Semaglutide · GLP-1 medication
Semaglutide: Quiet the food noise, and build habits that last.
Semaglutide is one of the most studied weight loss medicines in the world. At Integrated Functional Health it is never the whole plan. It is a tool that can make change feel possible again, paired with coaching that helps the change last after the medication ends.
- Semaglutide
- Independent medical review
- Telehealth
- Shipped to your door
At a glance
Semaglutide in brief
Semaglutide is a longer lasting version of GLP-1, a fullness hormone your gut already makes. It quiets hunger and "food noise" in the brain, keeps meals with you for longer, and helps your body handle blood sugar after eating. Smaller, satisfying portions start to feel natural rather than forced.
- What it is: A GLP-1 medication that works with your natural appetite signals.
- How it is taken: A small injection under the skin, once a week.
- Often explored for: Weight loss, appetite control and steadier blood sugar.
- Dose: Started low and raised gradually by your provider.
- Status: Active ingredient of FDA approved medicines; compounded versions are not FDA approved.
What it is
What is Semaglutide?
Semaglutide belongs to a family of medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists. GLP-1 is a hormone your own gut releases after you eat. It tells your brain you have had enough, and it helps your body handle the sugar from your meal. Semaglutide is a longer lasting version of that natural signal, so one weekly dose keeps it working all week.
It is the active ingredient in FDA approved medications for chronic weight management and for type 2 diabetes. When an independent licensed provider decides it is right for you, they also decide whether an FDA approved product or a medication compounded by a licensed pharmacy for you individually is the better fit.
How it works
How Semaglutide works
Semaglutide works in two places at once: your brain and your digestive system.
In the brain, it acts on the areas that regulate hunger and reward. Many people describe the result as quieter "food noise": fewer intrusive thoughts about food, less pull toward the snack cupboard, and an easier time stopping when they are satisfied. This is why it pairs so well with brain based coaching. The medication turns down the volume, and the coaching changes the patterns underneath.
In the gut, it slows how quickly the stomach empties, so meals keep you full for longer. It also helps the pancreas release insulin when blood sugar rises after a meal, and only then, which supports steadier energy through the day.
What it may support
What people explore Semaglutide for
Steady weight loss
Designed to support gradual, meaningful weight loss alongside nutrition and movement.
Quieter food noise
Many people find cravings and constant thoughts about food ease noticeably.
Feeling full sooner
Smaller portions often feel satisfying, without the fight.
Steadier blood sugar
Supports the body's own insulin response after meals.
Heart and metabolic health
Weight loss often comes with better blood pressure and cholesterol numbers.
Momentum for new habits
Early progress can make it easier to build routines that last.
How it is used
What taking Semaglutide looks like
Your independent licensed provider sets your dose and adjusts it over time. Here is what the routine involves.
- Form: A small injection under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm, with a very fine needle.
- How often: Once a week, on the same day each week. Rotate the spot each time.
- Dose: Your provider starts with a low dose and increases it gradually, which helps your body adjust.
- Lower dose options: Some people are prescribed a smaller, gentler dose. Your provider decides what suits you.
- How long: Many people use it for several months or longer, with regular check ins.
- Storage: Keep it in the refrigerator unless your pharmacy tells you otherwise.
What the research says
The evidence, plainly
Semaglutide has been studied in large, long clinical trials. In the STEP 1 trial of the FDA approved medication (New England Journal of Medicine, 2021), adults with obesity who also received lifestyle support lost an average of about 15 percent of their body weight over 68 weeks, compared with about 2 percent on placebo. In the SELECT trial (2023), adults with heart disease and excess weight had a 20 percent lower risk of heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death than those on placebo.
The research also shows what the medication does not do on its own. When people in the STEP 1 extension stopped treatment, they regained, on average, about two thirds of the weight they had lost within a year. Part of the weight lost can also be muscle. Both findings point to the same thing: the habits you build while taking it decide what you keep.
