Calorie counting, cutting carbs, and long workouts do not always work the way people expect. For many adults, hunger and appetite signals are a big part of why weight is hard to lose and even harder to keep off. That is a medical issue, not a willpower one, as we explain in the science of obesity.
Medica Weight Loss connects adults with licensed providers who decide whether semaglutide weight loss injections are appropriate for them. Treatment starts with a provider consultation and is used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
What the Research Shows About Semaglutide
The best-known evidence comes from the 68-week STEP 1 trial. Adults with overweight or obesity who took brand-name semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly, alongside lifestyle changes, lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight, compared with 2.4% for placebo. That trial studied the FDA-approved brand-name product, not compounded semaglutide, and individual results vary.
- Appetite and fullness: Semaglutide works to reduce hunger and prolong the feeling of fullness, which can make smaller portions easier to stick with.
- Once a week: The injection is taken weekly, on the same day each week.
- Muscle and protein: Some of the weight lost can be muscle, which is why protein and strength training matter. See our guide to semaglutide and muscle loss.
Who May Be a Good Candidate?
Your provider makes the final decision after reviewing your health history. For reference, the brand-name product was approved for adults who meet one of these criteria:
- A BMI of 30 or more
- A BMI of 27 or more with a weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol
Treatment is meant to be combined with healthier eating and more physical activity. Semaglutide is not appropriate for everyone, including people who are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or breastfeeding, or who have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2. Read more about who qualifies for medical weight loss, or compare options in semaglutide vs tirzepatide.
How It Is Taken and What to Expect
There is no downtime. Semaglutide is a once-weekly injection taken on the same day each week, just under the skin of the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm, rotating sites. See our injection site guide, which applies the same technique tips.
The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, usually in the first weeks and after dose increases. Our guide to semaglutide side effects covers how to manage them. The brand-name label also carries a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodents, and warns of pancreatitis and gallbladder problems. Contact your provider right away for severe or persistent stomach pain.
GET STARTED
Cost
- Semaglutide plans from $99/month: the 3-month program is $297 (about $99 a month)
- Free shipping
Ready to talk with a provider?
A prescription is issued only if a licensed provider decides treatment is appropriate for you. Call 954 673 9752 / 954 673 9751 or start online. Available in all 50 states.
Medica Weight Loss offers compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide, prepared by a state-licensed compounding pharmacy based on a valid individual prescription. These compounded medications are not FDA-approved — they have not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality. Any reference to FDA-approved medications elsewhere refers solely to brand-name formulations such as Wegovy®, Ozempic®, Zepbound®, and Mounjaro®, which are not what Medica Weight Loss dispenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It acts on appetite centers in the brain and slows stomach emptying, so you tend to feel hungry less often and full sooner. It is intended for use alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, and your provider decides whether it is appropriate for you.
Weight loss builds gradually over months as your dose is adjusted, not in days. In the 68-week STEP 1 trial of brand-name semaglutide, adults lost an average of 14.9% of body weight versus 2.4% with placebo. Individual results vary, and compounded semaglutide has not been studied in trials like this. See what to expect in your first month.
Your provider sets your dose. For reference, the brand-name label starts at 0.25 mg once a week and steps up every four weeks as tolerated. Compounded dosing is determined by your prescriber based on your health history and how you respond.
No. Compounded semaglutide is prepared by a state-licensed compounding pharmacy based on an individual prescription and has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality. Wegovy® and Ozempic® are FDA-approved brand-name products, which Medica does not dispense. Learn more about how compounding pharmacies work.
The most common are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, usually in the first weeks and after dose increases. Serious risks include pancreatitis and gallbladder problems, and the brand-name label has a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodents. Tell your provider about severe stomach pain right away. More detail is in our side effects guide.
Alcohol can add to nausea, dizziness, and stomach upset, especially in the first weeks and after a dose increase. It can also affect blood sugar, which matters if you have diabetes or take other medicines. Ask your provider what is safe for you. For the research, see our post on semaglutide and alcohol cravings.
Obesity is a chronic condition, so your provider will talk with you about a long-term plan rather than a fixed end date. Weight regain is common after stopping, which is why any change should be planned with your provider. See what happens if you stop.