Semaglutide, a medication initially developed for individuals with Type 2 diabetes, has emerged as a promising option for weight loss. This article explores the use of semaglutide in weight loss programs, focusing on clinical trials and real-world evidence, particularly in the context of Hawaii.
Understanding Semaglutide
Semaglutide is classified as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. As a GLP-1 receptor agonist, it binds with the human GLP-1 receptors, which leads to insulin secretion and delayed gastric emptying. This mechanism helps keep patients fuller for longer periods after consuming smaller amounts of food. Semaglutide may also help to increase metabolism. It mimics the effects of a gut hormone that regulates blood sugar levels, helping to regulate appetite and enhance insulin sensitivity when taken regularly. Semaglutide is designed to help suppress the “food noise” effect that many patients struggle with. “Food noise” refers to the addiction-like mental fixation on food, keeping thoughts of food and eating ever-present in one’s mind. Semaglutide aims to regulate hormones to silence this persistent focus on food, allowing patients to overcome food addictions.
Brand Names and Availability
Ozempic and Wegovy contain the active ingredient Semaglutide which has been highly effective in a variety of weight loss programs. At Athena Clinic Plastic Surgery, they offer a compounded version of semaglutide instead of these trademarked options. Compounded semaglutide is less costly than the name-brand options, allowing the medication to be more accessible to the patients who can benefit from it. It is important to note that compounded GLP-1 medications are not FDA-approved. They may only be offered under specific federal guidelines and are not reviewed for safety, efficacy, or manufacturing quality by the FDA.
How Semaglutide is Administered
This medication is a subcutaneous injection, which means it is injected beneath the skin. The medication requires weekly subcutaneous injections, which can be performed in the comfort of your home or by a professional at a clinic. An ultra-thin needle is used to deliver the medication just beneath the skin, usually in areas less visible, such as the abdomen or upper thigh. Patients need to maintain healthy exercise and dieting habits as they follow their semaglutide regimen as well. Your provider will explain how to rotate injection sites and monitor your body’s response to the drug.
Benefits of Semaglutide for Weight Loss
Patients taking semaglutide may experience several benefits, especially when they combine the medication with regular exercise and a healthy diet. With regular use, patients will be able to see reductions in weight over time. Semaglutide can enhance insulin sensitivity, which is crucial for blood sugar regulation. By signaling brain receptors, semaglutide can reduce hunger pangs, making it easier to stick to a healthy diet. Many individuals find that the weight loss achieved with semaglutide can be maintained over the long term. Semaglutide has been shown to lower the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes in individuals with diabetes. Compared to other weight-loss medications, semaglutide generally has milder side effects. Patients may find improvements in mobility and energy levels, positively impacting their daily lifestyle.
Read also: Transformations with Ozempic
Clinical Trials and Studies
Efficacy of Semaglutide in Clinical Trials
Clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of semaglutide in promoting weight loss. Research suggests that semaglutide can play a role in reducing body weight and supporting those struggling with metabolic syndrome. Clinical trials indicate that weight loss can occur over time with continuous use. Most users report noticeable reductions in their body weight, improved appetite control, and heightened energy levels.
One notable study highlighted the potential of combining semaglutide with lifestyle interventions. By improving cardiovascular health, managing diabetes, and promoting weight loss, this medication presents a holistic approach to obesity treatment.
Real-World Validation of Semaglutide
Adults with obesity lost an average of 16.7% of their baseline body weight over 64 weeks using an online weight-loss program that combined individualized doses of semaglutide with behavioral, dietary, and psychological support-matching the weight loss seen in clinical trials with the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor-1 agonist (GLP-1 RA) but using less than half the medication. The results, presented at the 2025 European Congress on Obesity and slated for publication in The Lancet Digital Health, offer real-world validation of an online platform’s ability to optimize outcomes while minimizing medication burden.
The average semaglutide dose used was about 1 mg/week; only 28.8% of participants exceeded that amount. In contrast, roughly 90% of patients in semaglutide clinical trials reached the full 2.4 mg/week dose, according to the findings.
