Semaglutide is an FDA-approved, once-weekly injectable weight loss medication. Trade names include Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy. Semaglutide mimicks a hormone called Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1), which acts on the area of the brain responsible for regulating appetite and food intake. The impact is reduced appetite and often increased energy, leading to weight loss. Additionally, it appears to increase the metabolism of food. Studies are ongoing, but for many it appears to have a positive effect on mood as well!

Tirzepatide is an FDA- approved, once-weekly injectable weight loss medication. Like semaglutide, it works similarly to a GLP-1 and on Gastric Inhibitory Peptide (GIP). Because of its dual mechanisms of action, many people see improved weight loss with Tirzepatide compared to Semaglutide. It appears that Tirzepatide also decreased visceral fat stores; this dangerous type of fat accumulates around your internal organs, which can increase your risk for metabolic disease, cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancers, and many other health concerns.

While both of these medications work with the GLP-1 cascade which can improve glycemic control and lead to weight loss, Tirzepatide also includes a glucose-dependent insulinotropic agent, which helps to regulate blood sugar and leads to improved weight loss as compared to tirzepatide.

So why would anyone choose semaglutide? Partially, it is more affordable than tirzepatide. But many people find the potential side effects to be more extreme than tirzepatide. For that reason, many patients are started off with semaglutide and then move to tirzepatide if they are not achieving the results they desire. This is an ongoing conversation with your health care practitioner.

Potential side effects include:

• Nausea/Vomiting

• Bloating

• Constipation

• Diarrhea

• Indigestion

• Abdominal pain

• Belching

• Fatigue

• Dizziness

• Headache

• Hypoglycemia

• Blurred vision

• Dysphasia

• Chills

• Fever

• Hair loss

• Confusion

• Allergic reactions

• Cough

• Diabetic retinopathy

• Cool, pale skin

• Thyroid cancer

We will work with you to determine if weight loss medications are the right choice for your health and your goals. If we choose to proceed with these medications, we will instruct you on how to safely inject them yourself, or you can choose to have them done weekly in the clinic.

We will obtain a baseline InBody 580 body composition scan to determine areas of the body to focus on. If you're in the membership, we will repeat these monthly to track your progess. This shows us if you're losing weight, and whether than is fat or muscle mass.

During coaching sessions we will address your nutritional standards, exercise plans with a focus on resistance training, and mindset work, so that if and when you choose to stop your medications, you will have already established both thought patterns and behavioral habits which not only set you up to prevent regaining the weight you've lost, but to optimize your health span as well!

• Decreased risk of heart attack

• Decreased risk of Type 2 Diabetes and/or Metabolic Syndrome

• Decreased risk of certain types of cancers

• Increased emotional and psychological well-being

• Increased self-image