Semaglutide: How this “miracle drug” for weight loss works in 1, 2, 3 steps

Many people hail semaglutide, commonly sold as Ozempic^®, Wegovy^®, and Rybelsus^®, as a “miracle drug” for weight loss. It can play an important role in medically supervised weight management programs at the office of Alchemy Wellness in Austin, Texas. It is Dr. Saima Jehangir’s great pleasure to introduce you to some of the ways that anti-obesity medication promotes weight loss among individuals who are at risk of developing everything from Type 2 diabetes to heart disease.

No. 1: Curbing hunger

Experts classify semaglutide as a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Let’s break this down. GLP-1 stands for “Glucagon-Like Peptide-1.” This hormone is made naturally by your gut. It is responsible for regulating feelings of hunger or satiety. In turn, it influences the amount of food we consume. Semaglutide promotes feelings of fullness by triggering the GLP-1 receptors in our brains that control our appetite. When you no longer feel hungry, your calorie intake decreases.

No. 2: Feeling fuller, longer

It is one thing not to have an appetite. But it is quite another for that hunger to remain abated. Otherwise, when the feeling of satiety passes quickly, you might go back to consuming more food than your body needs for energy. And when that caloric intake outpaces the activities that burn those calories, you are back at square one. Semaglutide supports long-lasting fullness by decreasing the rate of gastric emptying, the medical term for food leaving the stomach and entering the small intestine or bowel. Since you stay fuller longer, you are less likely to consume excessive food daily.

No. 3: Burning fat

Semaglutide significantly boosts your body’s fat-burning capability. Researchers have discovered ways to improve energy usage and enhance fat burning. These factors contribute to weight loss, fat distribution, and body composition improvements. Semaglutide is also associated with favorable changes to lipid metabolism, the process of fats being broken down and stored for energy. These positive changes can also make a difference in some of the most important numbers or vital health indicators, such as cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In turn, not only do Ozempic^® and its fellow GLP-1 receptor antagonists support sustained weight loss, but these medications also reduce the risk of serious complications associated with the likes of hyperlipidemia/high cholesterol – from heart attack to stroke.

Diabetics, in particular, can also benefit from semaglutide’s capacity to suppress the release of the glucagon hormone that releases glucose into the bloodstream, effectively supporting healthy blood sugar levels. To learn more about the magic behind semaglutide as part of a healthy lifestyle and nutritious diet, contact Alchemy Wellness at (512) 960-3622 to schedule your consultation at our Austin, TX office.

Share this Article