Semaglutide Weight Loss Weston, FL - Elite Hormone Therapy

Introduction to Semaglutide

Semaglutide is an injectable medication that has been approved for treating type 2 diabetes and recently also approved for chronic weight management. It belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.

Semaglutide works by mimicking the effects of GLP-1, a hormone that helps control blood sugar levels and appetite. It stimulates the release of insulin when blood sugar levels are high while also slowing digestion and making you feel fuller for longer after eating.

Recent research has shown that semaglutide can be highly effective as a weight loss treatment when combined with diet and exercise. In clinical trials, people taking semaglutide have experienced average weight losses of around 15% over 16-20 months.

Benefits of Semaglutide for Weight Loss

There are several key reasons why semaglutide is emerging as such a beneficial option for weight management:

Significant Weight Reduction

• In large clinical studies, people taking a weekly injection of semaglutide experienced reductions in body weight of around 15% on average after 68 weeks. For someone weighing 200 lbs, this would equate to around 30 lbs of weight loss.
• The dose of semaglutide can be adjusted up or down to optimize weight loss results. Higher doses tend to produce increased weight reduction but also come with a higher risk of side effects.

Appetite and Calorie Reduction

• By acting similar to the hormone GLP-1, semaglutide makes you feel fuller faster after eating and reduces cravings and hunger between meals. This leads to reduced calorie intake.
• People taking semaglutide report feeling satisfied with smaller portion sizes and not needing to snack as much between meals. Over months, this calorie deficit piles up to meaningful weight loss.

Works While Taking It

• Unlike most other weight loss medications which only work while you are taking them, semaglutide has been shown to have lingering effects even after stopping treatment.
• In studies, people maintained on average around two-thirds of their semaglutide-induced weight loss 6-12 months after halting injections. This helps provide longer-lasting results.

Well Tolerated Safety Profile

• As a GLP-1 drug, semaglutide has been used safely for years in diabetic patients. Its safety profile is well-characterized.
• The most common side effects are temporary gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. These tend to resolve within 4-8 weeks as the body adjusts.

With its impressive weight loss impacts combined with a reasonable safety profile, semaglutide represents an exciting new advancement for long-term weight management.

Who is a Candidate for Semaglutide?

The FDA has approved semaglutide injections (brand names Ozempic, Wegovy) for chronic weight management in adults who meet the following eligibility criteria:

BMI ? 30 kg/m2

• Having a BMI over 30 is the medical threshold for obesity. Individuals in this BMI range tend to experience major health and wellness benefits from weight reduction.

BMI ? 27 kg/m2 with at Least One Weight-Related Condition

• People with BMIs in the overweight range (? 27 kg/m2) may also qualify for semaglutide weight loss treatment if they have at least one condition linked to excess weight.

Conditions Include:

• Hypertension
• Dyslipidemia (high cholesterol/triglycerides)
• Heart disease
• Fatty liver disease
• Sleep apnea
• Osteoarthritis

So in summary, if your BMI is over 30 or over 27 with a weight-related co-morbidity, you may potentially qualify for semaglutide injections to assist with weight loss and improving any obesity-related conditions.

The Semaglutide Injection Protocol

If you enroll in semaglutide therapy for weight management, this will involve following a standardized protocol coordinated by our hormone specialists at Elite Hormone Therapy. Here is an overview of what to expect:

1. Weekly Self-Administered Subcutaneous Injections

• Semaglutide is given through a very small needle (like an insulin injection) into the fat layer under your skin (subcutaneously) once weekly.
• After an initial teaching appointment, you can easily self-inject semaglutide at home moving forward. It takes only 1-2 minutes per week.

2. Gradual Ramp Up of Dosing

• Treatment begins at a low 0.25 mg weekly dose which is then increased slowly every 4 weeks up to a target maintenance dose between 1-2 mg.
• This gradual ramp up mitigates side effects by allowing your body to adjust slowly to the medication’s impacts.

3. Treatment Duration of 12-20 Months

• For sustainable weight loss results, semaglutide treatment should be taken for 12-20 months depending on how much weight needs to be lost and how quickly you are responding.
• After this timeline, your provider can advise if longer treatment duration would be appropriate or if a “treatment holiday” is recommended before potentially resuming injections.

While everyone responds differently, following this standardized seminaglutide protocol allows most patients to attain marked weight reduction meeting their personal goals. Our specialists will closely track your progress and make dosage tweaks tailored to your unique needs.

Lifestyle Changes are Vital Too

While extremely helpful, it is crucial to note that merely injecting semaglutide alone will not make you lose weight. To maximize the effectiveness of treatment, adhering to the below healthy lifestyle changes is also required:

1. Following an Individualized Eating Plan

• Working with a dietitian, an individualized meal schedule will be designed that promotes weight loss while still feeling satisfied.
• This may incorporate approaches like reducing/eliminating processed foods, decreasing sugar intake, intermittent fasting windows, etc.

2. 150-300 Minutes of Moderate Physical Activity Per Week

• Per treatment guidelines, all patients should engage in 2.5-5 hours of brisk walking or other cardio exercise weekly while taking semaglutide injections.
• This level of physical activity amplifies weight loss outcomes and offers general health benefits.

3. Behavioral Counseling

• Stress or emotional eating patterns can sometimes sabotage weight loss efforts. Our program includes regular behavioral counseling to reinforce positive lifestyle habits.
• Identifying and adapting poor eating triggers improves the chances of maintaining healthy behaviors long-term after completing semaglutide treatment.

With the combined impacts of semaglutide medication plus tailored diet guidance, physical activity, and counseling, the majority of patients can achieve 10-15% body weight reduction supporting long-lasting improved health.

Places in Weston That Can Assist Your Weight Loss Goals

For Weston residents who enroll in our medically-managed semaglutide weight loss program, there are fantastic local resources in the community to help support your transformation including:

Lifestyle Lab

• A high-tech fitness center offering cutting-edge equipment, personalized training plans, health assessments and advanced body composition analysis to track progress.

Weston Botanical Gardens

• These relaxing gardens provide the perfect setting for low-impact activities like yoga, walking or tai-chi to meet weekly exercise recommendations.

The Green Leaf Cafe

• A plant-based restaurant developed by nutritionists to provide delicious healthy meal options conforming to specialized diet plans.

Leveraging establishments like these that align to program guidance can help you fully realize the weight loss potential with semaglutide while discovering the best version of yourself. Our team happily provides referrals to trusted local partners.

The Benefits of Elite Hormone Therapy for Weight Loss Care

Here at Elite Hormone Therapy in Weston, clients can feel fully confident they are receiving the most scientifically-advanced and personalized semaglutide-based medical weight loss treatments available. This is enabled by:

Our Specialized Obesity Medicine Doctors

• Our physicians have undergone advanced residency training focused specifically on individualized prescription weight loss protocols including semaglutide.

A Trusted Local Reputation

• With decades of medical experience within the Weston community, Elite Hormone Therapy has earned outstanding patient satisfaction and outcomes treating hormone imbalances.

Cutting-Edge Progress Tracking

• We utilize the latest tracking technology to closely monitor weekly changes in weight, body composition, risk factors and treatment tolerance during your transformation journey.

With our obsessive attention to detail and focus purely on weight optimization, Elite Hormone Therapy offers an unparalleled level of tailored support throughout your exciting health transformation.