GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) injections like semaglutide (sold as Ozempic or Wegovy) have revolutionized medical weight loss. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, a drug that mimics the natural GLP-1 hormone to help control blood sugar and appetite my.clevelandclinic.org news-medical.net. Originally used for type 2 diabetes, semaglutide at higher doses is now FDA-approved for obesity. It is given as a once-weekly injection under the skin (usually in the abdomen, thigh or arm) my.clevelandclinic.org wegovy.com. The Body Shoppe in Temecula, CA offers a telehealth weight-loss program featuring semaglutide injections – patients can consult online, receive a prescription, and have medication shipped to their home.
What is Semaglutide and GLP-1?
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist – an injectable medication that “mimics” the GLP-1 gut hormone. GLP-1 is naturally released after eating to trigger insulin and reduce appetite. Key points:
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GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) – A gut-derived hormone that increases insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon, and signals fullness to the brain my.clevelandclinic.org.
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Semaglutide – A synthetic GLP-1 analog (injectable), FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management ncbi.nlm.nih.gov news-medical.net. It is marketed as Wegovy (for obesity, up to 2.4 mg weekly) and Ozempic (for diabetes, 0.5–1.0 mg weekly).
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Role in obesity – Semaglutide and a few other GLP-1 agonists (like high-dose liraglutide) are now officially used to treat obesity because they consistently produce significant weight loss ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. They work alongside diet and exercise.
How Semaglutide Works for Weight Loss
Semaglutide binds to GLP-1 receptors throughout the body, triggering multiple effects that lead to weight loss:
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Insulin and glucagon effects – It stimulates insulin release and suppresses glucagon when blood sugar is high my.clevelandclinic.org. This lowers blood glucose and reduces fat storage signals.
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Slowed gastric emptying – It slows stomach emptying so you feel fuller longer after meals my.clevelandclinic.org. This reduces spikes in blood sugar and helps control appetite.
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Increased satiety – It acts on the brain’s hunger centers to increase feelings of fullness and reduce cravings my.clevelandclinic.org. Patients often eat less overall.
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Overall effect – These actions work together to decrease appetite and food intake. Studies show people on semaglutide feel less hungry and lose significant weight when combined with lifestyle changes news-medical.net my.clevelandclinic.org.
Clinical Evidence: The STEP Trials
Semaglutide’s effectiveness is backed by major trials (the STEP series) in overweight/obese adults. For example, in the STEP 1 trial (1,961 people), participants taking 2.4 mg weekly plus diet/exercise lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight over ~68 weeks, compared to only 2.4% with placebo pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. That means a typical patient lost ~15 kg (33 lbs) vs ~2.5 kg on placebo pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Importantly:
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High responder rates: 86% of semaglutide patients lost ≥5% of body weight (vs 32% on placebo), and 69% lost ≥10% (vs 12% placebo) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Half of treated patients lost ≥15%.
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Sustained benefits: Weight loss was progressive over the first year. One analysis reported ~3.8% loss at 4 weeks, ~9.6% at 3 months, and ~13.8% by 6 months on 2.4 mg diet.mayoclinic.org. By one year, average loss was ~15–17% diet.mayoclinic.org.
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Cardiometabolic improvement: Beyond weight, semaglutide improved waist size, blood pressure, and blood sugar control diet.mayoclinic.org.
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Weight regain if stopped: Importantly, obesity is chronic. In a follow-up to STEP 1, patients who stopped semaglutide regained about two-thirds of the lost weight within one year pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, so long-term treatment or maintenance strategy is usually needed.
Safety, Side Effects, and Dosing
Semaglutide is generally safe but has known side effects and precautions:
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Gastrointestinal (GI) side effects: The most common side effects are GI-related. In clinical trials, up to ~44% of patients reported nausea, ~30% had diarrhea, ~24% had vomiting, and ~24% had constipation straighthealthcare.com. These symptoms are usually mild-to-moderate and tend to decrease over time diet.mayoclinic.org straighthealthcare.com. Doctors start with a low dose to minimize these effects.
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Other effects: Some patients experience stomach discomfort or gastroparesis; semaglutide is not recommended for severe gastroparesis. Rapid weight loss can also increase gallstone risk (about 4% experienced gallbladder issues in trials). Rarely, acute pancreatitis has been reported straighthealthcare.com. If you have a history of these issues, discuss with your provider.
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Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Semaglutide alone usually does not cause low blood sugar. In STEP trials with nondiabetic patients, hypoglycemia was no higher than placebo. However, if you also take insulin or sulfonylurea diabetes medicines, your risk of low blood sugar increases straighthealthcare.com. Your doctor may adjust those medicines accordingly.
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Thyroid tumor warning: There is a boxed warning for potential thyroid C-cell tumors. In animal studies, semaglutide caused thyroid tumors (medullary carcinoma) in rodents accessdata.fda.gov. It is unknown if this occurs in humans. As a precaution, semaglutide is contraindicated in people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 accessdata.fda.gov. Inform your doctor if this applies to you.
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Pregnancy/lactation: Semaglutide is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, as its safety has not been established. Use effective contraception and discuss risks if you plan pregnancy.
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Dosing schedule: Semaglutide for weight loss (Wegovy) is given once per week by injection. Treatment begins at 0.25 mg/week, then is gradually increased every 4 weeks – typically to 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.7 mg, and finally the maintenance dose of 2.4 mg weekly wegovy.com. Some patients may stay at 1.7 mg if they cannot tolerate 2.4 mg. The dose increases slowly to reduce side effects. In practice, a typical first-month titration (0.25→0.5→1.0 mg) is often done in the first 3 months socalbodyshoppe.com, then 1.7–2.4 mg thereafter.
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Administration: Semaglutide is self-injected subcutaneously (a short needle under the skin) once a week. The injection sites can include the thigh, abdomen, or back of the upper arm my.clevelandclinic.org. Patients are trained on proper injection technique. Follow your provider’s instructions on dosing days (the same day each week) and how to handle missed doses.
Getting Semaglutide via The Body Shoppe (Telehealth)
The Body Shoppe in Temecula, CA, offers a comprehensive telehealth weight-loss program that includes GLP-1 injections like semaglutide socalbodyshoppe.com. Through a virtual consultation, their healthcare team (led by a nurse practitioner) will assess your needs and, if appropriate, prescribe semaglutide. The medication is then shipped directly to you, with instructions for home administration. Key features of their program include:
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Personalized titration: New patients follow a guided “jump-start” dosing plan: Month 1 at 0.25 mg, Month 2 at 0.5 mg, Month 3 at 1.0 mg weekly socalbodyshoppe.com. After that, dosage is adjusted up to the maintenance level (1.7–2.4 mg) based on individual response and tolerance.
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Ongoing support: The Body Shoppe provides regular follow-up and monitoring to manage side effects and optimize progress. You’ll receive lifestyle guidance alongside medication.
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Temecula telehealth access: Residents of Temecula and neighboring areas can easily schedule a telehealth appointment. The Body Shoppe is “Temecula Valley’s premier destination for wellness & weight loss” socalbodyshoppe.com, and they extend full telehealth services across California. Patients can select California on their scheduling portal to begin socalbodyshoppe.com
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Transparent pricing: The telehealth program is offered at a flat monthly rate, covering the medication and services socalbodyshoppe.com. (Contact The Body Shoppe for current pricing and membership options.)
Ready to Get Started? Call The Body Shoppe at (951) 290-1406 or visit their website to book a virtual consultation. Their team will help determine if semaglutide is right for you and set up your personalized weight-loss plan. Take the first step toward achieving your wellness goals with semaglutide injections and expert support.