Treat-to-Target Approach
The dosing followed an individualized “treat-to-target” strategy: patients started on low doses, which were increased only if they failed to maintain a weight reduction of more than 0.5% per week or experienced persistent hunger or side effects. Treatment continued until patients either reached their goal weight or a BMI of 25 kg/m².
Read also: Comprehensive guide: Tirzepatide and Semaglutide for weight management
The standard semaglutide dosing schedule begins with a low initial dose of 0.25 mg once weekly that is increased every 4 weeks for 16 weeks to a maximum dose of 2.4mg, which the patient remains on until treatment ends, was tailored to individual patients.
Study Results
Reported weight loss averaged 12.2% at week 26, 16.2% at week 52, and 16.7% (16.8 kg) at week 64. Gudbergsen and colleagues cite data demonstrating that their outcomes closely align with the 15-16% weight loss observed in clinical trials involving full-dose semaglutide plus lifestyle intervention.
Among 515 participants with data at weeks 52-64, 98% achieved weight loss of at least 5%, and 82%, 51%, and 23% reached 10%, 15%, and 20% weight loss, respectively. Women lost more weight on average than men (17.6% vs 13.4%), and higher app engagement correlated with greater weight loss. Efficacy did not vary by starting BMI, age, or semaglutide dose.
Side Effects and Limitations
Side effects, primarily gastrointestinal (eg, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain), were generally mild and transient. Limitations include the lack of a control group and reliance on self-reported data. Still, the researchers argue that the findings highlight the clinical promise of combining digital health tools with flexible pharmacologic strategies, pointing out that theirs is "the first study of the effectiveness of a personalized treat-to-target approach for weight loss through tailored obesity medication doses in participants living with overweight or obesity."
Semaglutide in Hawaii: A Personalized Approach
In Hawaii, clinics like Athena Clinic Plastic Surgery offer personalized semaglutide regimens. These programs often involve a comprehensive consultation to assess the patient's medical history, weight loss goals, and overall health. The aim is to create a tailored treatment plan that maximizes effectiveness while minimizing potential side effects.
Read also: Semaglutide Without Diet Changes
Ideal Candidates
Ideal candidates for a customized semaglutide regimen include adults who want to achieve a moderate amount of weight loss, especially in those patients undergoing liposuction. One of the effects of liposuction surgery is brain signaling to regain weight and return the body to its previous set point. Patients should be ready to commit to a healthier lifestyle, including dietary modifications and increased physical activity. Patients should also have discussed using semaglutide during consultations with their primary healthcare providers. It is critical for potential users to have realistic expectations about the medication, as semaglutide is most effective when combined with lifestyle changes.
The Consultation Process
A personal consultation is essential for determining whether semaglutide is the right choice for you. During your visit to Athena Clinic Plastic Surgery, they will assess your medical history and discuss your weight loss goals. A thorough examination will also consider any underlying medical conditions, ensuring a tailored treatment plan. They also recommend changes in diet and ways to live a more active lifestyle; they are happy to provide further resources if needed. At the end of the consultation, you will leave with important information regarding dosage guidelines, expected results, and any potential lifestyle changes you would benefit from adopting.
Preparation and Procedure
Once semaglutide is deemed appropriate for your weight management, you will receive specific pre-treatment instructions. Please inform your physician of any existing medical conditions, allergies, or medications you are currently taking. Doing so will allow your Athena Clinic Plastic Surgery provider to discuss potential interactions with other drugs. They will ensure that you understand self-injection techniques if you will be administering your medication at home. If you would prefer, you can come into their office to receive your weekly doses.
The process of initiating semaglutide therapy primarily involves patient education and instruction. Regular follow-ups will help monitor the effects of your treatment, allowing for adjustments if necessary.
Cost of Semaglutide in Honolulu
The total cost of your semaglutide regimen will depend on the dosages required in your treatment, the length of your treatment, and a few other factors. Clinics like Athena Clinic Plastic Surgery offer compounded semaglutide, which is less expensive than name-brand options. Their practice also offers various financing options for their procedures and treatments. After your consultation, you will receive a cost estimate for your treatment as well.
