Semaglutide for Weight Loss in Non-Diabetics
Medical research is an ever-evolving process in which new insights into biological functioning inform the development of new therapies. As doctors learn from patient outcomes, they refine certain treatments and explore new ones.
Physicians initially prescribed semaglutide to manage type 2 diabetes by helping patients regulate their blood sugar. Doctors also observed dramatic weight loss in their patients, though, leading researchers to assess the medication’s viability as an obesity treatment.
After years of study, doctors now use semaglutide to treat chronic obesity. The medication has passed rigorous clinical trials, leading some forms of semaglutide to receive Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval as weight loss treatments.
Learning how semaglutide helps non-diabetics manage their weight is the first step if you think a medically supervised weight loss program may be right for you. This knowledge will help you discuss your suitability for the drug with your doctor.
What is Semaglutide?
Semaglutide is a synthesized form of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a naturally produced digestive hormone. It helps patients with diabetes raise their insulin production to regulate their blood sugar. Non-diabetics use the medication to suppress appetite.
Ozempic and Wegovy, two brand names of semaglutide, help patients lose weight by engaging the areas of the brain that manage hunger and cravings. Depressing your appetite reduces how many calories you consume. Additionally, the medication slows gastric emptying, keeping the stomach fuller for longer. This action further reduces hunger.
Does Semaglutide Work for Weight Loss in Non-Diabetics?
Yes. Researchers have investigated the effectiveness of semaglutide for non-diabetics based on the impressive weight loss results among patients with diabetes. Doctors recommend the medication for those with body mass indexes above 30 or above 27 when the individual has a weight-related condition like high cholesterol.
One study saw a 14.9% weight loss after 68 weeks in patients using semaglutide. This outcome is medically significant because reducing obesity lowers your risk of life-threatening health events such as heart attack and stroke.
The fundamental principle of weight loss is burning more calories than you consume. Semaglutide helps establish this necessary deficit by lowering your food intake to reduce the calories taken in. As a result, the body burns fat for energy to make up the difference, and this gap induces weight loss.
Side Effects of Semaglutide Injections
All medications can cause side effects. Their prevalence and severity vary from person to person based on individual responses to semaglutide. The most frequent side effects are gastrointestinal. Side effects are more likely to occur as a result of higher doses of semaglutide.
Doctors manage these effects development by slowly building patients up to a full level of the medication over several weeks. Monitoring yourself and talking to your doctor if you experience side effects is essential for preventing complications.
Your physician can modify your dose and advise you on steps to lessen the intensity of your side effects. The most common ones include:
Acid reflux
Constipation
Diarrhea
Flatulence and belching
Gastritis and indigestion
Headache
Nausea and vomiting
Stomach discomfort or pain
Swollen belly and bloating
Some patients develop cold or flu-like symptoms while taking semaglutide. Low blood sugar, which can lead to fatigue, dizziness, and lightheadedness, is also possible.
Who Should Not Use Semaglutide for Weight Loss?
Doctors do not prescribe semaglutide to women who are pregnant or nursing. The medication is not recommended for women who are trying to become pregnant either. A family or personal history of thyroid cancer and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 contraindicate semaglutide due to the risk of developing tumors.
Discussing your complete medical history with your doctor during your semaglutide consultation is essential to your safety. Digestive disorders, chronic kidney or liver disease, diabetic retinopathy, pancreatitis, and a history of depression or suicidal thinking may make semaglutide ineffective and unsafe for you.
See results on your first visit.
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Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183 -
Semaglutide for weight loss - what you need to know
https://www.uclahealth.org/news/semaglutide-weight-loss-what-you-need-know
September 1, 2023
Written By
Dr. Avidon Appel
Fact-checked By
Dr. Avidon Appel
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