Can You Use Semaglutide For Weight Loss?
Even though semaglutide was originally developed to help those struggling with diabetes, it has an interesting “side effect” – weight loss.
This is why it became so popular among the general population, where people started using it exclusively to shed excess weight. But is it effective? Does it come with side effects? Will it work for you?
These are some of the questions we’ll be answering in today’s article, so stay tuned.
What Is Semaglutide?
Semaglutide is a peptide which falls under the category of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists; essentially, it mimics GLP-1 hormone, which is released in the gut in response to eating.
Why is GLP-1 important? One of its roles is to signal the body to produce more insulin, resulting in reduced blood sugar. This is why semaglutide is generally used in diabetes treatment.
But, some clinical studies discovered that, when administered in increased doses, semaglutide actually suppresses appetite and prolongs the feeling of fullness. And, if combined with regular diet and exercise, it helps obese and overweight people.
Semaglutide Injections For Weight Loss
For the time being, semaglutide is only approved as a weight loss management drug under the brand name Wegovy. This drug is currently administered under the skin, and can be self-applied.
Of course, as the interest began to grow, medical professionals started looking for alternative ways for semaglutide administration. Even independent pharmacies started popping up, where you can purchase the peptide yourself. If you’re looking for a high quality semaglutide by a peptide shop, you can stop by this shop.
Can You Take Semaglutide If You Are Not A Diabetic?
Luckily for us, there was a large-scale study involving 2000 obese where one group was prescribed a diet and exercise program, which was combined with semaglutide. The other group was the control one, where participants adopted the same lifestyle, but did not get semaglutide.
After 68 weeks, the results were in and half of the participants in the semaglutide group lost as much as 15% and nearly a third lost 20%. On the other hand, the control group lost “only” about 2.4%. There have been many studies since this one, confirming these weight loss results.
The only caveat was that many of the participants regained the weight after the study was over. This highlights the importance of continuing with dietary changes and exercise. Though semaglutide is there to help burn off the excess weight, you need to be careful not to go back to your previous poor eating habits.
Does Semaglutide Come With Side Effects?
Studies done until this point all showed Semaglutide comes with mild and minimal side effects, especially when we compare it to other common weight loss medications.
Some of these commonly reported side effects were:
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Stomach problem (discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea etc)
- General fatigue
Granted, these gastrointestinal issues are a common complaint in larger semaglutide dosages. What the researchers did to get around this was to start out with small dosages, then increase gradually, allowing the body to get accustomed to the drug.
Are You A Good Candidate For Semaglutide?
According to the FDA’s recommendations for Wegovy, you are a good candidate for this type of therapy if you:
- Have a BMI of 27 or higher
- Have weight problems accompanied by high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol
On the other hand, you should avoid semaglutide if:
- You have a history of thyroid cancer in the family
- Suffer from gallbladder issues
- Have problems with pancreatitis
Whatever the case may be, you should consult with your doctor before going forward with semaglutide treatment.