Are you struggling to lose weight? You’re not alone. Almost 30% of American adults are overweight, while 40% struggle with obesity. For years, the go-to solution for weight loss has been diet and exercise. While these methods are effective, they don’t work for everyone. If diet and exercise aren’t doing the trick, you might benefit from a medication called semaglutide. Let’s take a closer look at how semaglutide works, its benefits and its effectiveness for long-term weight loss.
Semaglutide, commonly known by brand names like Ozempic and Wegovy, is an FDA-approved medical treatment for diabetes and chronic weight management. Administered as an injection, the drug imitates a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-10). This hormone is known for the following functions:
GLP-10 slows down the process of gastrointestinal motility, or the transfer of food from the stomach to the small intestine. Delayed gastric emptying creates the feeling of being full, which in turn reduces appetite. GLP-10 also helps the body create insulin and reduce blood sugar levels. By replicating these two functions, semaglutide can assist with both weight loss and diabetes.
Now that you know what semaglutide is, let’s review its top benefits:
The most well-known benefit of semaglutide is its role in weight reduction. Its ability to delay gastrointestinal motility can help people who struggle with traditional weight loss methods like diet and exercise. As a result, it also helps with health problems connected to obesity, such as high cholesterol and blood pressure.
Semaglutide also improves metabolic health through better insulin regulation. By encouraging the production of insulin, it helps keep blood sugar levels under control. This is especially helpful for individuals whose weight gain is connected to type 2 diabetes.
There’s no doubt that semaglutide offers weight loss benefits. But, how helpful is it for long-term, effective weight management? According to research trials, the results are promising. In one 68-week trial, patients who took semaglutide lost 12% of their body weight compared to patients who didn’t take the medication. To maintain results, semaglutide treatment should be paired with healthy lifestyle habits. These include the following:
As mentioned earlier, these lifestyle changes may not result in weight loss on their own. However, with the ongoing support of semaglutide medication, they can help achieve long-term weight management.
Are you wondering if a semaglutide injection for weight loss is right for you? Georgia Medical Treatment Center can help. At our medical weight loss clinic, we offer a team of board-certified doctors and practitioners who are dedicated to finding non-surgical, FDA-approved treatments that fulfill patient needs. Not only can we determine if semaglutide is right for you, but we can also create personalized treatment plans. Contact us today to learn more!