Although recently made popular by TikTok, Semaglutide is a medication that has been around for over 10 years. During its initial development in 2012, Semaglutide was designed to help patients with Type 2 diabetes regulate their blood sugar. However, it has now become one of the most popular weight loss drugs on the market.

There is a lot of information about Semaglutide available online. But unfortunately, rumors on social media spread daily, making it difficult to decipher fact from fiction about this medication.

Vively Body Science is a physician-owned and operated wellness clinic that offers medical treatments to patients struggling with weight loss. Co-founders, Dr. Laurel Martini and Dr. Joshua Martini have extensive experience to guide their treatment. Thousands of patients have left Vively Body Science looking and feeling their best!

Reach out to the experts at Vively Body Science for any questions you have about medical weight loss. In this blog, we will help you understand more about semaglutide near Minneapolis so you can make an informed decision about your treatment.

If you want to skip ahead and talk to a doctor about Semaglutide right now, schedule an appointment online.

If you’re ready to learn about semaglutide, how it works, who should take it, and the truth behind common semaglutide myths, keep reading!

What is semaglutide?

Before we get too deep into Semaglutide, let’s talk about peptides.

Peptides are short chains of amino acids naturally found throughout the body. As building blocks of our cells, peptides have specific functions that are essential to our health. They’re in charge of regulating everything from sleep to hunger to glucose levels.

Semaglutide is one type of peptide (also known as Glucagon-like peptide-1 or GLP-1). This peptide is naturally produced in your gut. It keeps your blood sugar in check, but it also influences your appetite.

How does it work for weight loss?

Semaglutide acts as an appetite suppressant to help patients lose weight. At Vively Body Science, our doctors safely prescribe and administer semaglutide. Regardless of the brand, our physicians will start you on a very low dose and monitor your body’s reaction. If you tolerate the medication well, we’ll determine a schedule for gradually increasing your dose.

But HOW?

Scientists are still researching why semaglutide is so effective for weight loss. We know it curbs the appetite and helps you feel full, but exactly how it does this is still unclear.

This is what we do know—when your stomach is empty, it releases hormones that tell the brain you’re hungry. When you eat, other hormones are released to let your brain know you’re full.

Semaglutide acts on these hunger hormones to increase the “we’re full” signal. When your brain thinks you’re full, you don’t eat as much, which reduces your caloric intake and helps you lose weight.

It’s a complicated process, but the bottom line is this—semaglutide makes you feel less hungry, and as a result, weight loss becomes easier.

How is semaglutide administered?

Semaglutide is typically administered as an injection. You need a doctor’s prescription to start this medication, and your provider will train you on its administration. You’ll inject the medication into your thigh, stomach, or upper arm once a week.

What are the benefits of semaglutide?

Near Minneapolis, our clinic has seen great results from semaglutide. Along with weight loss, semaglutide has the potential to:

Lower your blood sugar
Decrease your risk of diabetes
Promote cardiovascular health
Suppress your appetite
Help you feel more full

Bodies can react differently to medications, so semaglutide is not right for everyone. It’s important to discuss any concerns you have with your doctor. Our medically trained providers at Vively Body Science are with you throughout the entire process. We are here to answer your questions and support you on your weight loss journey.

Who should not use semaglutide?

You should not use semaglutide if any of the following apply to you:

A personal or family history of thyroid cancer
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2
If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant while on the medication
A history of pancreatitis

Our doctors will talk to you about your medical history and any medications you are currently taking. It’s important to avoid drug interactions with semaglutide, particularly with anti-diabetic agents (like insulin).

What are the potential risks and side effects?

Your doctors at Vively will carefully monitor your response to semaglutide to minimize potential risks and side effects. The most common side effects of semaglutide are nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but these side effects usually improve after a few weeks once your body adjusts to the medication.

We advise patients to look out for the following symptoms and call us if you experience:

A lump or swelling in your neck
Low blood sugar
Severe stomach pain
Increased heart rate
Depression or thoughts of suicide

At Vively, we thoroughly educate patients on their medications. When semaglutide is prescribed correctly and patients are knowledgeable, serious side effects are rare.

Semaglutide myths

With celebrities and social media influencers sharing their experience with semaglutide, a lot of misinformation has circulated. Let’s dive into some common myths about semaglutide to set the record straight!

Myth #1: You don’t have to exercise to lose weight

Semaglutide is designed for use in combination with a healthy diet and exercise plan. Unfortunately, it doesn’t magically cause weight loss on its own. You must make lifestyle changes, including a consistent exercise routine, to reap the benefits of semaglutide.

Myth #2: You can eat whatever you want with semaglutide

A healthy diet is essential for weight loss. Maybe you’ve heard the rumor “you can eat a whole pizza and won’t gain weight with semaglutide.” This is not true! Semaglutide is a tool that can suppress your appetite, but it does not guarantee weight loss.

Myth #3: Semaglutide makes you sick

As discussed previously, the most common side effects of semaglutide are nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. But if you experience these symptoms, it doesn’t mean you’ll be sick for the whole course of treatment. These symptoms usually subside after a few weeks of using the medication.

Myth #4: You’ll gain the weight back after stopping the medication

If you take semaglutide and make the right lifestyle changes, the weight shouldn’t come back after stopping this medication. However, you will gain weight back if you do not continue a healthy diet and exercise plan.

The most important thing to remember is that semaglutide is a tool. It is not a miracle solution for weight loss. Semaglutide is powerful and can spark life-changing results, but patients need to make lifestyle changes for this effect.

What happens after weight loss?

Your weight loss journey doesn’t end when the numbers on the scale go down. Many patients have loose, sagging skin after weight loss with semaglutide. Near Minneapolis, our clinic offers skin tightening treatments to help you feel your most confident.

Learn more about our loose skin treatment from Dr. Martini!

Are there other treatments for weight loss?

Semaglutide is not the only tool for weight loss. Vively Body Science offers a variety of treatments and supplements to help kickstart your weight loss, including:

Craving control®
Naltrexone®
IV therapy weight loss

If you want to lose weight but aren’t sure which treatment is right for you, leave it to the experts! Use our virtual consultation tool to get personalized treatment recommendations from our providers.

Vively Body Science is the clinic you can trust for semaglutide near Minneapolis

We know that losing weight can be extremely frustrating, but that’s why we are here to help. As a physician-owned and operated practice, Vively Body Science gives patients support and the necessary tools for medical weight loss in Wayzata.

If you want to discuss semaglutide or other options for medical weight loss near Minneapolis, schedule an appointment today.

Our medical professionals are dedicated to your whole health. We want to help you look and feel your best.

Semaglutide Weight Loss | The Top Clinic Near Minneapolis