What is Semaglutide?

July 05, 2023

A new medication is making waves and has become increasingly popular for its ability to help patients lose weight! Semaglutide is an effective and safe weight loss treatment that many people have started to turn to help achieve their weight loss goals. First approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2021 for weight loss — after initially receiving approval as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes in 2017 — research continues to show the effectiveness of semaglutide for weight loss. Below we explore what is semaglutide:

What To Know About Semaglutide

Semaglutide is a part of a class of medications referred to as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1 RAs. Semaglutide works by mimicking the GLP-1 Hormone that is naturally released in the gastrointestinal tract in response to eating. The role of GLP-1 is twofold. It signals to the body to produce more insulin, which reduces blood sugar levels, in addition to interacting with the portion of the brain that reduces appetite and produces a feeling of being full.

Semaglutide was initially used as a diabetes medication. It’s the first drug since Saxenda in 2014 to be approved by the FDA to treat chronic weight management in the 70% of American adults who are overweight.

A study looking at 2,000 adults compared the results of using semaglutide alongside a diet and exercise program with people who made the same lifestyle changes but did not take semaglutide. After 68 weeks, half of the people taking semaglutide lost 15% of their body weight while nearly a third of them lost 20%. Those who only incorporated lifestyle changes lost about 2.4% of their body weight.

So, what is semaglutide? Semaglutide treats obesity as a chronic metabolic disease rather than expecting people to rely on lifestyle changes and willpower. While not a miracle drug, semaglutide is most effective when combined with exercise and diet.

FDA-Approved Semaglutide Medications

There are currently 3 semaglutide medications that are approved by the FDA. They are:

Ozempic

Ozempic is a once-weekly injectable medicine for adults with type 2 diabetes, used to improve blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease. Injections of Ozempic come in 0.5 mg, 1 mg and 2 mg.

Wegovy

Wegovy is an injection that is approved by the FDA to help adults and children 12 years and older with obesity or excess weight. Wegovy helps those who have weight-related medical problems both lose and keep off the weight. The typical dose for weight loss is 2.4 mg.

Rybelsus

Did you know that Rybelsus is the first semaglutide medication available in tablet form? Rybelsus is approved to help lower blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. When used in addition to diet and exercise, Rybelsus can help patients see improvement in their weight in addition to keeping blood sugar at the appropriate levels. Rybelsus tablets are available at 7 mg and 14 mg.

Now you have an answer to that question of “what is semaglutide?” Are you interested in learning more about how semaglutide could help you lose weight? Schedule your telehealth appointment today to get access to the best health care from home!