Medical Weight Loss
Semaglutides: How They Work
Semaglutide medications work by mimicking glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone that your body naturally produces in the gut. When semaglutide binds to GLP-1 receptors in your body, it triggers several physiological responses that can help with blood sugar management and weight loss:
Stimulates the release of insulin, a hormone in your body that shuttles blood sugar into your cells.
Suppresses the secretion of glucagon, a hormone that increases blood sugar levels by stimulating the release of stored glycogen into sugar.
Slows gastric emptying, which helps people feel full for longer and aids in reducing overall calorie intake.
Semaglutide Uses
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic condition that results in uncontrolled blood sugar levels. Normally, insulin regulates blood sugar by encouraging the sugar in your bloodstream to enter your cells where it can be used for energy. However, people with type 2 diabetes either do not produce enough insulin or become resistant to the effects of insulin. This can lead to elevated blood sugar levels which, if left unchecked, can be linked to a variety of health issues like heart disease, vision problems, and nerve damage.
This is where semaglutide medication can help. Semaglutide drugs mimic the hormone GLP-1, which increases insulin secretion and therefore helps manage blood sugar levels in diabetic patients.
Weight Loss
In addition to managing blood sugar levels, semaglutide medications can also help people manage their weight due to their appetite-suppressing effects. Body weight largely depends on one’s energy balance—in other words, the amount of calories that they take in through their diet versus the calories that they burn through exercise and regular body functions. Because semaglutide encourages slower gastric emptying, it can help reduce one’s overall calorie intake, leading to a calorie deficit and subsequent weight loss.
Clinical studies have found that this is an effective weight loss solution for overweight and obese patients. For example, one study found that obese adult participants taking semaglutide medication reported reduced appetite and lower calorie intake, leading to a 9.9% reduction in body weight. In comparison, other participants who were given a placebo lost an average of only 0.4% of their initial body weight.
How Does Semaglutide Medication Affect Your Body Composition?
Body Fat Reduction
Semaglutide medications primarily affect body composition by reducing fat. Its effects on slowing gastric emptying can directly impact your calorie intake, often leading to fat loss.
Interestingly, though semaglutide medication was primarily intended for diabetic patients, the fat reduction effects can also be seen in people without diabetes. For example, a study published in May 2024 found that administration of semaglutide medication led to significant weight loss and reduction in visceral fat in non-diabetic subjects. A meta-analysis of six trials on non-diabetic overweight and obese individuals also saw sizable weight loss in patients, as well as significant improvements in other health measures like blood pressure, blood sugar, and lipid levels.
This being said, it’s also important to note the possibility of weight regain for those who stop using the medication. Without the use of semaglutide medications and in the absence of long-term diet and exercise habits, some people may find that their calorie intake increases and reverses the loss they experienced while on the medication. For example, a study found that participants lost weight during their semaglutide medications and structured lifestyle interventions; however, participants also regained an average of two-thirds of their lost weight in the year after stopping their treatments.
Excerpt from https://inbodyusa.com/blogs/inbodyblog/the-science-behind-semaglutide-medication/