Have you ever made an unsuccessful attempt to reduce weight?
Over 73% of Americans over 20 are overweight or obese, and it’s not because they don’t make an effort to reduce their weight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The body has an internal mechanism for preserving a certain set point. Your weight is therefore intended to recover to its maximum level even if it may vary momentarily.
Numerous health concerns linked to obesity, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and COVID-19 problems, can be decreased by losing weight along with keeping it off.
According to research, you may get the necessary health advantages by decreasing as little as 5% of body weight.
Regretfully, there aren’t many safe and efficient drugs to treat persistent weight problems, and the ones that are available have serious adverse effects. They are no longer available on the market, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA authorized semaglutide (Wegovy), an intradermal injectable used for long-term weight control, in June 2021.
Since 2014, Wegovy has been the first licensed weight-loss drug. It helps people achieve their weight reduction objectives in a different way than other weight loss medications.
What Is Wegovy?
Targeting the parts of the brain that control hunger and food intake, Wegovy is a weekly injection of a weight-loss medication that has FDA-approval.
It is a member of the class of agonists of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). The natural hormone GLP-1, which reduces hunger and slows stomach emptying, is mimicked by Wegovy. You might feel fuller and eat less thanks to both effects.
Wegovy is best used in conjunction with a lower-calorie diet and more exercise. It is not meant to be a substitute for weight loss aids.
How Does Wegovy Work?
Wegovy functions by imitating GLP-1, a hormone that the body naturally produces after meals. GLP-1 is essential for controlling blood sugar and hunger. It causes the body to release insulin, which helps control blood sugar levels, and tells the brain when you’re full, reducing appetite.
Wegovy slows down digestion and decreases appetite, which helps you feel fuller for longer. This can help you lose weight by lowering cravings, cutting down on snacking, and making it simpler to stick to a lower-calorie diet.
How Much Weight Can You Lose on Wegovy?
Wegovy was found to help people lose an average of 15% to 20% of their starting body weight over the course of a 68-week clinical trial involving nearly 2000 obese individuals without diabetes. Participants took 2.4 mg of semaglutide daily in addition to a nutritious diet and regular exercise. This is three times the amount of weight loss that other medications like Contrave or Phentermine accomplish.
This implies that if you weigh 200 pounds and begin your weight loss regimen with the maximum dose of semaglutide (2.4 mg) each week, you can lose an average of 30 to 40 pounds.
Who Is Eligible for Wegovy?
Wegovy has been authorized by the FDA for individuals who are obese and overweight and have a BMI of 30 or higher, as well as those who have a BMI of 27 or higher and another obesity-related medical condition, such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.
Increased physical activity and dietary modifications are recommended as supplements to Wegovy.
Who Should Not Use Wegovy?
Wegovy is not intended for you if:
- You have had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide
- You are breastfeeding or pregnant
- Anyone in your family has ever had a rare type of thyroid cancer known as Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC)
- You have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
Wegovy comes with contraindications for certain conditions. Check with your healthcare provider if you have any of these medical conditions before using it.
- Low blood sugar
- Kidney disease
- Pancreatitis
- History of diabetic retinopathy
- Depression, suicidal thoughts, or any other mental disorder
Additionally, don’t forget to let your doctor know if you use any prescription or over-the-counter medications, vitamins, or herbal supplements.
Wegovy may have an impact on how other drugs work.
Inform your physician if you are taking insulin or sulfonylureas for your diabetes. Wegovy slows down the emptying of the stomach and can cause problems for medications that need to move through the stomach fast.
How Should I Use Wegovy?
Before you begin using Wegovy and each time you receive a refill, our medical expert will walk you through the process and provide you with detailed instructions on injecting semaglutide.
Examine for particles or discoloration prior to taking semaglutide and don’t use the medicine if you find any.
To lessen the possibility of skin damage, clean the injection site with rubbing alcohol before administering each dosage and inject new areas each time.
What Are the Possible Side Effects of Wegovy?
Wegovy is a safe medication for weight loss. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal and can include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Indigestion
- Gas
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain
- Gastroenteritis
Other side effects may include:
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Low blood sugar
To minimize these side effects, your healthcare professional will start you at a lower dose of 0.25 mg every week and gradually increase the dose every month to 2.4 mg so that your body can adjust to the medication.
Your doctor will begin you on a lower dose of 0.25 mg per week and slowly raise it to 2.4 mg per month to allow your body to become used to the medicine and reduce these adverse effects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wegovy the Same as Ozempic?
Ozempic and Wegovy are both semaglutide drugs. Ozempic, however, is authorized to treat type 2 diabetes.
After eating, you can feel full and wish to eat less if you’re using Ozempic medicine. As is the case with Wegovy users, this may result in weight reduction.
If you don’t alter your diet while using Ozempic, you won’t lose weight because the prescription isn’t designed to help people lose weight.
How Often Should I Take Wegovy?
Wegovy is taken once per week. To easily remember, you can take the same day and time every week.
Can I Take Wegovy and a Meal?
You can take Wegovy with or without food.
How Is the Wegovy dosing adjusted?
For the first four weeks, you will receive injections of 0.25 mg once weekly. Your provider will then raise the dosage every month for four months until you reach the maximum amount of 2.4 mg, assuming your body is reacting well to the drug.
Your practitioner will postpone raising the dosage for a month if you’re experiencing adverse effects or aren’t responding effectively.
Get Wegovy at A-OK Vitality & Wellness
Taking steps to reduce weight not only prevents diseases but also reduces social stigma and the quality of life associated with overweight and obesity. Although Wegovy weight reduction medications may seem pricey, they are less expensive than treating the health issues associated with obesity.
Wegovy could help you make the lifestyle adjustments you need to reduce weight and enhance your well-being. Remember that managing obesity may be challenging, so it’s ideal to collaborate with a trained healthcare provider who is dedicated to your long-term care.
If you’re in California and looking for expert support with Wegovy, A-OK Vitality & Wellness offers convenient in office and telehealth services with personalized care. Our team is ready to guide you every step of the way toward a healthier future.
Take control of your health today—book your Wegovy consultation with A-OK Vitality and Wellness in California!