Safety
Who it suits, and what to watch for
It may not be right for
- Anyone who is pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding
- A personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, or MEN 2 syndrome
- A history of pancreatitis, or gallbladder disease
- A current or past eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia
- Type 1 diabetes, or current use of insulin or sulfonylureas
- Bariatric surgery in the past 12 months
- Very high triglycerides, or current use of warfarin
- People already at a lower body weight, for whom standard dosing is not used
Your provider reviews your full health history and current medications before prescribing.
Possible side effects
- Nausea, especially in the first weeks or after a dose increase
- Constipation, diarrhea or an upset stomach
- Feeling full quickly, reduced appetite or occasional vomiting
- Tiredness or headache as your body adjusts
- Mild redness at the injection site
- Rare but serious: pancreatitis, gallbladder problems or dehydration affecting the kidneys
In animal studies, medicines in this family caused thyroid C-cell tumors; it is not known whether this happens in people. If a side effect is severe or does not settle, contact your provider. For severe stomach pain, a lump in the neck, trouble swallowing or signs of an allergic reaction, call 911.
How it fits your plan
More than a prescription
Semaglutide can quiet the noise. It cannot teach your brain a new relationship with food, protect your muscle, or keep the weight off once it stops. That is the work we do with you. Our weight loss coaching and the online X360 Weight Loss program focus on the patterns behind eating: stress, habit, emotion and the nervous system. Regulate, Integrate, Optimize is the thread: settle the stress response, help the brain work with you rather than against you, and build habits for the long run.
Alongside the medication we focus on protein at every meal, resistance training to protect muscle, hydration, sleep and daily steps. Optional lab work at a local Labcorp or Quest location and professional grade supplements can round out the plan. The goal is not only a smaller number on the scale. It is a body and a brain that keep the result.
Good to know
The details that matter
- Semaglutide is the active ingredient in FDA approved medicines. Compounded semaglutide is not FDA approved and has not been reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness or quality.
- It is prescribed only after an independent licensed medical provider reviews your health history and decides it is appropriate. Your provider also sets your dose.
- Your medication is prepared by an independent licensed pharmacy and shipped to your door, in most states.
- Tell your provider about every medication and supplement you take, including any other weight loss medicine.
How to start
Four simple steps
Book your consultation
Thirty minutes with Matt DeWild, RN, at our Bettendorf clinic or by telehealth. Talk through your goals, your health and what you have tried.
Share your health history
If you want to go ahead, you complete a secure health history form. An independent licensed provider reviews it, follows up with you by telehealth when needed, and decides whether Semaglutide is right for you.
Delivered to your door
If approved, your medication is prepared by an independent licensed pharmacy and shipped straight to you.
Build habits that last
Coaching with Matt and our online programs focus on protein, strength, sleep and stress, the habits that decide what you keep.
Questions
Questions about Semaglutide
How quickly will I notice a difference?
Many people notice quieter hunger within the first few weeks. Weight change is usually gradual, because the dose is raised slowly to help your body adjust. Steady progress over months is the pattern the research describes, and it is the pattern most likely to last.
Will I have to take it forever?
Not necessarily. Some people use it for a defined period while they build new habits; others continue longer under their provider's care. The research is clear that stopping without strong habits often means regaining weight, which is why coaching starts on day one rather than at the end.
How do I protect my muscle while losing weight?
Eat protein at every meal, lift or do some form of resistance training two to three times a week, and keep moving every day. These are built into our coaching and the X360 Weight Loss program, because the goal is to lose fat while keeping the muscle that powers your metabolism.
What is the difference between semaglutide and tirzepatide?
Both are weekly medications that work on appetite and blood sugar. Semaglutide acts on one hormone pathway, GLP-1. Tirzepatide acts on two, GLP-1 and GIP. Your provider will talk with you about which is the better fit for your health and goals.
How do I get started?
Book a 30 minute consultation with Matt DeWild, RN, at the clinic or by telehealth. You will talk about your goals and your history, and Matt will explain how the medical assessment with an independent licensed provider works. There is no obligation.
Keep exploring
Related options
See every option on the Medical Weight Loss and Peptide Therapy pages.
Your next step
Find out if Semaglutide fits your plan.
A 30 minute conversation with Matt is the simplest way to understand your options and how the medical review works.