Semaglutide is an injectable prescription medication originally approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. More recently, a specific formulation of semaglutide has been approved by the FDA for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or who are overweight with at least one weight-related condition.
Semaglutide works by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). This hormone helps control blood sugar levels and appetite. By acting like GLP-1, semaglutide:
Over time, these effects of semaglutide promote weight loss and can also provide cardiovascular benefits.
There are two key ways that semaglutide promotes weight loss:
1. Increasing feelings of fullness and reducing appetite
Semaglutide impacts areas of the brain that control food intake, leading to decreased appetite and greater feelings of fullness after eating. People taking semaglutide often notice they feel satisfied with smaller portions and don't have cravings like they used to.
2. Slowing digestion
Semaglutide also slows the speed at which food empties from your stomach and enters your intestines. This means you feel full for longer after eating, further reducing appetite and calorie intake.
Together, the appetite suppressing and digestion slowing effects of semaglutide facilitate eating less without feeling deprived or hungry. This calorie deficit leads to significant fat burning and weight loss over weeks and months of treatment.
There are many potential benefits of using semaglutide for weight management and improved health, including:
In clinical trials, people taking semaglutide lost on average 12-15% of their body weight over 68 weeks when also following a reduced calorie meal plan and increasing physical activity. For someone weighing 200 pounds, that equates to 24-30 pounds of weight loss!
Furthermore, 86% of clinical trial participants taking semaglutide lost at least 5% body weight and over half (59%) lost at least 10%. These results demonstrate semaglutide's ability to promote major, clinically meaningful weight reduction for most people who use it.
Beyond overall weight loss, semaglutide has demonstrated beneficial effects on waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), and cardiovascular risk factors. People using semaglutide showed improvements in blood pressure, lipid profiles to reduce heart disease likelihood, and markers associated with developing diabetes.
Along with semaglutide's direct metabolic actions, many people notice indirect benefits on their eating habits, food choices, and attitudes around weight management. With the reduction in appetite and cravings semaglutide provides, people often find it easier to cut down on fast food, sweets, and portion sizes.
The rapid initial weight loss from semaglutide also boosts motivation to keep up these healthy behaviors related to eating and activity. Maintaining the types of lifestyle changes that promote further success becomes more achievable.
Semaglutide has been approved for chronic weight management in adults who meet one of the following criteria:
It is important to meet with a knowledgeable weight management specialist to determine if semaglutide is appropriate for your individual health status and weight loss goals.
People who should not take semaglutide include:
Semaglutide for weight loss is administered once-weekly by subcutaneous injection using an auto-injector pen. Each pen is prefilled with a week's dosage.
Proper injection technique is important to benefit safely from semaglutide treatment. Renew Hormone Instituteians provide complete training on how to inject semaglutide during the initial clinic visit. We also closely monitor patients early in therapy to ensure competency and tolerance.
The typical dosing schedule involves gradually increasing the semaglutide dose over 5-8 weeks based on product labeling:
Some people stay on a maintenance dose of 1 mg if they achieve their weight loss goals, while others increase to 2 mg for additional appetite and weight control.
It is essential to follow the full treatment plan including regular semaglutide injections and lifestyle changes to get the best possible results. Renew Hormone Instituteians personalize medication and lifestyle recommendations to each patient throughout their weight management journey.
Semaglutide was originally developed as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, but researchers unexpectedly found it also causes significant weight loss. Further studies showed that non-diabetic obese people taking semaglutide lost on average 15% of their body weight over 68 weeks compared to placebo.
Many patients want to know what to expect when starting semaglutide for weight loss. Here is an overview of common experiences:
The most common side effects of semaglutide occur early in treatment and include:
These gastrointestinal effects are usually mild to moderate and resolve within days to weeks as the body adjusts. Taking semaglutide with food can help reduce symptoms. Our clinicians also provide additional strategies to minimize side effects.
Most people notice significant appetite suppression within a week of starting semaglutide, leading to effortless reduction in calorie intake. It is common to lose 5 pounds or more per month early in treatment. However, the rate of weight loss evens out over time.
Along with the direct pharmacological effects on appetite, semaglutide promotes gradual lifestyle changes to support continued success. Many patients report eating smaller portions, choosing healthier foods, and being more active because these behaviors become more tolerable and sustainable.
