You might have seen the claims on TikTok about a drug called semaglutide that has helped many people lose weight, or even seen Elon Musk’s tweet about WeGovy, which contains semaglutide, as an aid to help him get slimmer and have a more toned physique.
Other Hollywood actors and producers also wax lyrical about Ozempic, another brand of medication which contains semaglutide. In fact, these drugs are so popular that they can be hard to obtain, with the F.D.A. listing both Ozempic and Wegovy as two of the dozens of medications that are currently in short supply.
Whether you have heard of this on TikTok, or picked up these names during conversations with your friends as you talk about diets and losing weight, it’s important to know what you might be potentially taking, and what it does. Let’s take a closer look at semaglutide, and what it can do for both diabetics, and weight control.
Semaglutide belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists, originally used for the purpose of treating Type 2 diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels and regulating insulin levels. This drug also imitates a hormone in the body called glucagon-like peptide-1, which is naturally occurring in your intestines.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 sends signals to our brain that our body is full , prompting the body to empty at a lower pace. In doing so, people who use semaglutide will feel full faster and eat less. For this reason, semaglutide is especially beneficial for those struggling with obesity and diabetes. Weight loss is one of the key factors that help in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, as weight control is an important method of managing the condition.
Semaglutide has been found to be effective in lowering the risk of obesity.
A clinical trial which looked into efficacy, safety and cardiovascular outcomes of semaglutide in the treatment of Type 2 diabetics, found that semaglutide was able to consistently prove itself to control blood sugar and weight in trial participants who had Type 2 diabetes and obesity. During the trial, Ozempic was found to reduce appetite and food cravings, and it lowered relative preferences for fatty foods.
Additionally, further double-blind studies on people with obesity found that in 1961 adults with a BMI of 30 or greater, those that were dosed once weekly with semaglutide showed a weight loss of 14.9% from their baselines after 16 months, when combined with lifestyle changes. Specifically, about 70% of trial participants achieved at least a 10% weight loss, while 50% of participants achieved at least 15% weight loss. About a third of participants lost 20% or more of their weight. For obese persons, even a 10% weight loss is significant, as it can combat weight related issues like high blood pressure, prediabetes and sleep apnea.
Another separate 2021 trial tested two different doses of semaglutide in 1200 people who were overweight or obese. All participants were given regular support to improve diet and exercise habits, and 3 equally-sized groups were randomly assigned to either take a placebo or one of the two doses of semaglutide. The 5 year long trial found that those on a higher semaglutide dose lost about 9.6% of their body weight on average, while those on the lower dose lost 7% body weight on average.
Semaglutide is generally safe, and well-tolerated by most individuals. There might be mild side effects, like nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, injection site reaction, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), headache, tiredness (fatigue), dizziness, stomach pain, and change in enzyme (lipase) levels in your blood.
However, those with a family history of thyroid cancers should not take the treatment, as it may trigger thyroid tumours. Additionally, those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to do either, should not use semaglutide injections. Should you have a history of problems with either your kidney or pancreas, it is recommended that you avoid this medication too.
In a very small number of people, weight loss injections can cause serious side effects like pancreatic inflammation, changes in vision, kidney problems, and gall bladder problems.
Semaglutide injections are currently available under two brands, Ozempic and WeGovy. Ozempic is FDA approved for use by adults with type 2 diabetes but is used off-label for weight loss. On the other hand, WeGovy was developed for weight loss and is approved by the FDA for this purpose. Singapore has not approved WeGovy for sale yet.
In countries that WeGovy has been approved for use, those seeking to use WeGovy for weight loss are required to get a doctor’s prescription before they can be used. WeGovy is recommended for the following kinds of patients:
– People with a BMI of 30 or more
– People with a BMI of 27 or more, with one weight-related condition like diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
Currently, Ozempic injections are available in Singapore for use by type 2 diabetes patients only. WeGovy is currently not available in Singapore. However, there are other types of drugs approved for weight loss. If you want to find ways to help improve your obesity condition, you should consider a detailed examination by our qualified doctors, who will then customise a suitable treatment plan based on your healthcondition.
If you are seeking to lose weight in a safe and sustainable manner, SL Aesthetic Clinic can provide you with the necessary diagnosis and treatment to work toward your ideal aesthetic look. Call us now at 6235 3246, or Whatsapp us at 9850 7112.
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