FDA Approved Weight Loss

by | Mar 13, 2022 | Weight Loss

Health Blog: Weight Loss
March 13, 2022

FDA Approved Weight Loss

Great news! There is a new weight loss drug approved by the FDA, and it is absolutely smashing expectations. Could you benefit from a weight loss product like semaglutide? Read on to find out more, and let’s get you started on your best self yet!

What is Semaglutide?

When it comes to weight loss products, we are all used to the standard round of unsubstantiated claims, clever marketing, and influencers pushing diet lollipops or whatever. That is why so many people are so excited about semaglutide— the first actual FDA approved weight loss drug!

Semaglutide is the first approved injection drug by the FDA for chronic weight management in individuals with obesity, or who are overweight since 2014. That is a huge deal to those of us who may struggle with our weight management! 

Instead of ignoring your body’s natural hunger cues, let the FDA approved semaglutide do its job, and save you from becoming your grouchy, dieting, hangry alter-ego. We all have one, don’t lie!

It can get pretty old when you are on a weight loss or health journey, and all you see are false promises. It seems that now, it’s worse than ever, with Instagram models and TikTok influencers swearing by some unregulated product as a magic weight loss hack! While we know that no one thing will magically make us lose weight no matter what we eat, we do know this: when combined with a lifestyle intervention, semaglutide is shown to aid in weight loss. And when we say aid in weight loss, we’re talking big-impact effects here!

Instead of wading through the masses of diet pills and products that lack quality research, you may now choose to utilize a product that is scientifically proven and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. That is a big deal! Not only will you have the peace of mind that what you are taking has been shown to be safe, but you also won’t be wasting your money on products that don’t have any studies to show that they are effective at all. 

Let’s take a look at how semaglutide works in the body, and see what kind of results have been shown in the exciting studies!

What Does Semaglutide Do to Your Body?

Semaglutide is super clever! When taken as directed, semaglutide helps to promote weight loss is by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). That sounds like a science text book, I know, so what does it actually do?

We have a multitude of hormones in our body, all designed to keep things regulated and functioning correctly. We literally can’t live without our hormones! Our GLP-1 hormone in particular sends messages to the area of the brain that is in charge of regulating appetite and food intake. The recommended dosage of semaglutide can actually work by controlling and reducing a person’s appetite, making a weight loss journey way less uncomfortable and more maintainable than ever! Imagine, eating a healthy, slightly reduced calorie diet, and not feeling the constant hunger that often comes with dieting! That sounds like a much more enjoyable weight loss journey, in our opinion. Not to mention, it is much easier not to feel restricted when you don’t feel constantly hungry and deprived of foods. When this happens, it can trigger unhealthy behaviors in many individuals, including binge eating episodes, disordered eating, and sometimes in a full blown eating disorder. We want to avoid that restricted mindset at all cost, so if we can manage our brain’s appetite control center, it could be a great solution for many people!

How Much Weight Can You Lose on Semaglutide?

In the clinical studies, the participants who took semaglutide lost an average of 15% of their body weight. What does like look like? Let’s take a 200 pound man, for example. If he lost 15% of his body weight, he would be down 30 pounds! That is some serious weight loss, right there!

For someone who struggles to see the scale budge, even just a smidge, these results can really be a powerful motivator. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, our bodies simply do not want to cooperate with our weight loss efforts. Before you get down on yourself for “failing” another diet, think about this: fighting against weight loss is actually part of your body’s defense system! That means your body is likely actively trying to prevent weight loss at a certain point, even if you fall into the obese or overweight category. 

What the heck? Why would that be happening?

Seems counterintuitive, right? Actually, it’s a pretty amazing system that keeps our bodies in what’s called homeostasis. Think about all of the things that are going on inside your body at all times, that you don’t have to consciously think about.

Breathing, for one. You don’t continuously think breathe in, breathe out,” and so on, right? Thanks goodness for that, or we would never have room for any other thoughts! Your body is so insanely smart, and it is constantly balancing everything you do, what you eat, what environments it is exposed to, and little things like your heart beat, of course. Yep, your body is a better multitasker than a mom of 5! 

If you think about it, logically it makes sense that our bodies want to maintain homeostasis, or keep things from changing. For example, if our bodies didn’t have a tight temperature regulating system, we would die if we got into a hot car in the middle of summer! Your body tightly controls and regulars your internal temperature regardless of the climate you live in, to the best of its ability. The same thing goes for your weight, believe it or not!

