Semaglutide is an injectable prescription medication originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes. More recently, a higher dose of semaglutide has been approved specifically for chronic weight loss treatment in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition.
Semaglutide works by mimicking the hormone GLP-1, which helps regulate blood sugar and appetite. It makes you feel more full after eating less food. Specifically for weight loss, semaglutide works by:
In large clinical trials, most people treated with semaglutide lost 10-15% of their body weight over 68 weeks when combined with diet and exercise. Significant weight loss along with semaglutide's blood sugar lowering properties can also help improve related health issues like high cholesterol or blood pressure.
Renew Hormone Institute provides customized semaglutide weight loss treatment plans to help patients in the Bklyn area lose weight and improve metabolic health. Read on to learn more about semaglutide, its weight loss effects and benefits, eligibility criteria, and what to expect during treatment at our hormone clinic.
Semaglutide for weight loss treatment is intended for adults aged 18 years and older struggling with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) or overweight (BMI ≥27 kg/m2) along with at least one weight-related health issue:
It offers an additional medical treatment option for individuals who have not achieved desired weight loss results from diet and lifestyle changes alone. Semaglutide is not indicated as the first option for weight management and should be used as an adjunct to increased physical activity and caloric deficit.
Prescription refills require demonstration of ongoing adherence and response to semaglutide treatment.
To determine if you may be a good candidate for semaglutide, undergo a full history and physical examination and laboratory testing with one of Renew Hormone Institute’ expert physicians. We will check your current health status, medications, medical conditions, and make sure semaglutide treatment is appropriate for your individual needs.
Factors that may exclude you as a candidate:
Semaglutide is taken as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection with an initial 4-week dose escalation schedule. The medication comes packaged in a pre-filled injection pen device designed for self-administration.
To minimize gastrointestinal side effects, semaglutide dosage starts low and increases incrementally over one month:
Follow up visits occur monthly to start. Your Renew Hormone Institute provider will monitor your response, adjust dosing if needed, provide prescription refills, and order laboratory testing over the course of semaglutide treatment.
Expect to administer weekly semaglutide injections long-term as weight loss is gradual and progressive over many months. For continued prescription eligibility, you must demonstrate at least 5% body weight reduction by 12-16 weeks.
In placebo-controlled studies examining the effects of once-weekly 1.7 mg semaglutide injections, participants achieved the following after approximately 68 weeks:
✓ Average weight loss of 15-18% compared to 2-3% weight loss with placebo ✓ 2 out of 3 achieved ≥10% weight loss compared to only 1 out of 12 with placebo
People treated with semaglutide paired with increased physical activity and reduced calorie intake lost significantly more weight than with placebo. They also had notable improvements in waist circumference, BMI, blood pressure, lipids, and blood sugar levels.
The beneficial metabolic effects and weight loss seen persisted over 2 years of continued semaglutide treatment. Completing the full treatment course maximizes potential positive outcomes.
Semaglutide compares very favorably to other medications for weight loss. In clinical trials, it achieved greater average weight reduction over 1 to 2 years than other injectable (e.g. liraglutide), oral pill (e.g. naltrexone/bupropion), or naturally-derived (e.g. locaserin) medical therapies for obesity.
Its place in the weight loss algorithm continues to gain prominence given superior reductions in HbA1c and SBP as well alongside weight loss effects.
Semaglutide was originally developed as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, but researchers unexpectedly found it also caused significant weight loss as a side effect. Further studies showed that non-diabetic obese people taking semaglutide lost on average 15% of their body weight over 68 weeks, leading to its recent approval specifically for chronic weight management.
Beyond impressive weight reduction statistics from clinical trials, semaglutide confers multiple meaningful health benefits:
Cardiometabolic Effects
Weight Loss & Body Composition
Glycemic Control
Liver Health
Achieving and maintaining >10% weight loss provides tremendous benefits lowering risks across body systems. It can mean improved physical functioning, self-confidence, body image, and overall quality of life.
Following the semaglutide weight reduction protocol also helps instill positive dietary and exercise habits conducive to long-term success. You’ll be equipped with increased knowledge, tools, resources and support.
As with any medical therapy, semaglutide does have potential side effects to consider before starting treatment including:
Gastrointestinal
General
To reduce risks of complications, semaglutide should not be used in patients with a personal or family history of:
Patients will be monitored long-term for pancreatic, thyroid, and other cancers. Semaglutide has not been studied and therefore not recommended in pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Report any worrisome or severe side effects to your Renew Hormone Institute provider promptly. We will collaborate with your other physicians closely throughout treatment to ensure safety.
The knowledgeable clinicians at Renew Hormone Institute provide compassionate, evidence-based medical care including semaglutide weight loss plans customized to your unique needs. We partner with each patient, setting realistic goals and expectations, to promote sustainable success.
Treatment components offered at our state-of-the-art Bklyn facility include:
Clinical Oversight
Ancillary Care
Goal Achievement Resources
We also help navigate insurance questions related to semaglutide prior authorizations, tier exceptions, and affordability solutions. Let our compassionate team expertly guide you on your weight loss and wellness journey!
With its pleasant parks and beaches for walking, yoga, recreation options, Bklyn provides an encouraging environment supportive of semaglutide weight loss treatment goals. The weather allows taking advantage of outdoor fitness opportunities year round as well.
Top neighborhood highlights include:
We have cultivated strong connections across the Bklyn community, referring patients to exceptional multidisciplinary care resources like:
The supportive environment coupled with Renew Hormone Institute’ extensive medical expertise in semaglutide treatment helps set patients up for transformative success. We empower you with in-depth education, resources, and compassionate support.
Semaglutide represents an exciting new therapeutic option for individuals struggling with overweight/obesity ready to take their health and wellbeing to the next level. Impressive multi-year data shows superior weight loss and cardio-protective benefits vs comparators.
This novel GLP-1 receptor agonist medication can be life-changing for many people when combined with lifestyle interventions. However, semaglutide does require commitment to weekly self-injections and medical monitoring from skilled obesity medicine experts like those at Renew Hormone Institute.
To determine if you are a suitable candidate for semaglutide-assisted weight loss treatment, please call to schedule a new patient appointment today. We are currently accepting new patients at our Bklyn office and look forward to partnering together on your personalized plan for long-term transformation.
