If you’re struggling to reach your ideal weight, you’re far from alone. Over 70% of adults in the US are thought to be overweight or obese, and weight loss methods – from diets to work-outs to medical treatments – are not only some of the most searched terms online, but they represent an industry worth over $3.8 billion in the US alone.
However, as anyone who’s ever tried to lose weight will know – it’s never easy. And sometimes, especially if you have health conditions working against you, it can seem impossible.
Until, that is, semaglutide came into the picture.
A medication originally used to treat type 2 diabetes, semaglutide has become an increasingly talked about, “hashtagged”, and sought-after drug, and it’s now undoubtedly one of the most well-known weight-loss treatments of our time – indeed, perhaps ever.
Why? Because semaglutide is safe (it’s FDA approved), it’s simple, and most importantly – its results are astonishing.
If you’ve been struggling to lose weight, you’re going to want to keep reading…
And if you’re based in the Cleveland area, we’re thrilled to tell you that we’re now able to offer this life-changing treatment here at BodyTonic Med Spa.
What is semaglutide?
Before it was introduced to the world as a highly effective weight-loss solution, semaglutide was used to treat type 2 diabetes. It was from this usage that doctors started to observe noticeable weight loss results in their patients, which led to further studies, and ultimately to it being approved by the FDA as a weight-loss treatment for adults who are overweight and/or have additional weight-related health risks.
Commonly referred to as Wegovy or Ozempic, those are in fact two of the brand names in which semaglutide is the active ingredient. However, semaglutide is now available in its generic form at a significantly lower price, and has fast become one of the most popular and commonly prescribed treatments for weight loss in the US.
So what exactly is it? It’s an injectable form ingredient that mimics a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which is responsible for targeting areas of the brain that regulate appetite and food intake as well as regulating blood sugar.
By increasing the level of this hormone in the body through weekly injections, feelings of hunger, food cravings, and overeating are all drastically reduced, meaning people quickly start losing weight on semaglutide, without having to constantly resist the urge to eat.
How does semaglutide work for weight loss?
Ultimately, semaglutide works for weight loss because of the higher levels of the mimicked GLP-1 hormone in the body, which kicks natural responses into a higher gear.
It all comes down to three main processes:
- It slows down the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine. This means that you feel full faster, and for longer – so you eat less.
- It shuts down ghrelin, the “hunger hormone” whose main function is to increase appetite, take in more calories, and store fat. By blocking these cravings for high-calorie foods, you guessed it – you eat less.
- It regulates your blood sugar levels through insulin production and glucagon suppression, which ultimately improves your metabolism and leads your body to burn fat reserves to turn it to energy.
This all means that when taking semaglutide, people naturally want to eat less food, less frequently, and their body is working harder to burn fat and process the foods they are eating.
So unsurprisingly, the weight tends to start falling off quite quickly. And the best bit is, because of how semaglutide works, you won’t even be feeling hungry, deprived of food, or having to resist cravings.
How much weight will I lose on semaglutide?
As with any kind of weight loss, results will vary by person. But so long as you stick to your treatment plan, you’re all but guaranteed to see a noticeable reduction in body weight, with most people losing around 1–3 lbs per week.
Studies have shown that people who combine semaglutide with healthy lifestyle changes (such as a balanced diet and regular exercise), lose, on average, around 15% of their initial body weight.
This is usually achieved through a consistent weight loss over time, with common results being around a 6% weight loss after three months, 11% after six months, and higher percentages as patients move beyond a year of treatment.
The length of treatment will depend on your starting weight and a number of other factors, but many patients will achieve the results they want from semaglutide within about three to six months.
How fast do you start losing weight on semaglutide?
You’re not going to see results “literally” overnight, but you should start to lose weight on semaglutide within about four weeks of starting treatment, sometimes sooner.
Injections are given once per week, and your practitioner will normally start you at a lower dose, gradually increasing it as they’re able to monitor its effects and your progress. This means that results often become more apparent as you progress through the treatment.
However, as with any kind of weight loss, the best way to enjoy the fastest results is to commit to making positive lifestyle changes at the same time – ensuring you get plenty of exercise and eat a healthy and balanced diet.
What are the side effects of semaglutide?
Many people enjoy semaglutide’s benefits without any side effects at all. However, others can experience a few symptoms when starting treatment, although these usually subside after four to six weeks, if not before. This is another reason that the dosage usually starts low, so your body can become accustomed to it.
The most common side effects include nausea, constipation, and fatigue, although these symptoms are usually mild, and easily managed if you follow your practitioner’s recommendations.
Am I a candidate for semaglutide weight loss treatment?
Semaglutide is a prescription drug and as such can only be issued by a licensed physician who will evaluate your medical status and history, and analyze your lab reports in order to determine if you are a candidate for semaglutide weight-loss treatment.
Semaglutide is ideally suited for adults who are obese or overweight, either with a body mass index (BMI) over 30, or a BMI of 25–30 and at least one other complication that is related to body weight, such as insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hypertension, sleep apnea, arthritis, or cardiovascular disease.
Where can I get semaglutide weight-loss treatments?
Thanks to its remarkable success rates and affordability, semaglutide is being offered by more and more practitioners.
However, it is a prescription-only drug and its usage needs to be monitored, so it can only be authorized by a licensed healthcare provider.
Licensed medical spas such as ours, BodyTonic Cleveland, are some of the best places to go for your semaglutide weight-loss treatment, as we combine medical safety and regulatory practices with the soothing, supportive, and enjoyable spa environment.
Once approved for the treatment, patients administer the injections themselves at home – which is always the case, wherever the treatment is prescribed. At BodyTonic, we maintain regular monthly face-to-face appointments to monitor and check up on your treatment progress, adjust dosage, and ensure you’re getting the best experience possible.
If you live near Cleveland and would like to know more about this revolutionary treatment, book a consultation today and let’s get you started on a successful weight-loss journey!
Don’t forget to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages too, where you can find regular inspiration, news, and announcements about other incredible treatments we offer.
