Physician Supervised Treatments for Weight Loss

At our Philadelphia weight loss clinic, we offer prescription weight loss medications under medical supervision, as well as nutritional counseling, to help you on your weight loss journey.

How does semaglutide work?

• Semaglutide works by:

• Slows down digestion and emptying of the stomach. This makes you feel full with smaller meals.

• Lowers blood sugar by decreasing the amount of sugar produced by the liver.

• Stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin.

The FDA approves semaglutide for weight loss in a high-dose version, under the trade name Wegovy. Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog with indication in type 2 diabetes mellitus along with diet and exercise. In 2017, it received its first approval for injectable use in type 2 diabetes and in 2020, the approval was expanded to reduce cardiovascular risk in adults with type 2 diabetes and known cardiovascular disease.

FDA approves semaglutide for obesity

FDA approves semaglutide for chronically overweight or obese with at least one weight-related condition: type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. In addition, the recommendation of a low-calorie diet and regular physical exercise is maintained.

It is a 2.4 mg injectable. for subcutaneous administration once a week. The dose should be gradually increased over 16 to 20 weeks to avoid adverse gastrointestinal effects. It will be indicated for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg / m2 or more. For those with some of the aforementioned weight-related diseases, a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or higher would be considered.

Efficacy of Semaglutide

To assess the efficacy of semaglutide, three randomized clinical trials were conducted with 2,600 patients who received the drug.

One of the studies included adults without diabetes, with a mean age of 46 years and of whom 76% were women. The average BMI was 38 kg/m2 and the average weight was 105 kg. The average weight loss, compared to the placebo group, was 12.4% of the initial body weight.

In another study to evaluate efficacy in adults with type 2 diabetes, the mean age was 55 years and 51% were women. They had a baseline BMI of 36 kg/m2 and an average weight of 100 kg. With the application of the medication, a weight loss of 6.2% was achieved, compared to the placebo group.

Semaglutide Side Effects

The most common side effects were gastrointestinal: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, aerogastria, flatulence, and abdominal pain. Hypoglycemia occurred among patients with type 2 diabetes. The technical data sheet warns of the potential risk of thyroid C cell tumors, so it should not be used in patients with a history of thyroid tumors.