Healthbeat 4: CNOS introduces Semaglutide injections to patients for weight loss

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) - CNOS is offering another weight loss alternative.

CNOS Started prescribing the medication, Semaglutide also known as GLP1 in January this year.

It’s a non-surgical weight loss option for those who don’t qualify for weight loss surgery or want a less invasive option.

“that helps slow the GI emptying and helps people feel full sooner and doesn’t allow you to feel like you need snacks in between meals,” said Dr. Hegvik.

Obesity is measured by a scale called Body Mass Index or BMI.

Dr. James Hegvik says a healthy BMI is 23 to 28. He added that Semaglutide could be most beneficial to people with a BMI over 40 and anything in between.

“We need to look at your goals and why you want the medication, but anybody over that, I think is a good option for him. Once we get over the BMI of 40, then, you know, with our program, we offer everything from medical weight loss to surgery. And so I start talking to them about you know, what their goals are and where they want to get to,” said Dr. Hegvik.

Semaglutide is a simple injection, that providers teach the patients how to do it themselves at home.

“They draw up a little syringe, the needle is very small, and you can hardly feel it go through the skin. They just have to do it once a week,” said Dr. Hegvik.

Each patient is different, some take it for months, and some take it for years, depending on their end goal.

“Weight loss and feeling healthier energy, they want to run around with their kids or their grandkids? They want to be up and down the stairs easier. Have medications that they want to start taking or getting off of their high blood pressure medication or their high cholesterol medication,” said Dr. Hegvik.

Side effects are common with this drug.

“Just kind of a stomach that they just don’t quite feel as normal. Or if they have constipation, we’d see a fair amount of too. So the nice thing about those are, those are things that we can actually mitigate with some medication sometimes, and really making sure they’re getting their fluids in and taking a stool softener,” said Dr. Hegvik.

It’s new to CNOS, but not new in the world of healthcare.

“Because we do offer all the different aspects of weight loss, we can go through their goals with them, talk about how they’re feeling on the medication, talk with their primary care if we need to, and then offer different options if they’re not getting to their goal with the medication,” said Dr. Hegvik.

Patients interested in Semaglutide as a medical weight loss option at CNOS are encouraged to schedule an appointment to determine if this treatment aligns with their individual health goals.

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