Combining Semaglutide with Other Treatments
As weight loss with GLP-1 medications becomes more common, many patients have seen noticeable changes. When done in conjunction with a liposuction procedure, avoiding weight regain or even a small weight loss of a few pounds makes the results look even better. Once the body’s weight set point has been reset, we would want to slowly taper off the medication.
However, if taking semaglutide for a lot of weight loss happens, we are also now seeing patients present with sagging, excess skin on their bodies and faces. When a significant amount of weight is lost in a short time frame, the skin is often unable to quickly adapt to a smooth, tight contour on the body, leaving it sagging or “ptotic.” Fortunately, there are many different body and facial rejuvenation procedures available to address these concerns. Tummy tucks (abdominoplasty) and facelifts (rhytidectomy) are common procedures that remove excess skin and tighten muscles to give patients a smooth, healthy, and toned appearance to their bodies and faces. Skin tightening devices such as radiofrequency with Thermage or Potenza or helium-based Renuvion are available.
It is possible to combine semaglutide with diet and exercise programs. However, consult with your specialist to ensure no adverse interactions occur with other medications. You cannot take semaglutide if you are already taking a different GLP-1 medication.
Alternatives to Semaglutide
Monjauro and Zepbound contain a different active ingredient called Tirzepatide. Although Tirzepatide works along the same pathway as Ozempic/semaglutide, it also has a dual mode of action making it even more effective at weight loss.
Ongoing Clinical Trials
Several ongoing clinical trials are exploring the efficacy and safety of semaglutide in various populations and in combination with other treatments. These studies aim to further refine our understanding of how semaglutide can be used to achieve optimal weight loss outcomes.
- One study will look at how well CagriSema helps participants with excess body weight lose weight compared to a "dummy" medicine and 2 other medicines, cagrilintide and semaglutide. Participants will either get CagriSema, cagrilintide,semaglutide or "dummy" medicine. Which treatment participants get is decided by chance. They will take one injection once a week.
- Another study is researching experimental drugs called trevogrumab and garetosmab in combination with semaglutide (Wegovy®). Part A of the study is focused on healthy participants. The aim of Part A of the study is to see how safe and tolerable the study drug is in healthy participants.
- One study will look at participants body weight from the start to the end of the study. It will also look at how much pain participants have in participants knee from the start to the end of the study and how this affects participants daily life. This is to compare the effect on body weight and pain in the knee in people taking semaglutide with people taking "dummy" medicine. Participants will either get semaglutide or "dummy" medicine.
- One study will look at how well CagriSema helps people with obesity lose weight compared to a "dummy medicine". CagriSema is a new medicine developed by Novo Nordisk. CagriSema cannot yet be prescribed by doctors. Participants will either get CagriSema or "dummy medicine". Which treatment participants get is decided by chance and is not known by participants or the study doctor.
- One study will look at how well CagriSema compared to Tirzepatide helps people lower their body weight. CagriSema is a new investigational medicine developed by Novo Nordisk that combines Cagrilintide and Semaglutide. CagriSema is not yet being prescribed by doctors and participants will get injections once a week throughout the treatment period.
- One study will look at how much weight participants will lose from the start to the end of the study. The weight loss in participants taking the investigational high dose of semaglutide will be compared to the weight loss in people taking "dummy" medicine and a lower dose of semaglutide.
Conclusion
Semaglutide has shown significant promise as a tool for weight loss, both in clinical trials and real-world settings. In Hawaii, personalized semaglutide regimens offer a tailored approach to weight management, combining the benefits of medication with lifestyle modifications. While semaglutide is not a magic bullet, it can be a valuable component of a comprehensive weight loss strategy when used under the guidance of healthcare professionals.
FAQ
How long does it take to see results from semaglutide?
Most patients may start noticing changes within a few weeks of regular use, with substantial changes becoming more apparent over the first six months.
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