) than the diabetes version (Ozempic, which has 0.5 or 1 mg).

How Does Semaglutide Help You Lose Weight?

Semaglutide helps you lose weight by reducing hunger and increasing energy expenditure. It curbs your appetite, helping you eat fewer calories. It boosts your metabolism and enables you to burn fat without exercise.

According to studies, you might drop up to 15% of your starting weight in just over a year. This is much more than other weight loss drugs or lifestyle changes alone. By lowering your blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels, semaglutide can help you avoid developing diabetes and heart disease.

How to Use Semaglutide for Weight Loss

Before using semaglutide for weight loss, talk to your doctor. It is not for everyone. Only those with a BMI of 30 or higher or 27 or higher with a weight-related health issue, such as hypertension or sleep apnea, are eligible. It is not for people with thyroid cancer, pancreatitis, or kidney problems.

Your doctor will examine you physically, review your medical history, and discuss your goals and concerns. They will explain the procedure and answer your questions. They will give you semaglutide and teach you how to inject it. Starting low (0.25 mg), you will gradually increase the dose every month until you reach the highest dose (2.4 mg). You will inject semaglutide once a week on the same day, preferably before breakfast.

Your doctor will also advise you to adopt a low-calorie diet and an exercise regimen. You must frequently weigh yourself and inform your doctor of any side effects or changes in your health. It would be best to keep taking semaglutide as long as it helps you lose weight and keep it off.

Possible Side Effects 

Semaglutide is usually safe and well-tolerated by most people. However, some persons could experience adverse effects like:

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Constipation

• Vomiting

• Bloating

• Injection site reactions

These adverse effects are frequently minor and gradually disappear as your body adjusts to the medication. But you should contact your doctor immediately if they persist or worsen.

Semaglutide can cause some severe but rare side effects. These include thyroid tumors, gallbladder issues, kidney issues, pancreatitis, low blood sugar, and allergic reactions. These side effects are very rare but very dangerous. You need quick treatment if you get them.

If you have any signs or symptoms, stop taking semaglutide and get help. You may have a rash, swelling, trouble breathing, fainting, severe stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, or neck lumps. These signs mean you have a severe problem. Please do not ignore them.

Conclusion

Semaglutide offers a promising option for weight loss and overall health improvement. Like a natural hormone, it makes you less hungry and more energetic. Combined with diet and exercise, you can lose weight while improving your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.

For more information on semaglutide, visit ReAlignMed at our office in Chicago, Illinois. Call 773-665-4400 to book an appointment today.