Semaglutide is an injectable prescription medication originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes. More recently, a specific semaglutide product called Wegovy was approved by the FDA for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition.
Semaglutide works by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1 that targets areas of the brain that regulate appetite and food intake. It helps a person feel fuller sooner while eating, eat less during meals, and feel satisfied longer between meals. In clinical trials, people taking semaglutide lost significantly more weight over 68 weeks compared to placebo.
Beyond just losing pounds, weight loss with semaglutide provides many meaningful health benefits:
For people struggling with excess weight and obesity-related health issues, semaglutide can be life-changing. Losing just 5% of body weight can have tremendous health impacts.
Semaglutide is appropriate for adults who meet the following criteria:
Semaglutide is not recommended for people with certain medical conditions. A full medical evaluation is needed to determine appropriateness on an individual basis.
The process for beginning semaglutide treatment includes:
Semaglutide dosing starts low and gradually increases over 5-8 weeks to improve gastrointestinal tolerance. Common temporary side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and decreased appetite.
Around semaglutide treatment, we recommend patients pursue a structured weight management plan that includes:
Adopting healthy lifestyle changes amplifies semaglutide results. Small consistent adjustments are most sustainable long-term.
Once goal weight is reached on semaglutide, a maintenance plan is implemented:
Some weight regain may happen after stopping semaglutide which is normal. Having healthy practices ingrained makes it easier to get back on track.
Losing weight can be as much a mental journey as a physical one. We help patients:
Improving mental health fortifies resilience on the path to transformation.
Semaglutide works best when combined with healthy lifestyle adjustments like:
Therapy enables change; lifestyle sustains it. Aligning nutrition, activity, rest, social connections and psychology amplifies and prolongs semaglutide benefits.
Managing weight often feels like an uphill battle, which can delay people seeking help only once health problems emerge. However, we encourage overweight and obese individuals to pursue evaluation sooner than later. Here's why:
We also stress that obesity is a medical disease requiring treatment, not a personal failure. Semaglutide offers new hope by directly treating a root problem.
As a specialized hormone clinic, Renewal Hormone Center of Brenham has unique expertise in medical weight management including:
Our integrated approach optimizes outcomes. We partner with each patient to uncover the root causes, biological and behavioral, contributing to excess weight. Then we develop a personalized plan aligning proven medical, nutrition, fitness and motivational solutions to achieve sustainable transformation.
With obesity rates rising yearly, having access to novel medical options like semaglutide provides new hope. At Renewal Hormone Center of Brenham, we offer cutting edge weight loss treatments personalized to the unique health needs of each patient. Our staff have specialized expertise to help patients achieve meaningful improvements in health and quality of life through successful weight management. We operate on the principles of compassionate, confidential, comprehensive care. To learn more about semaglutide therapy or other weight loss options, please