Ozempic weight loss clinic Leominster, MA - Rejuvenate Clinic

Understanding Hormone Imbalances and Weight Gain

Obesity and being overweight pose serious health risks like diabetes, heart disease, and even some cancers. While diet and exercise are important, hormone imbalances can also cause unhealthy weight gain. Semaglutide (Ozempic) helps regulate hormones for weight loss by acting on receptors in the brain to increase feelings of fullness and reduce appetite.

Our Rejuvenate Clinic specializes in using semaglutide (Ozempic) injections to help patients lose weight by correcting hormone deficiencies. Read on to learn more about how Ozempic promotes weight loss, who it can help, what to expect, and the benefits of choosing our clinic.

How Excess Weight Gain Happens

Unhealthy weight gain stems from consuming more calories than your body burns. Underlying hormonal issues like insulin resistance and leptin resistance disrupt the body's hunger and fullness signals. This causes overeating and fat storage instead of burning calories.

Causes of hormone dysfunction leading to weight gain include:

• Genetics
• Increasing age
• Stress
• Poor sleep
• Inflammation
• High body fat percentage

Left unchecked, the inability to lose weight frequently worsens and sparks the development of obesity-related diseases.

How Ozempic Promotes Weight Loss

Ozempic contains semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite. It works by:

• Slowing stomach emptying so you feel fuller longer
• Reducing appetite signals in the brain
• Improving insulin sensitivity

Increasing feelings of fullness and controlling calorie intake allows sustained weight loss. Most patients lose 10-15% of body weight over 68 weeks.

Ozempic recently received FDA-approval for chronic weight management in addition to treating diabetes. Clinical trials showed significant improvements in BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, and lipid profiles.

Who Can Benefit From Ozempic

The FDA approves Ozempic for chronic weight management in adults with:

• BMI ≥30 kg/m^2 (obesity)
• BMI ≥27 kg/m^2 at least one weight-related health issue like high blood pressure or high cholesterol

So overweight or obese patients struggling to lose weight could find Ozempic effective for long-term weight loss and reducing health risks.

Studies show Ozempic helps patients lose 10-15% of their body weight on average. Total weight loss depends on dosage, diet, and lifestyle changes.

Ozempic works well alongside other weight loss efforts like nutrition planning, activity goals, behavior modification, and prescription medications. Our experts personalize comprehensive plans to help patients achieve realistic weight targets.

Getting Started With Ozempic Therapy

Ozempic promotes weight loss by acting on appetite centers in the brain. Starting Ozempic requires medical supervision to determine the appropriate dosage and schedule. Monitoring during treatment also helps assess efficacy and make dosage adjustments.

Here's an overview of beginning Ozempic for weight management:

Determining If You're a Candidate

To start Ozempic, patients should:

• Have BMI ≥30 kg/m^2 or ≥27 kg/m^2 a weight-related health condition
• Commit to lifestyle changes like improved nutrition and 150 minutes per week of activity
• Not have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2
• Inform their provider about all medications and supplements to review possible interactions with Ozempic

Providers evaluate medical history, perform physical exams, check weight and BMI, and order lab tests to determine if Ozempic is appropriate.

Key lab tests check:

• Fasting blood glucose and HbA1c to assess diabetes risk
• Lipid panel to evaluate cholesterol and triglycerides
• Liver enzymes, nutrients like vitamin B12, and thyroid hormones to uncover conditions causing weight gain

Starting Dosage and Schedule

Ozempic dosing starts at 0.25 or 0.5 mg injected under the skin once weekly. The starting dose helps minimize temporary GI side effects as the body adjusts.

Providers slowly increase the dosage up to a maximum of 1 mg per week based on:

• Tolerability and side effects
• Amount of weight loss achieved

Most people reach their maintenance dosage of 1 mg per week after about 12 weeks.

At Rejuvenate Clinic, our experts closely monitor each patient's response and adjust Ozempic dosage accordingly for safe, effective weight loss.

Use of Concurrent Medications

Ozempic works well with other medications as part of a comprehensive weight loss plan. Common examples include:

• Anti-obesity medications like phentermine or Qsymia to reduce appetite
• Metformin and SGLT2 inhibitors to improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar in patients with prediabetes or diabetes
• Cholesterol and triglyceride medications when elevated lipid levels accompany obesity
• Medications to control high blood pressure which often results from excess weight

Rejuvenate Clinic providers determine if additional prescriptions should start concurrently with Ozempic to augment weight loss and treat underlying medical conditions.