While we do of course have some control over our weight, by managing what we eat and how we move our bodies, we do not have a manual override for our body’s compensatory mechanisms. And thank goodness for that! Give yourself a break, and take a second to be grateful for the ways your body fights to keep you alive and thriving. 

So what can we do? Are we stuck at our current weight forever?

That’s where a healthy, varied diet including plenty of vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and healthy fats comes into play. Coupled together with semaglutide treatments, the studies speak for themselves. Participants in the studies lost 37 pounds each on average! In the largest double blind placebo controlled clinical study, the participants lost 12.5% of their starting body weight compared to those who received the placebo. Pretty crazy, right??

Can I Take Semaglutide if I Don’t Have Diabetes?

Good news— in 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the semaglutide injection for individuals who do not necessarily have diabetes!

In fact, semaglutide is the very first drug approved by the FDA for chronic weight management in adults with general obesity or overweight since 2014. The largest clinical placebo study was actually done on a group of individuals who did not have diabetes. For anyone wanting to use semaglutide for weight loss who does not have diabetes, the results of this study are beyond encouraging!

Semaglutide is officially approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition (such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or type 2 diabetes), for use in addition to a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity. 

What a huge leap for those who fall into this category!

As John Sharretts, M.D., deputy director of the Division of Diabetes, Lipid Disorders, and Obesity in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research said on the day of semaglutide’s FDA approval, “today’s approval offers adults with obesity or overweight a beneficial new treatment option to incorporate into a weight management program. FDA remains committed to facilitating the development and approval of additional safe and effective therapies for adults with obesity or overweight.”

Does Semaglutide Have Side Effects?

Like pretty much all medicines, there are of course some side effects to be mindful of when starting semaglutide injections. Here are some of the most common ones:

  • nausea
  • diarrhea
  • vomiting 
  • abdominal pain
  • constipation
  • burping
  • heartburn

Make sure you tell your doctor right away if any of these side effects become severe or do not go away while taking semaglutide.

Some rare side effects may be serious, so contact your doctor or seek immediate medical help if you experience the following:

  • ongoing pain that begins in the upper left or middle of the stomach but may spread to the back, with or without vomiting
  • rash or itching, swelling of the eyes, throat, tongue, mouth, or face, and/or difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • swelling of feet, legs, or ankles
  • changes in vision 
  • dizziness or fainting
  • pain in upper stomach
  • yellowing of skin or eyes
  • fever
  • rapid heartbeat

Semaglutide injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.

How Long Does it Take to Lose Weight With FDA Approved Weight Loss?

Semaglutide starts to help lower your blood sugar the very first week, after your first dose!

When you start taking semaglutide, you will need to work up to what is called your maintenance level dose. That means you will steadily increase the dose each week, until you reach the level recommended to you. 

Once you have reached your maintenance levels, you will see full effect of semaglutide treatments start to take place. Since this is a once-per-week injection, this usually takes about 8 weeks.

Is the Miracle FDA Approved Weight Loss Drug an Injection?

Yes! Semaglutide is an under-the-skin injection. The dose is gradually increased over time in order to limit gastrointestinal distress. Talk to your doctor and read all directions and instructions carefully before starting semaglutide injections. 

Semaglutide Weight Loss Where to Buy

Luckily, we have a pretty great recommendation for where to buy semaglutide! Fill out our form to speak with a specialist, or click to get started with your semaglutide treatments right now! Let’s get you on track to hitting your goals, with a little bit of smart help from the first FDA approved chronic weight management drug. 

Call or email us now to speak to our friendly staff. We can’t wait to help you achieve your goals!

hello@elitehealthonline.com

972-846-9002

Stay strong, warrior!

Schedule your FREE 15 minute consultation and discover the most comprehensive and affordable wellness solutions with Elite Health! Our prices are up to 60% lower than the big box providers!

CORE: Sidebar Form (BLOG)
Consent

Hi, I'm Clay

I’m one of the founders of Elite Health. We launched EHO to help people experience the best version of themselves. 

Hit your Peak Performance.

Boost your energy, build mass, reduce joint pain, increase stamina in bed, lose weight, restore hair, and feel your best.