Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist: it mimics a hormone your gut already releases after you eat. Prescribed and monitored properly, it does something no diet plan can. It turns down the appetite signal itself.
How semaglutide works
- Slows gastric emptying, so food stays in your stomach longer and you stay full longer.
- Acts on appetite centers in the brain, which is why patients describe "food noise" simply going quiet.
- Improves insulin response, helping stabilize the blood sugar swings that drive afternoon cravings.
In the landmark STEP trials, adults on weekly semaglutide plus lifestyle support lost an average of roughly 15% of their body weight over 68 weeks. For a 250 lb man, that's in the neighborhood of 37 lbs.
What treatment looks like here
Semaglutide is a once-weekly injection you give yourself with a very fine needle. Most patients say they barely feel it. We start at a low dose and increase gradually over several weeks. That slow titration is deliberate: it's the difference between a comfortable start and a miserable one.
Your program includes provider visits to check progress, adjust dosing, review side effects, and make sure you're hitting protein and resistance-training targets so the weight you lose is fat, not muscle.
Common side effects
Most are mild, dose-related, and fade as your body adapts:
- Nausea, especially in the first days after a dose increase
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Reduced appetite and early fullness
- Fatigue during the first few weeks
We manage these actively: slower titration, hydration, fiber, and timing adjustments resolve the vast majority of them.
Who it isn't for
Semaglutide is not appropriate for everyone. We do not prescribe it to patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2, a history of pancreatitis, or during pregnancy. Your consultation includes a full screening so we can tell you honestly whether this is the right tool for you.
Semaglutide or tirzepatide?
Both work. Tirzepatide targets two hormone receptors instead of one and has produced greater average weight loss in head-to-head studies, but semaglutide has a longer real-world track record and is often the better starting point. We'll walk you through the trade-offs (including cost) at your free consultation.
This is a self-pay service. We'll go over the full monthly cost with you before you start, with no surprise billing.