Renew Hormone Instituteians help patients make stepwise sustainable changes in dietary patterns and activity habits. We provide nutritional counseling, workout tips, goal setting support and more based on each person’s needs and preferences.
Choosing the right clinician and clinic for weight loss treatment is just as important as the medication itself. Renew Hormone Institute offers key advantages to help each patient succeed with semaglutide:
Our board certified medical director Dr. John Smith leads a specialized weight management team including nurses, dietitians, health coaches and more. We develop customized treatment plans focused on your unique health history, needs and goals.
Our modern clinic is located right here in Seminole. We offer evening and weekend hours to accommodate different schedules. Many tests, treatments and monitoring occur on-site for patient convenience.
Obtaining specialty weight loss medications can be complicated. Renew Hormone Institute navigates insurance approvals and financial assistance programs for you. We also offer in-house compoundingservices to provide customized semaglutide formulations when needed.
Our welcoming clinic houses advanced diagnostic testing equipment for comprehensive evaluations. We also offer an on-site fitness studio with certified personal trainers to help patients increase activity comfortably. This combination of services at one location delivers comprehensive medical and lifestyle management.
Additional Weight Loss Support at Renew Hormone Institute
While semaglutide effectively suppresses appetite and slows digestion, additional lifestyle changes further enhance weight loss results. Our clinicians help each patient make reasonable, sustainable changes in three key areas:
Our registered dietitians provide personalized healthy meal planning based on your food preferences and body composition using advanced metabolic testing. We help you create an optimal calorie deficit without excessive hunger or deprivation. Counseling focuses on portion control, food quality and timing rather than restrictive rules.
We offer an on-site fitness studio with certified personal trainers to help patients increase activity in gradual, customized steps. Our experts design home and gym workouts tailored to your current fitness and joint health. Improving cardiovascular capacity and building muscle prevents metabolic slowdown. We also provide wearable fitness devices and apps to track progress.
Our health psychologists help patients implement behavior strategies scientifically proven to aid weight loss and maintenance. These include stimulus control, problem solving, cognitive restructuring, social support and more. We empower patients with the techniques and accountability needed to overcome obstacles.
Renew Hormone Institute’ exceptional medical team personalizes all aspects of lifestyle modification. We partner with each patient to make positive, rewarding changes that become second nature over time. Sustainable healthy habits combined with semaglutide for appetite control gives patients the highest likelihood of lasting success.
Thorough assessments help our clinicians determine the best treatment options from the start. Initial evaluation components may include:
Identifying contributing and complicating health conditions informs safe, effective program planning.
Assessing current health status and how excess weight impacts organ systems directs treatment priorities.
Precise muscle mass and body fat percentage measurements by hydrostatic weighing or DEXA scan facilitate goal setting.
Customized fitness testing quantifies cardiovascular endurance, strength, flexibility and balance capacities to guide activity planning.
Complete metabolic panels, hormone profiles, vitamin levels and other bloodwork provide insight on metabolic function.
Identifying genetic risk factors for weight regain ensures prevention strategies target these risks. Nutrigenomic testing also informs dietary personalization.
Assessing eating patterns, physical activity habits, stress levels, sleep quality and more highlights optimization opportunities.
After comprehensively evaluating medical, genetic, lifestyle and fitness parameters, our clinicians integrate findings to customize semaglutide treatment regimens and weight loss protocols. We continue optimizing each patient’s plan throughout their journey using advanced testing and the latest scientific evidence.
Renew Hormone Institute offers complete medical and lifestyle services conveniently under one roof to streamline weight optimization. Available programs include:
Our registered dietitians offer personalized healthy meal planning and counseling based on body composition, activity levels, food preferences and metabolic test results. We take the guesswork out of creating a sustainable calorie deficit.
This advanced direct segmental measurement system precisely quantifies body fat and lean muscle mass changes to demonstrate real progress.
From beginners to athletes, our degreed exercise physiologists create tailored workout plans for your experience level and orthopedic health using our on-site gym. We build accountable fitness habits that continue at home and local gyms.
Managing life’s pressures improves program adherence and success rates. Our relaxation techniques, mindfulness practices and counseling help prevent emotional eating.
Peer encouragement goes a long way! Our monthly weight loss support groups create accountability while sharing tips that work in the real world.
All Renew Hormone Institute services work synergistically to help patients achieve sustainable progress. Contact us for a comprehensive evaluation to determine how we can help you improve wellbeing through successful medical weight management support.
