While weight loss is among the most challenging goals patients face in reaching their health and beauty goals, recent medical advances offer new hope to those who have long struggled to lose the pounds through traditional diet and exercise programs. With a passionate interest in uncovering new treatments that can help patients reach their aesthetic goals and optimize overall health, Health + Glow’s Dr. Swapna M. Kallikadan is now offering her Tampa, Florida-area patients a groundbreaking weight loss treatment that sheds the pounds and improves overall health.

FDA-approved for weight loss in 2021, Semaglutide works by improving insulin resistance, which enhances the body’s ability to burn calories and fat and decreases appetite and cravings. At Health + Glow, Dr. Kallikadan offers patients a customized Semaglutide medical weight loss program to meet weight loss goals and work effectively with their health profile and lifestyle. The program combines the once-a-week Semaglutide injection with a diet and exercise regimen tailored to the patient’s fitness level and to optimize health.

What is Semaglutide?

Semaglutide is a peptide that mimics a hormone that helps the brain regulate appetite and food intake. Initially used as a type 2 diabetes medication to control blood sugar levels, the FDA expanded its usage to cover weight loss for those diagnosed clinically obese or anyone overweight with an underlying weight-related medical condition like type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol.

How Does Semaglutide Work?

In technical terms, Semaglutide works by mimicking a glucagon-like peptide that promotes a cellular response in the brain’s hypothalamus that curbs appetite by making a person feel well-fed. This action also slows digestion, which further enhances the feeling of fullness, and the cellular response also helps increase the body’s sensitivity to insulin, which enhances glucose metabolization.

From a non-technical standpoint, the peptide’s action on the hypothalamus lowers appetite, allowing for better portion control, reduced caloric intake, and increased calorie-burning energy levels.

How is Semaglutide Administered?

At Health + Glow, Semaglutide is administered by injection under the skin once a week. The treatment is well tolerated by most patients, with weight loss being the most commonly reported side effect. Other reported side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, but these are typically characterized as mild and temporary.

How Long Does Semaglutide Take to Work?

The effectiveness of Semaglutide has been proven in clinical trials, which determined that patients lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight in 68 weeks. Of the patients studied, 70% lost at least 10% of their body weight, while 32% lost at least 20%.

As a now-approved drug, weight loss results vary by patient depending on dosage and any supplementary efforts such as diet, exercise, or other lifestyle changes. Note that Semaglutide dosages may need modification depending on their effect on a patient’s blood sugar levels.

What Are the Benefits of Semaglutide for Weight Loss?

As found in clinical trials and observable patient results, Semaglutide health benefits go beyond weight loss, with noticeable improvements to patients’ metabolic and cardiovascular health. Along with decreasing the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other diseases related to obesity and type 2 diabetes, Semaglutide helps decrease:

• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol
• Inflammation
• triglycerides
• Glucose levels

Contact Health + Glow to Learn Whether Semaglutide Weight Loss is Right for You

If you want to assess whether Semaglutide might be an effective option to help you healthily reach your weight loss goals, schedule an appointment with Health + Glow today. In addition to weight loss, check out our other health and beauty services, including preventative medicine, rejuvenating facials, body contouring, revitalizing IV drips, and anti-aging therapies.