Expectations With Ozempic Therapy

Once prescribed an appropriate starting dosage, most patients lose around 10-15% in 6-12 months. However, Ozempic treatment differs across individuals. Managing expectations helps patients stay motivated.

Here's what to expect with Ozempic for weight loss:

Timeline For Weight Loss

Most people achieve ~5% weight loss in 5-8 weeks at the 0.25 or 0.5 mg starting doses. As providers increase dosing up to 1 mg per week, patients can expect:

• 0.25 mg dose → around 5% loss after ~2 months
• 0.5 mg dose → around 10% loss after ~6 months
• 1 mg dose → around 15% loss after ~1 year

However, weight loss plateaus around a 10-15% total reduction on average. Lower body weight also slows further weight loss over time.

Following dosage increases, monitor weight weekly instead of daily. Sudden drops often reflect fluid loss and may discourage patients when actual fat reduction has stalled. Our experts help interpret weight data appropriately.

Table 1: Average Ozempic Weight Loss Timeline

Side Effects

Ozempic causes temporary GI issues in over half of patients, especially with dosage increases. Common side effects include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Decreased appetite
• Constipation
• Abdominal pain

Most resolve within days to weeks as the body adapts. Slow titration to higher doses improves tolerability.

Rare but serious risks involve possible thyroid tumors, vision changes, kidney problems, gallbladder disease, pancreatitis.

Providers monitor patients for signs of complications. Report any unusual or severe side effects promptly for evaluation.

Lifestyle Changes Needed

Ozempic works best alongside lifestyle improvements targeting nutrition, activity, sleep, stress management, and behavior. Our clinic helps patients implement changes like:

• Following calorie-controlled, low-glycemic meal plans
• Aerobic exercise ≥150 minutes per week
• Strength training 2-3 times per week
• 7-9 hours nightly sleep
• Stress management techniques
• Journaling to identify behavioral patterns around eating
• Portion control and trigger avoidance

Small, sustainable adjustments to daily habits augment medication-induced weight loss.

At Rejuvenate Clinic, our certified health coaches provide customized plans to help patients build healthy lifestyles facilitating long-term Ozempic success.

Why Choose Rejuvenate Clinic for Ozempic Treatment

Losing weight requires medical, nutrition, and lifestyle support for lasting success. Our Ozempic clinic offers a comprehensive program with these unique advantages:

Specialized Obesity Management Expertise

Our clinic focuses specifically on weight loss management. With deep expertise in obesity pathophysiology, our board-certified providers develop personalized medication and lifestyle plans tailored to each patient's needs.

We stay up-to-date on the latest research and best practices around anti-obesity medications like Ozempic. Our decade-plus of specialty experience helps patients lose more weight and keep it off compared to primary care clinics.

Whole-Person Approach

Instead of just prescribing Ozempic, we address the underlying causes of weight gain unique to each patient like hormones, genetics, behaviors around food and activity, stress, sleep deprivation, and more.

You'll work with our licensed behavioral counselors and registered dietitians to make lifestyle changes targeting root contributors to obesity. This facilitates healthy, sustainable weight loss augmented by Ozempic.

Lasting Accountability & Support

Losing weight demands commitment across medical, nutrition, behavioral, and fitness domains. Our monthly follow-ups track progress, provide accountability, identify needs for medication or lifestyle adjustments, and offer motivation to stick with the program.

We also offer regular informational seminars about topics like meal planning, activity goals, positive self-talk, and overcoming weight loss barriers. You'll find a judgment-free support community to help you achieve your goals.

Convenience & Accessibility

With evening and weekend appointments plus remote options, our flexibility minimizes disruption to work and family life during your weight loss efforts.

We also provide an online patient portal allowing message access to your care team, appointment self-scheduling, paperless visit check-in, and release of lab results.

At Rejuvenate Clinic, we make proven weight loss support with Ozempic accessible and convenient while also personalizing care to address root causes.

Conclusion

Semaglutide (Ozempic) is a game-changer for sustainable weight loss, especially when combined with lifestyle modifications. At Rejuvenate Clinic, our comprehensive approach addresses the underlying hormonal and metabolic factors contributing to obesity. Our specialists provide personalized treatment plans, close monitoring, and ongoing support to help you achieve your weight loss goals safely and effectively. With our expertise in anti-obesity medications like Ozempic, coupled with nutrition counseling, behavioral therapy, and fitness guidance, we empower you to overcome weight-related health issues and cultivate lasting wellness. Contact us today to embark on your transformative journey towards optimal health and vitality.