Discover the revolutionary weight loss injections (GLP-1 and GLP-1/GIP) that are currently making waves in Hollywood.
But are these shots suitable for you?
If you find yourself battling with constant hunger, uncontrollable cravings, and difficulty shedding pounds, then the “magic weight loss shots” may be the solution you’ve been seeking.
Now, you might be wondering – are they really magic?
As a metabolic physician specializing in weight loss, I’ve spent decades researching effective medications and methods to help our patients.
These shots are a game-changer.
How Do Weight Loss Injections Work?
If you’re looking for ways to help with weight loss, you may have heard of the celebrities not so not-so-secret “weight loss injections” and wondered if they would work for you.
Weight loss medications work by suppressing the appetite. To understand how this happens, we need to learn how the body sends hunger signals.
Your stomach sends satiety hormones (GLP1 and GIP) to the brain, essentially saying, “Hey, stop being hungry. I am full!”
The trouble is these naturally occurring satiety hormones are super short-lived.
Magic shots (weight loss injections) stay in the body for a week at a time! Suppressing your appetite by making your brain think that your stomach is full.
As a result, you feel less hungry and, when eating, feel full with a much smaller amount of food. To make sure they are safe and effective, weight loss injections should only be used with the guidance of a healthcare provider.
FDA-Approved Weight Loss Injections:
The following weight loss medications are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat overweight and obesity in adults:
● Semaglutide (Wegovy)
● Liraglutide (Saxenda)
In addition, a newer medication, trizepatide (Mounjaro), is also seeking FDA approval for weight loss and may be “fast-track” approved within the next 6-12 months. It is already FDA-approved for patients with Type 2 diabetes, and once Mounjaro receives weight-loss approval, it will be added to the list below.
Here are the current FDA-approved injections for weight loss:
Semaglutide (Wegovy)
Semaglutide (marketing name Wegovy) is an injection weight loss medication used to help adults who are obese or who are overweight and have weight-related medical problems.
Semaglutide (sem” a gloo’ tide) is in a class of medications called incretin mimetics. Incretin mimetics are commonly known as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists or GLP-1 analogues.
Research shows that GLP-1 receptors are found in various regions of the brain, and when activated, these are believed to promote a feeling of satiety which, in combination with GLP-1-induced inhibition of gastrointestinal motility (mediated through the vagus nerve), reduces food intake and body weight.
The injection comes as a prefilled dosing pen. It is usually injected once a week in the upper arm, thigh, or stomach area and can be taken at any time of day on a full or empty stomach.
Your doctor will start you on a low dose of semaglutide injection, which may increase gradually based on your body’s response to the medication.
All medication has possible side effects and risks involved. The most common side effects of Semaglutide include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and heartburn.
Liraglutide (Saxenda)
Liraglutide (marketing name Saxenda) is a weight loss injection used to help adults who are obese or overweight and have weight-related health problems.
Liraglutide injection (lir” a gloo’ tide) is in the same class of medications as semaglutide (Wegovy) called incretin mimetics.
Simply put, incretin mimetics reduces body weight by activating regions of the brain known to promote a feeling of fullness, thus reducing food intake.
Liraglutide is injected once a day in your stomach, thigh, or upper arm with or without food.
It is likely that your doctor will begin with a low dose and may increase it after a week. If you are an adult using Saxenda for weight loss, and you do not achieve a certain amount of weight loss after 16 weeks of treatment, it is unlikely that the medication will be effective for you.
Choosing A Weight Loss Injection
No matter which weight loss option you decide to pursue, it is important to choose a program that is tailored to fit your individual needs and lifestyle.
Having a healthcare provider who can support and guide you on your journey is essential.
At Melamed Health & Wellness, we help people reach their weight loss objectives by tailoring our approach to their specific needs.
This involves making dietary modifications, incorporating exercise, and using FDA-approved weight loss injections when appropriate.
Your first appointment, led by Dr. Melamed and our skilled Dietician, will encompass a thorough evaluation of your health and medical history.
During this hour-long session, Dr. Melamed will conduct a physical examination and order comprehensive blood work and an EKG.
Together, we will discuss appropriate weight loss medication options tailored to your needs.
Simultaneously, our Dietician will provide a comprehensive Body Composition analysis to guide the discussion on the best diet plan for you.
We prioritize your convenience when it comes to payment options. We accept most PPO Medical insurance plans and Medicare.
If you do not have insurance, we offer a choice between a discounted payment at the time of service or the Cherry credit payment option.
The cost for this all-inclusive first appointment, covering the services mentioned, is $550.
We want you to achieve your health and wellness goals, so let us help you create a unique plan tailored to your needs.
Contact us today!
Schedule An Appointment