In recent years, Semaglutide has gained widespread attention both in clinical settings and across social media. This treatment has been long recognised as an effective treatment for managing type 2 diabetes, but has been FDA-approved as a medical weight loss treatment in 2021.
Many well known individuals, such as Tech Billionaire, Elon Musk, shared their remarkable transformations on the internet. Collectively known as the GLP-1 Receptor Agonist class of medications, common examples include Ozempic (Semaglutide), Wegovy (semaglutide), Saxenda (Liraglutide), and Rybelsus (Semaglutide).
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a naturally occurring hormone in the body that plays a key role in regulating appetite and blood sugar levels. Generally, when we consume food, GLP-1 is released in the gut, which triggers the brain to reduce hunger, slow down digestion and manage blood glucose levels.
Weight loss medications, such as semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and liraglutide (Saxenda), work by mimicking this hormone, aiding in weight loss by:
Before the rise of GLP-1 medications, weight loss medications often involved drugs that take effect on the central nervous system to reduce hunger or increase energy expenditure. This includes phentermine and diethylpropion.
| Feature | GLP-1 Medications | Older Weight Loss Medications |
| Mechanism | Mimics GLP-1 hormone that naturally occurs in the body | Stimulates the central nervous system |
Weight loss medications are indicated for patients who are obese and suffer from obesity related complications, despite best efforts at weight loss through lifestyle modification (ie- diet and exercise). Weight loss medications are prescribed to to patients who are:
That being said, you can still consult your doctor if you’re struggling to lose weight despite your best efforts. A professional consultation could be the key to uncovering any underlying factors and exploring medical-grade solutions to help you overcome this plateau.
Medical weight loss generally refers to a holistic weight loss programme where treatment is tailored specifically to your condition, goals, and is closely supervised by a medical professional. This often involves weight loss medication prescribed by your doctor to aid in losing weight in addition to a proper diet and regular exercise.
Several weight loss medications approved by the US FDA and Singapore HSA include:
These medications contain semaglutide or liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which binds to GLP-1 receptors and promotes insulin secretion [2, 3]. Semaglutide and liraglutide also reduce release of glucagon, a hormone that increases blood sugar levels, as well as inhibit gluconeogenesis, a process of converting glycogen in the liver to glucose in the blood. Essentially, the medications work by suppressing appetite and increasing satiety.
Some side effects of Semaglutide and Liraglutide are [2, 4]:
However, these side effects usually only occur in the first few weeks of treatment as your body acclimates to the medication, and are tolerable for most patients. However, if you experience extreme symptoms, such as severe abdominal pain, changes in heart rate or mood changes, it is important to consult your doctor immediately.
Before giving you a prescription for weight loss medication, you will need a consultation session with your doctor. Everyone’s weight loss journey is different, and this allows your doctor to assess your suitability and gain a better understanding of your medical history, weight loss challenges, and current health condition before coming up with a personalised treatment plan for you. It is also important to inform your doctor if you are taking any other medicines for other conditions as there may be contraindications.
Depending on the type of drug, the dosage may be administered differently.
Medical supervision is necessary throughout the course of the treatment to ensure patient safety and efficacy of the treatment. Depending on your treatment plan, you will be required to have follow-up visits so your doctor can monitor your progress and adjust your dosages accordingly for optimal outcomes.
Patients with the following conditions are contraindicated for the use of semaglutide and liraglutide:
Stopping the treatment may cause you to regain some of the weight lost during treatment [10]. However, this can be managed with habit-control, a proper diet and regular exercise.
