Semaglutide weight loss East Alton, IL - Balanced Hormones Clinic

What is Semaglutide?

Semaglutide is an injectable medication used for weight loss and blood sugar control. It mimics a hormone called GLP-1 that targets areas of the brain which regulate appetite and food intake. Semaglutide makes you feel more full and reduces appetite, causing you to eat less food and lose weight as a result.

In 2021, the high strength semaglutide injection called Wegovy was approved by the FDA specifically for chronic weight management. It has shown significant efficacy in clinical trials, with average weight loss around 15% in a 68-week study.

Here's an overview of how semaglutide weight loss therapy works and what benefits it offers:

Mechanism of Action

Our Services

Key Benefits

In the rest of this article, we will explore various details around semaglutide for weight loss therapy offered at the Balanced Hormones Clinic.

Signs of Obesity and Need for Semaglutide

Obesity can cause many health issues and reduce quality of life. People struggling with excess weight often have:

If you identify with some of these, consult a doctor about whether semaglutide weight loss injectable medication may be right for you. Timely treatment of obesity is crucial to regain health as well as renew energy and well-being.

At Balanced Hormones Clinic, we offer personalized consultations, lab tests, obesity analysis, and semaglutide prescription if appropriate.

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Overview of Process

Here is a high-level overview of what to expect if starting semaglutide injections for treating obesity and managing weight under the care of an experienced hormone doctor:

  1. Initial consultation - medical history, risk factors, past treatments
  2. Physical exam - height, weight, BMI, blood pressure
  3. Lab tests - metabolic panel, HbA1c, thyroid etc.
  4. Semaglutide therapy candidacy based on assessment
  5. Weekly injections under skin started at low 0.25mg dose
  6. Gradual 12-20 week dose escalation up to 2.4mg
  7. Regular monitoring of progress and possible side effects
  8. Guidance on complimentary lifestyle modifications

Key takeaway - Starting is a deliberate process which needs close doctor supervision for best results.

Below sections explore the therapy specifics in more detail.

Reasons Leading to Obesity and Need for Semaglutide

There are many interlinked reasons why people gain excess weight or struggle to lose it, including:

Over time, unhealthy lifestyles trigger make it very tough to lose weight by traditional means. Drugs like semaglutide offer new hope via precise biological mechanisms.

Our clinic helps identify potential underlying issues through needed diagnostic tests and create a customized treatment plan using therapies like semaglutide.

Diagnosing Obesity and Deciding Appropriateness of Semaglutide

The key criteria for diagnosing obesity are:

Some key lab tests helpful before prescribing semaglutide are:

  1. Metabolic Panel - glucose, HbA1c, kidney/liver function
  2. Thyroid Panel - TSH, Free T3, and Free T4 levels
  3. Vitamin D and B12 levels

These help uncover issues which can thwart weight loss like diabetes, hormonal imbalances, or nutritional deficiencies.

Decision Criteria for Semaglutide Treatment

Based on the above assessments, factors deciding semaglutide candidacy are:

Starting and Monitoring Semaglutide Therapy Protocol

Once approved for therapy, starting semaglutide involves:

  1. Low 0.25mg once weekly injection
  2. Gradual ramp to 2.4mg over 12-20 weeks
  3. Regular weight checks every 4 weeks
  4. Diet and activity guidance for optimal results
  5. Monitoring key metrics like HbA1c, blood pressure etc.
  6. Individualized support for healthy long-term habits

This slow and methodical approach ensures safety, efficacy, and sustainability of results.

Key Benefits of Semaglutide for Weight Loss

Semaglutide offers powerful medical assistance for weight regulation beyond traditional approaches like diet, exercise, and bariatric surgery.

Significant Average Weight Loss of 15%

In 68-week clinical trials of the semaglutide 2.4mg injection under the brand name Wegovy, the average weight loss achieved was ~17% (over placebo). In some patients, it was as high as 20%.

This degree of weight reduction has major positive impacts on all aspects of health, as well as better body image and self-esteem.

Motivation for Continued Healthy Lifestyle Habits

Losing substantial weight thanks to semaglutide builds confidence and momentum to keep up new healthy habits. Patients feel mentally and physically better, which drives lifestyle changes.

We provide personalized guidance so positive transformations stick long after stopping injections.

Additional Health Benefits of Weight Loss Using Semaglutide

Beyond dramatic weight reduction itself, related health markers see remarkable improvements like:

Furthermore, sustaining weight loss over the long term has been proven to enhance longevity and help slow aging. It can add years to life expectancy.

So along with obvious external appearance change, the internal transformations are just as significant, with lower future disease risks and higher quality of life.

Our clinical team stays abreast of the latest innovative methods of semaglutide administration beyond simple injections. We customize care plans using best-in-class therapies for lasting success.

Innovative Methods of Semaglutide Administration

While conventional semaglutide therapy utilizes simple subcutaneous injections, some modern methods offer easier and more convenient delivery:

  1. Oral forms - pills as easier alternatives to needles
  2. Implanted miniature pumps - slowly release fixed doses
  3. Future smart patches - microneedles through skin

Oral semaglutide recently got FDA approval, which widens therapy accessibility. Though injection forms remain the most potent options currently.

We offer consultations to help determine which approach may work optimally for your needs.

Table: Comparison of Semaglutide Delivery Methods

Method Convenience Effectiveness Cost
Injections Moderate Maximum Moderate
Pills High Moderate High
Implanted Pumps High Very high Very high
Patches (Future) Very high Potentially High Moderate

Start losing weight and improving your health today.

Practical Lifestyle Change Support for Improved Semaglutide Results

Though semaglutide has direct biological effects for reducing weight, optimal medical results always depend on key lifestyle factor optimizations:

Diet Recommendations

Exercise Guidance

Wellness Support

Our clinical team offers comprehensive lifestyle optimization coaching tailored to your needs and preferences for targeted weight goal achievement.

Balanced Hormones Clinic

The Balanced Hormones Clinic medical practice delivers personalized care, innovative therapies, and compassionate support to help people reclaim fuller health and realize their best selves.

Our capabilities span:

We've already helped many struggling with low energy, mental fog, sexual issues, stubborn weight gain, and more using advanced clinical therapies, including now semaglutide weight loss assistance.

To learn if our treatments can help optimize your health and well-being, schedule a consultation today.

We support most major insurance plans or flexible financing options are available.

Table: Services Offered at Balanced Hormones Clinic

Service Category Specific Services
Hormone Therapy Testosterone, Estrogen, Thyroid, Growth Hormone
Weight Management Semaglutide, Lifestyle Coaching, Supplements
Wellness Optimization IV Nutrition, Peptide Therapy, Stem Cell Therapy
Preventive Health Advanced Lab Testing, Genetic Analysis

Conclusion

We hope you found this guide helpful in understanding the basics of the exciting new semaglutide injectable medication for chronic weight management challenges. When combined with healthy lifestyle changes, it offers life-changing results.

Please contact the Balanced Hormones Clinic specialty clinic to explore whether this innovative therapy is right for your needs!

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