Understanding Ozempic: TikTok’s latest weight loss trend
7 April 2024 by Omniya Clinic
at Omniya Clinic in London
If you are determined to lose weight, our weight loss doctors at Omniya Clinic will provide you with medically guided and approved weight loss solutions – which are suitable for you – and to help keep you there.
Weight loss is a complex issue. From an early age, body shape, weight and weight issues have an important role to play in our health, wellbeing, psychology (self-esteem and emotional responses), stress levels, quality of life and much more.
Those who would oversimplify the desire to lose weight, insisting the solution is to ‘just eat less’, may not be aware of the many biological and psychological factors that play a part in how different people gain or lose weight.
Reaching your ideal weight can, and should, be achieved through a combination of good nutrition, exercise, determination, and consistency. Without these key elements in place, you may struggle to achieve a healthy, and ultimately sustainable, weight that is desirable to you. However, with 21st-century medicine, we are offered a vastly improved understanding of key areas that contribute to an individual’s ability to alter and maintain their levels of body fat.
The experts at Omniya Clinic work with the revolutionary weight loss drug, Saxenda ®.
Your process will start with an initial consultation, where your doctor will focus on obtaining your medical history, a thorough understanding of your health, your lifestyle and your goals. You may undergo some basic tests to determine suitability, and once we have received your results, your doctor will provide you with some options for the most efficient ways to lose weight, and maintain it.
Saxenda (liraglutide) is a clinically and regulatory (MHRA) approved weight loss medication, originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes. It works as a natural appetite regulator, by mimicking Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (GLP-1), one of the body’s gut hormones. Saxenda slows your stomach from emptying, making you feel more satisfied with smaller meals. The purpose of this medication is to control hunger, appetite triggers, assisting with long-lasting results and improved health.
Saxenda is administered using very thin (and virtually painless), daily injections, of a dose determined by your doctor, using a very simple pen device.
Your doctor and our in-house pharmacy will be on hand to provide you with instructions on how to administer the pen, how to adjust the dose of Saxenda and to help you with any side effects you may experience. Side effects can include some nausea, indigestion and bloating. It is important that you follow the instructions your doctor provides you for titration to help to reduce these side effects.
In addition to a balanced diet, hormone health plays a vital role in how the human body gains and loses weight. As a specialist hormone clinic, we can provide you not only with a greater understanding of your own specific hormonal balances, but also make recommendations for hormone-balancing treatments.
These can improve your body’s ability to burn fat and build muscle, as well as help prevent any potential issues such as insulin resistance which, untreated, could lead to diabetes.
It is possible that natural changes such as menopause, or its male counterpart, andropause (a decline in testosterone) have altered the balance of your hormones. We can test for and assess these changes, allowing us to recommend new ways (such as hormone optimisation) for you to manage your weight based on your body’s changing requirements.
Saxenda works similarly to GLP-1. GLP-1 is a naturally occurring hormone found in the gut which acts as an appetite regulator.
GLP-1 makes you feel satisfied with smaller portion sizes by slowing down the process of your stomach emptying.
Saxenda is an innovative new treatment that was originally developed for type 2 diabetes patients to help them lose weight.
Treatment is a daily injection with an easy to use, simple and painless pen device. We will show you how to administer your dose by yourself at home.
You will notice that you feel satisfied after eating smaller portions of food after just two weeks!
Saxenda contains the active ingredient liraglutide and is often regarded as one of the best weight loss medications on the market.
Since its introduction, over 1 million patients with obesity have been treated with Saxenda across the world.
The time that Saxenda stays in your system varies depending on how long you are on the medication.
Your consultant will be able to answer this question when you meet, but generally, the higher the dose, the longer Saxenda stays in your system.
The benefits that you might expect from Saxenda injections will depend on your dedication to following a balanced meal plan and exercising regularly.
If you follow your plan carefully, you can expect to lose 5% of your starting body weight in the first few months.
From a health perspective, weight loss medication can help to reduce the likelihood of obesity-related conditions. These include coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis and certain types of cancer.
Other than improving your health, maintaining a healthy weight can lead to a new lease of life and can give you more confidence in your appearance.
Feeling healthy in your body can give you more energy and freedom to enjoy the things you want to do with no additional barriers.
Weight loss journeys are never easy, but weight loss medication could be a starting point for a healthier you.
Your Omniya Clinic team will discuss the side effects with you and make sure you’re well informed prior to your treatment.
We will make sure that you are 100% confident and reassured that you know what to expect from your treatment plan.
Side effects of Saxenda may include:
Nausea is the most commonly reported side effect of weight loss medication, but this often settles after a few weeks.
We recommend eating smaller meals and avoiding smells or tastes that might trigger it to minimise the effect of nausea.
Some patients also report the following side effects:
There may also be a risk of developing gallstones.
Generally, Saxenda is well tolerated in the long term. Our friendly team will talk you through any queries or concerns you may have.
Saxenda is a prescription-only medication, so no you can not purchase it without a prescription. You will need to discuss your care plan with our Omniya Clinic team and have this signed off before you can order Saxenda.
Unopened Saxenda pens must be stored in the fridge (between 2-8°C). Ensure it is not kept at the back of the fridge or near the freezer compartment, as if it freezes the pen is no longer viable and needs to be discarded.
If kept outside the fridge (e.g. once opened) it can be used for up to 30 days as long as the temperature does not exceed 30°C.
It is illegal to purchase medication online without a prescription.
The first step is scheduling a consultation with one of our Omniya Clinic team members. In this consultation we will create a plan that is suitable to your needs, this will then be reviewed by a certified UK prescriber.
If you come across a website that allows you to purchase medication without a prescription, do not purchase. These sites are illegal and can give you medication that will put your health at risk.
A consultation is mandatory when prescribing medications.
The consultation will include general medical questions such as your blood pressure, weight and current medical history.
The second part of the consultation is tailored to your specific medical questions about the condition in question.
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