Primary Healthcare Utah is pleased to offer semaglutide for weight loss in non-diabetics.
When your weight is within an optimal range for your height, there are many health benefits including decreased risk of cancer, better cardiovascular health, improved mental health and a better quality of life.
We also know that losing weight can be difficult and frustrating.
Semaglutide injections for weight loss can be a helpful tool in your quest towards a healthy weight, even if you don’t have Type II Diabetes.
It is important to have a physician supervise your weight loss when using semaglutide injections, especially when you are not diabetic. Your physician will work with you to determine a reasonable weight goal, record baseline health information, and then monitor your weight loss, adjusting medications as necessary. Your physician may also want to do blood work to evaluate you for other causes of weight gain to optimize your weight loss journey.
Let’s learn about semaglutide injections and how they can help you lose weight and reach your health goals.
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What is semaglutide?
Semaglutide is the generic version of prescription medications Ozempic, Rybelsus or Wegovy. These medications were created to help control blood sugar in Type II diabetics and weight loss when used in combination with a healthy diet and exercise.
Is Semaglutide approved for weight loss?
On June 4, 2021, the FDA approved semaglutide for weight loss for “chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition (such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol) .
How does semaglutide for weight loss in non diabetics work?
Your body naturally produces a hormone (GLP-1) in the intestines that is an essential part of regulating your appetite and blood sugar levels.
Semaglutide is a medication that mimics GLP-1 and helps:
- Regulate appetite: Semaglutide acts on GLP-1 receptors in the brain that regulate hunger and satiety (feeling full). This reduces your appetite, increases your feelings of fullness and in turn decreases your food intake.
- Slow the emptying of your stomach: Semaglutide slows down gastric emptying by affecting GLP-1 receptors in your stomach. When food stays in your stomach for a longer period, it helps maintain blood sugar levels, reduces your cravings and contributes to weight loss.
- Improved Insulin Sensitivity: Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate your blood sugar levels. Semaglutide improves your insulin sensitivity which is helpful because people with obesity often have insulin resistance.
The combination of appetite regulation, slower stomach emptying and improved insulin sensitivity resulted in significant weight loss in patients using semaglutide injections
How do you take Semaglutide?
When taking semaglutide for weight loss, your physician will prescribe you an injectable to be self-administered weekly. He will also schedule follow-up appointments with you to make sure that there are no adverse effects or complications and that the medication is working properly.
Are Semaglutide Injections effective for weight loss?
In a recent double blind study of 1961 obese subjects, almost a third of participants with semaglutide injections lost 20% of their total body weight, with half of the participants losing 15% of their total body weight over the 68 week study.
In comparison, those with the placebo injections lost 2.4% of their body weight.
Are there side effects for semaglutide injections?
Common side effects for semaglutide injections are fairly typical and they usually lessen with time. Some reported side effects include: constipation, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Semaglutide may increase the risk that you can develop tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC; a type of thyroid cancer), hence the need to have a physician monitor your progress.
Be sure to tell your Primary Care Physician (PCP) if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had MTC or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2; condition that causes tumors in more than one gland in the body), or if you have a history of gallbladder disease or pancreatitis.
How do I get a semaglutide prescription?
Please schedule an appointment at Primary Healthcare by clicking here or by calling (801) 758-8735. Dr. Mangum will assess you and consult with you about your best options for losing weight.
We can’t wait to help you on your journey to better health!