Did you know that approximately 70 percent of Americans struggle with obesity or are considered medically overweight? The obesity epidemic is one that healthcare professionals have been trying to address for years in order to help individuals lead healthy and fulfilling lives. 

While there are some areas of progress, many people still find it difficult to lose weight and keep it off in order to maintain their health. That’s why so many end up trying multiple different weight management programs throughout their lifetime. Thankfully, there are new solutions that can help individuals on their weight loss journeys, such as the recently FDA-approved use of semaglutide. 

However, in order to understand whether or not a weight-loss treatment may be right for you, you first have to understand the causes and risks of obesity.  

What is leading to the obesity struggle for so many individuals?

If you are someone who is struggling with weight loss, you are not alone. Part of the reason that weight has become such an epidemic in this modern society is that there is a combination of environmental and physiological factors at play. 

Genetics certainly play a part in where an individual holds fat and how fast their metabolism is. Therefore, if an individual has many family members who are overweight, it is more likely for that person to be overweight as well. For women, pregnancy and childbirth can lead to weight gain. Many women struggle to lose this weight after childbirth and sometimes this leads to being considered overweight or obese. Additionally, certain health conditions may make it more likely for a person to be overweight. 

Environmental factors can also impact whether or not a person struggles with obesity. The foods that a person eats growing up as well as their current diet can play a significant role in their weight. Likewise, whether or not you have access to a place where you can safely exercise may impact your weight. 

Finally, the sedentary lifestyle that is common for so many of us with office jobs exaggerates all of these other factors. This is likely a huge contributor to the weight and obesity problem in the United States. 

What are the health risks associated with obesity?

Unfortunately, weight loss is important for more than just aesthetic reasons. Being obese poses serious risks to your health. 

Being overweight can stunt your body’s response to insulin, making it resistant and spiking your blood sugar. Ultimately, this resistance to insulin can lead to diabetes. Moreover, obesity is directly linked to hypertension (high blood pressure) and high cholesterol which both wreak havoc on the heart. Individuals who are obese are more likely to have heart disease, sleep apnea, and fatty liver disease. 

Because obesity poses such serious health threats, it’s important to understand what options there are for non-surgical weight loss. 

What options are there for weight loss?

Although diet and exercise are important tools toward losing weight, many people find that they need additional assistance in order to lose weight and keep it off. When trying to develop a weight management program, many individuals chose to opt for a treatment program to help their body break down fat in a way that is non-invasive and pain-free. 

Some of these kinds of weight loss treatments include: 

• Lipotropic Injections: to help burn fat and stimulate metabolism. 
• Nutrient IV Therapy: to help supplement important nutrients that help provide your body with the tools that it needs to burn fat on its own. 

Unfortunately, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved new treatments that could be added to weight loss programs since 2014. That was until the recent approval of semaglutide injections.  

What is the FDA-approved semaglutide treatment?

Semaglutide is a drug that is injected under the skin in order to help regulate the hormones in the body that regulate appetite and food intake. The treatment was originally developed to help individuals with Type 2 diabetes but has recently been approved by the FDA to help with weight management for those with existing conditions related to their weight. 

Semaglutide works by mimicking the specific hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 to limit appetite. The treatment is increased over a period of weeks in order to get the best results and minimize negative reactions. 

What are the benefits of semaglutide injections?

The approval of semaglutide is great news for those who have been struggling with weight loss. For one, injections are only given once a week, which makes this treatment far more tolerable and attainable than treatments of the past. 

Moreover, the treatment has been shown to be effective in clinical trials. What’s most exciting about the treatment, is that it can help patients pass the 10 percent weight loss threshold that is needed to counteract the health risks that are posed by obesity. This has been a huge barrier for prior medications which could help individuals lose weight — but not the amount of weight needed to see heath benefits. This is the first medication of its kind that is consistently showing results where it matters most. 

How can I move forward with the treatment in my weight loss program?

If you are ready to move forward with a weight management program that works for you, it may be time to set up a consultation at any of our Liquivida locations. Our wellness experts can help you determine what treatment will best suit your needs and how to get started. This includes semaglutide injections!