Benefits of Semaglutide For Weight Loss

Apr 17, 2024

For most of your life, weight loss has been a struggle. You’ve tried exercise, only to find you give up after a few weeks. Or maybe you are only able to commit 3 days a week to a Yoga class because of your job. And food, where do you even begin? With the ebb and flow of different diet trends and your family’s food preferences, you find yourself frustrated. You’ve nestled into a mix of ordering takeout and buying oven-ready meals. After all, who has time to meal-plan and cook a healthy, home-cooked meal that everyone loves EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. 

But don’t just blame yourself. With the rise of fast food chains and door-dash services, Americans are consuming more processed food than ever before. We live in a time where both partners typically need to work in order to pay the bills and simply survive. Add the pressures of keeping up with kids’ activities, pets, housework and running errands, our health gets put on the back burner. The problem with this is that ignoring your health can lead to more problems. The main problem that cascades into other health disparities is Obesity. Obesity itself can lead to a wide array of diseases, such as:

  • Non-alcoholic Fatty-Liver Disease 

  • Type-2 Diabetes 

  • Cancer

  • Cardiovascular Disease 

  • Mental Health Disorders like Depression & Anxiety

  • Obstructive sleep apnea

  • Stroke

Let’s dive into Obesity for a moment. What causes it? Research shows that the hormones Glucagon and Insulin play a large part in metabolism. Glucagon is a 29-amino acid peptide hormone mainly secreted from pancreatic cells. Normally, these hormones are released at a healthy balance from the pancreas. In homeostasis, they counterbalance each other appropriately. A harmonious balance occurs when a healthy diet is followed and a person exercises regularly. 

In a healthy person, the body can then regulate weight appropriately and co-morbidities stay away. In obesity however, glucagon is released in copious amounts and the body is unable to properly process it. This in turn causes a high production of fat cells, which causes obesity. This is why Diabetes Type-2 is directly related to the dysregulation of Glucagon and Insulin. When too much Glucagon is released, too much Insulin is also released to manage the Glucagon[1]. This leads to Insulin resistance, which is what causes this type of Diabetes. 

There is some controversy out there that has been studied about the history of the American diet, claiming sugar is not only to blame. One study showed that between the 1950’s and 1980’s, Americans followed a poor diet as children. This could be largely in part to the introduction of “TV dinners” and other processed foods, and just a general misconception of what foods were considered healthy at the time. Although we know so much more now than we did then, why aren’t we all healthier? It’s partially because sugar is addictive. And global sugar intake is still well above the recommended 5-10% of daily energy intake[2].

We all know we should follow a healthy diet, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. High glycaemic-index carbohydrates like white bread, potatoes, refined sugar and white rice are just so delicious. And how about that soda? In the United States, we eat a lot of fructose, a type of sugar that is known to cause insulin-resistance due to it being metabolized by the liver. Recent studies have also shown that increased fructose consumption leads to eating more calories in general (and typically not more broccoli!) This, in turn, is responsible for the onset of obesity. To combat this, a healthy diet would include more high-fiber foods and low-glycaemic-index carbs, such as green-leafy vegetables, nuts and fruits[2].

So Where Can I Go For Help Losing Weight?

There are several barriers to living your healthiest life, including genetics, work, money problems, kids and over-commitments you make for yourself. Not to mention, losing weight on your own can be extremely difficult and most people end up gaining the weight back. Without help, you simply struggle to do it all on your own. And you may find yourself spending more money than you bargained for trying different diets, signing up for gym memberships and online programs. But you don’t need to let these challenges keep you stuck. 

There are benefits of living in this era, where science and technology are on your side. One of these being Semaglutide. Semaglutide is a potent long-acting glucagon-like peptide that is typically given via weekly subcutaneous injections by a Healthcare Provider. And it is FDA-approved. According to recent research, 69-79% of participants achieved > 10% weight loss, and 51-64% achieved > 15% weight loss by adding Semaglutide. This was over a 68-week trial period.[3]

 The way this peptide works is by activating the central nervous system, which in turn

  • Suppresses appetite which causes you to eat less

  • Affects food preferences so you’ll find yourself making healthier choices

  • Lowers blood glucose levels, which can help manage Type-2 Diabetes

  • Improves kidney function in Diabetes Type-2, which leads to improved neuropathy and lowers need for Kidney Replacement Therapy

  • Lowers risk of Cardiovascular disease caused by Atherosclerosis (plaque buildup)[4]

So if you’re struggling to lose weight and are sick and tired of doing it on your own, book a weight loss consultation with Amy today. You’ll get 1:1 support with a highly trained and experienced Nurse Practitioner. Most importantly, you will not have to do this alone anymore. The time and money you will save by getting healthier is worth its weight in gold. 



Resources

[1] Revisiting the role of glucagon in health, diabetes mellitus and other metabolic diseases


[2] The Impact of Free Sugar on Human Health—A Narrative Review


[3] Semaglutide for the treatment of overweight and obesity: A review


[4] Semaglutide-eye-catching results