Semaglutide & GLP1-RAs for Weight Loss
What is Semaglutide?
Semaglutide is a medication that helps some people lose weight. It's a type of medicine called a GLP-1 receptor agonist, or GLP-1 RA for short. Semaglutide is similar to a natural hormone called GLP-1 in our bodies. This hormone helps our pancreas make more insulin when our blood sugar gets too high, and it also makes us feel full so we don't eat too much.
When people take Semaglutide, it helps them eat less, decreases blood sugar fluctuations, and slows the rate at which food moves through the digestive tract which can lead to weight loss. This can be especially important for people with type 2 diabetes or those who are overweight and at risk for diabetes. Semaglutide, along with diet and exercise, can help to lower your risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.
Semaglutide is the active ingredient in the brand name medications Ozempic (used to lower blood sugar and Hemoglobin A1C in people with type 2 diabetes) and Wegovy (used to treat overweight or obesity).
What does the research say?
In a randomized controlled trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine (2023) that included 1,961 adults without diabetes who were either obese (BMI >30) or overweight (BMI >27) with an associated medical condition, once weekly Semaglutide injections plus lifestyle intervention resulted in an average weight loss of 14.9% over the course of 68 weeks. The control group who used lifestyle interventions without medication lost 2.8% of their starting weight during the same time period.
What are the possible side effects?
The most common side effects of semaglutide and GLP1-RA medications are mild gastrointestinal effects, including nausea, heartburn, belching, constipation, fatigue, and headache. Less common side effects are gallstones, inflammation of the pancreas, low blood sugar, kidney problems, or depression. You can read more about possible side effects here.
Who should not use semaglutide?
People with a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 should not use semaglutide. Studies have shown that semaglutide can cause thyroid tumors to grow in rodents. Your provider will assess your risk factors and determine if this medication is safe for you. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 56 studies that included data from more than 46,000 people found that semaglutide was not associated with a risk of developing any type of cancer.
