Weight Loss Injections: A New Hope for a Healthier Life

Excess weight and obesity significantly increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and other life-threatening conditions. Among both adults and adolescents, obesity can reduce quality of life, limit mobility, and affect mental well-being. While diet and physical activity remain the foundation of weight management, many people find it difficult to achieve or maintain a healthy weight. In such cases, medical intervention may offer hope as part of a comprehensive plan for health and weight management.

Combining weight loss medication with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity helps achieve meaningful weight reduction and long-term weight maintenance while supporting overall health.

What is the Wegovy® Weight Loss Injection?

Wegovy® is a once-weekly injectable medication designed to help people lose weight and maintain long-term results. It is intended for the treatment of obesity in adults and adolescents who meet the following criteria:

• Adults (18+) with a BMI over 30, or BMI over 27 with an additional risk factor (such as ischemic heart disease or type 2 diabetes).
• Adolescents (age 12+) at or above the 95th percentile for BMI on growth charts and with obesity-related conditions (such as ischemic disease or type 2 diabetes).

How Does Wegovy Work?

Wegovy contains semaglutide, a medication that mimics a natural hormone involved in appetite regulation. It acts on the brain’s satiety centers, increasing the feeling of fullness after meals, reducing hunger, slowing stomach emptying, and helping lower blood sugar levels through effects on the pancreas and liver.

In a large clinical study, adults using Wegovy achieved an average weight loss of 15% (around 16 kg) over 68 weeks, compared to only 2.5% among those receiving a placebo. One-third of participants lost 20% or more of their body weight.

Wegovy for Adolescents

Wegovy is the only weight loss medication approved for children aged 12 and older. In studies, adolescents with obesity experienced an average 16.1% reduction in BMI.

Benefits Beyond Weight Loss

In addition to weight reduction, Wegovy lowers the risk of cardiovascular complications in adults with obesity or overweight who also have heart disease.

Incorporating Wegovy into a Healthy Lifestyle

Wegovy injections are most effective when combined with a healthy lifestyle that includes:

• A balanced, nutritious diet, focusing on nutrient-dense foods and portion control.
• Regular physical activity, as recommended by the World Health Organization - at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.
• Professional guidance to develop healthy eating habits and behavioral strategies.

Common Side Effects

The most common side effects of Wegovy include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, headache, and fatigue. These symptoms typically decrease as the body adjusts to the medication.

Safety Information

While Wegovy offers significant benefits, it’s important to understand and manage potential risks:

Do not use Wegovy if you or a family member have a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).

Rare but serious side effects may include thyroid disorders (including malignancies), pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, low blood sugar, and allergic reactions.

What is the Mounjaro® Weight Loss Injection?

Mounjaro® is an innovative injection designed for the treatment of obesity and uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.

It is intended for:

Adults (18+) with a BMI over 30, or BMI over 27 with an additional risk factor (such as ischemic heart disease or type 2 diabetes).

How Does Mounjaro Work?

Mounjaro contains the active ingredient tirzepatide, which acts on two key hormones:

GLP-1 – helps control appetite, reduce food intake, and regulate blood sugar levels.

GIP – enhances insulin secretion, supports fat metabolism, improves fat storage in appropriate tissues, and prevents harmful fat accumulation in the liver and pancreas.

Mounjaro reduces hunger and food cravings, helps balance blood sugar, improves insulin sensitivity, enhances fat metabolism, promotes significant and long-term weight loss, and reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Clinical studies show that patients using Mounjaro achieved an average weight loss of 15–20% (about 15–20 kg) over 72 weeks, and the medication was found to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 94% among adults.

The dual-hormone mechanism makes Mounjaro one of the most effective weight loss treatments available today, with additional benefits for blood sugar regulation.

Integrating Weight Loss Injections into a Healthy Lifestyle

Wegovy and Mounjaro injections are most effective when combined with a healthy lifestyle that includes:

• A balanced, nutritious diet with portion control.
• Regular physical activity, at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.
• Ongoing professional support to establish healthy eating behaviors.

Are Wegovy or Mounjaro Right for Me?

Obesity is a complex chronic condition. Using Wegovy or Mounjaro injections, together with a healthy lifestyle, can lead to meaningful weight loss and improved overall health.

These medications are intended for men, women, and in select cases adolescents (12+) who are dealing with obesity or overweight and related health conditions.

Leumit Gold clients who meet the medical criteria are eligible to receive Wegovy or Mounjaro injections with a 50% co-payment.

For more information, please contact your personal physician or the nutrition and diet team at Leumit.