Losing Pounds with Peptides: A Smart Path to a Slimmer You
Has your weight loss journey become a struggle, and you’re about ready to give up? There’s help for shedding those stubborn pounds that doesn’t require severe starvation or extreme exercise. Dayton residents who’ve all but lost hope for losing weight have slimmed down and kept off the pounds with peptide treatments.
With medical guidance from us at Happy Hormone Cottage in the Dayton area, peptide therapy can help you safely achieve your desired body and maintain it long-term. First, we explain what peptides are and how they support weight loss. We also discuss how peptide therapy fits into a comprehensive weight loss program that supports your overall health.
What Are Peptides?
A peptide is a chemical compound bonded together by about 50 amino acids. These amino acid chains are similar to proteins but smaller. Your body produces many different types of peptides, such as insulin, which regulates blood sugar. Other well-known peptides include oxytocin to promote maternal bonding and lactation, gastrin to aid in digestion, and endorphins to reduce pain and improve mood.
Another peptide that has gained attention in the weight loss sphere is glucagon-like peptide-1 or GLP-1. This peptide stimulates insulin production for blood sugar regulation. It also helps suppress your appetite, and it slows stomach emptying during eating, telling the brain that you’re full after a meal.
How Peptide-Supported Weight Loss Treatment Works
Some people who struggle with overweight or obesity need help with increasing their metabolism or controlling their appetite. Others have medical conditions, such as hypothyroidism, that make weight management difficult. Peptide-assisted weight loss treatment can help when other methods don’t yield the desired results.
A GLP-1 receptor agonist is a popular peptide therapy that mimics the functions of GLP-1 in your body by attaching to the hormone’s cell receptors. When taken over the long term, this medication
- Helps your pancreas produce more insulin when your blood sugar levels get elevated
- Suppresses your appetite, which lowers your food consumption
- Slows the emptying of your stomach during meals so that you feel fuller longer
- Reduces the liver’s glucagon production, also controlling your blood sugar
Depending on the conditions for which they’re prescribed, the following peptide therapies are commonly used for weight loss and have U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval:
- Semaglutide is administered once weekly and approved for some people with obesity. The dosage is gradually increased over time.
- Liraglutide is a once-daily medication that also begins with a low dosage, which is slowly amplified.
- Tirzepatide was approved by the FDA in 2023 and is the first peptide drug designed primarily for weight loss. This medication is taken weekly.
Incorporating Peptides into Your Weight Loss Plan
Because peptide therapy requires a doctor’s prescription, it’s essential to receive close medical supervision while taking it. This treatment also works best when incorporated into a comprehensive weight loss plan, which includes dietary guidance, regular exercise, coaching and support, and follow-up appointments that allow for adjustments to all aspects of the plan.
Monitoring is also necessary to watch for and address potential side effects, such as
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Facial changes, such as loss of fullness
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Reactions at the injection site
- Stomach pain
- Vomiting and nausea
Fortunately, if these symptoms were to being, they mostly happen when you first start treatment. They typically subside. However, there are some severe side effects to watch for as you continue peptide therapy. Be sure to seek a doctor’s attention if any of the following occur:
- Allergic reactions
- Depression
- Gallbladder issues
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- Kidney disease
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Assuming you respond well to peptide therapy, expect that your treatment will be long-term, which is necessary to achieve long-lasting weight loss. Meaning, if you need to lose a quick five pounds or so before your next high school reunion, going on peptide therapy isn’t a good idea and likely won’t give you those quick results you are looking for. Moreover, if you stop taking your medication, it is possible you could regain some or all of the weight you lost.
Take Back Your Control with Peptide Therapy in Dayton
If you live in or around the Dayton, Ohio area and have tried in vain to lose weight, you may finally get the results you want from peptide-based weight loss and maintenance. You don’t have to wrestle with your out-of-control appetite or worry about repeated setbacks. The weight loss experts at Happy Hormone Cottage can help create a medically supervised plan to help you stay on track and achieve the physique you’ve worked so hard for. Contact us at our Centerville location and learn about your peptide therapy options today.