Semaglutide and Tirzepatide are well-known treatments for type 2 diabetes, but recently, they’ve gained attention as effective weight-loss medications. Here’s how these two medications can help you control your appetite and shed those pesky pounds.
If you’re trying to lose weight, it’s almost certain you’ve heard about semaglutide and tirzepatide, two diabetes medications that have gained much attention — and FDA approval — for their ability to promote weight loss. But while you may know these drugs can help people shed pounds, there’s also a good chance you don’t know how they do it.
At Institute for Hormonal Balance, our team offers comprehensive weight-loss solutions featuring a variety of therapies, including semaglutide and tirzepatide injections. Here’s how these two medications control your appetite and support healthy weight loss.
The science behind semaglutide and tirzepatide
Semaglutide and tirzepatide belong to a group of drugs called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists. These medications help treat both diabetes and obesity by promoting insulin secretion after you eat. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body regulate blood sugar (glucose) levels.
Regulating glucose is essential for diabetes and weight loss, too. It helps improve metabolism so your body burns calories more efficiently. Fine-tuning your metabolism is the first way these medications help you lose weight and keep it off.
GLP-1 agonists also help your muscles use glucose more efficiently while slowing down glucose production in your liver, two effects that also help promote weight loss.
Controlling hunger
But these medications go a step further than that. In addition to helping your body regulate glucose more efficiently, they also help quell feelings of hunger that drive many people to overeat — and to gain weight.
GLP-1 agonists also work on your digestive system, slowing down digestion and delaying gastric emptying so your stomach feels full longer. At the same time, these medications help you eat less by acting on the gut-brain axis, regulating the hormones responsible for hunger “pangs” and appetite.
Studies show that all these actions combined help patients lose considerably more weight than people who didn’t use the medications.
Your treatment: What to expect
We administer both semaglutide and tirzepatide via injections just below the skin’s surface, similar to insulin. Injections go in the thigh, belly, or arm, and with each injection, we alternate the site to avoid irritation and soreness.
Typically, patients begin with a low dose of medication to give their body time to adjust to therapy. Our team tailors treatment to your unique needs for maximum benefits and may increase your dose over time.
Both tirzepatide and semaglutide work quickly, providing noticeable results in just a few weeks. In addition to losing weight and reducing your risks of weight-related health problems, you’ll notice other benefits, like an increase in energy, improved sleep, and, of course, greater self-confidence.
While these medications help you lose weight, keeping it off is up to you. We help you develop healthy lifestyle habits to maintain your results and manage your weight for the long term.
Achieve your weight goals successfully
If you feel like it’s almost impossible to control your appetite and stop those nagging — and uncomfortable — feelings of hunger, GLP-1 agonist medications could be just what you need to manage your appetite and finally achieve your weight-loss goals.
To learn more about semaglutide and tirzepatide and whether they’re a good fit for you, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Institute for Hormonal Balance in Arlington and Prosper, Texas, today.
