Lately, there’s been a lot of buzz surrounding semaglutide as a wonder medication that treats multiple conditions, from obesity and diabetes to heart disease and cancer. The question is, what makes semaglutide so intriguing?
In the heart of Houston, Texas, our professional team at The Endocrine Center specializes in all aspects of semaglutide, and we’ve got some insight into its growing popularity and use.
You may recognize semaglutide under the brand names Wegovy® and Ozempic®. To grasp semaglutide’s recent popularity surge, it helps to start with the basics of its composition and function.
Semaglutide imitates the natural GLP-1 hormone secreted in your gut following a meal. One of GLP-1’s main tasks is to promote insulin production, which lowers blood sugar levels. This is great news for people with Type 2 diabetes. It also explains why semaglutide has made waves among those struggling to manage their blood sugar.
You may have read about semaglutide while looking for weight loss medications because it’s shown remarkable abilities to help people shed pounds.
Apart from its glucose-lowering effects, GLP-1 in high concentrations can influence the brain areas controlling appetite and satiety. Combined with diet and exercise, semaglutide can help you drop excess fat and reach a healthy weight.
Preliminary research has indicated that semaglutide might play a role in cancer prevention, although this area still requires much more in-depth study.
The science behind this potential lies in the drug’s influence on insulin resistance and obesity — two factors known to increase the risk of several types of cancer. By improving insulin sensitivity and promoting weight reduction, semaglutide may reduce these risks, offering a preventative benefit.
Also, semaglutide could potentially ward off certain cancers by rejuvenating anticancer cells that lose their potency due to obesity or excess weight.
However, we must clarify that while these findings are promising, semaglutide isn’t approved as a cancer prevention medication. As health care professionals, our commitment at The Endocrine Center is to stay abreast of emerging research and to offer evidence-based treatments, always adhering to the highest standards of medical care.
Semaglutide isn’t just about weight management and diabetes treatment; it also offers substantial cardiovascular benefits.
For example, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which includes conditions such as stroke and heart attack, involves high levels of blood sugar. Because semaglutide impacts weight management, blood pressure, and lipid profiles, it may help in the fight against heart disease.
In fact, some clinical research has shown that using Wegovy reduces severe heart-related incidents by as much as 20%.
Semaglutide isn’t a gimmick or fad — it’s a well-studied, proven drug. In 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Wegovy for weight loss.
Studies of nondiabetic patients reveal promising weight loss results with semaglutide. A 2021 New England Journal of Medicine study involving 2,000 obese adults indicated striking results with a semaglutide and lifestyle change combination.
Half of the participants using semaglutide achieved a remarkable 15% weight loss after 68 weeks, with almost a third reaching an impressive 20% reduction. Those relying solely on lifestyle changes managed only a 2.4% drop.
However, discontinuing semaglutide may lead to weight regain, emphasizing the importance of adopting lifestyle changes for lasting weight control. Despite semaglutide being a powerful weapon against obesity, The Endocrine Center’s team promotes its use alongside healthy eating and regular physical activities.
In short, the answer to the question about semaglutide’s sudden popularity is that it can offer hope to those battling Type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart problems, and cancer.
To learn more about semaglutide and how it can benefit you, request an appointment online or call The Endocrine Center at any of our three locations in Houston today.
