Are you looking to lose weight in the new year? With discussions and advertisements of weight management on the rise, it’s become a common goal amongst many. However, feasible weight loss efforts can be challenging despite healthier eating habits and an active lifestyle, leading many to turn to other solutions to supplement their weight loss journey.
Weight loss injections are becoming increasingly popular and are a great solution for those who want to lose weight and need extra support to do so. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to weight loss, which is why it’s important to find the right weight loss injection for you.
What Are GLP-1 Medications for Weight Loss?
GLP-1 medications, or agonists, are used to treat conditions like diabetes and obesity. There are different types of GLP-1 medications, but they all have the same goal: to help lower your body’s blood sugar levels and aid weight loss efforts.
These types of medications are typically patient-administered injections, where a needle is inserted into fatty tissue underneath your skin.
GLP-1 agonist medications mimic the hormone GLP-1, which has several roles in your body. First, the hormone triggers insulin release, which is one of the reasons this type of medication is used by diabetic patients. It also blocks glucagon secretion, slows down digestion, and makes you feel fuller after eating.
By imitating the GLP-1 hormone, GLP-1 medications can be used for weight loss.
Benefits of Weight Loss Injections
Embarking on a journey toward weight loss often involves navigating a multitude of options, and recently, weight loss injections have emerged as a compelling choice for those seeking effective and targeted solutions. These injections come with unique benefits that help them stand out in the world of weight management.
Target Fat Loss
Weight loss injections like Semaglutide are an effective option for those looking to lose weight. Combined with a healthy eating plan consisting of healthy fats, lean protein, and quality carbohydrates, a person can more effectively reduce visceral fat. This type of fat is found around your organs and can cause serious health problems if not addressed.
Regulate Appetite
Certain injections are developed to slow down gastric emptying and influence the hormones responsible for hunger and satiety. By modulating these signals, weight loss injections can help better control appetite, making it easier to maintain a healthy eating plan and avoid overeating. Many patients report a significant decrease in cravings for sugar and processed foods.
What Is the Best Injection for Weight Loss?
A weekly injection that induces significant weight loss without major side effects sounds like a dream come true. Certain medications initially designed for managing type two diabetes have proven capable of aiding individuals in losing up to 20 percent of their body weight, which is a notably higher percentage compared to other anti-obesity medications.
Referred to as incretin mimetics, weight loss injections not only contribute to weight reduction but also improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the body.
Semaglutide
There are several reasons to consider semaglutide, and many in obesity medicine are even calling it a “game changer.” FDA-approved in June 2021, this weight loss injection is a patient-administered, once-weekly medication that works by imitating the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). GLP-1 is a hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar.
GLP-1 acts to decelerate the release of sugar into the bloodstream, delay gastric emptying (resulting in a sensation of fullness), and suppress appetite, helping you stick to a reduced-calorie diet. While some other weight loss medications rely on stimulatory effects to regulate appetite, semaglutide emulates GLP-1 in its approach to hunger management.
Semaglutide injections can be referred to under the brand names Wegovy and Ozempic. These two are very similar. However, Ozempic is approved to manage blood sugar and lower your risk of complications like heart disease and stroke. Wegovy is typically approved for weight management. A compounded Semaglutide injection is an effective alternative to brand-name drugs and, in most cases, is more affordable.
Determining When to Get Weight Loss Injection
Before starting injections for weight loss, it’s important to discuss the pros and cons with your provider, as some injections are exclusive to certain issues and won’t work for everybody. There are also certain requirements that a patient has to meet before being prescribed these types of injections.
Mirabile M.D. offers patients with a BMI of 27 or higher compounded Semaglutide. Semaglutide will not be prescribed to patients with any of the following:
- Diabetes (type 1 or 2)
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Chronic kidney disease
- Pancreatitis
- Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (type of thyroid cancer)
- History of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (tumors in glands)
At Mirabile M.D., you must meet all of the above requirements, complete a health history and medication review with a provider, as well as complete blood work. Follow-up labs may be required during or at the completion of your semaglutide injections.
Once you have met the requirements and completed all necessary screenings, our office will order your semaglutide prescription to be shipped directly to your home. You’ll return to our office to obtain dosage and administration instructions after receiving your shipment.
Before finishing your initial vial, you and your Mirabile M.D. provider will discuss whether you want to continue semaglutide or discuss other possible weight loss efforts.
If you would like to learn more about this specific weight loss injection or are interested in our other weight loss and personalized wellness programs, schedule a complimentary consultation with us today.
