However, if you take the medication as prescribed and make appropriate lifestyle changes, Saxenda can help you lose weight and keep it off for good.
Why Am I Not Losing Weight on Saxenda?
1. Your metabolism is slow
Saxenda is a weight loss treatment, also known as liraglutide, is an injectable weight loss medication that can help you lose weight. The drug works by reducing your appetite and increasing feelings of fullness.Your body produces a hormone called GLP-1 that helps regulate your hunger. This medication binds to your GLP-1 receptors, which promotes feelings of fullness and suppresses your appetite.
You can still eat foods that are high in fat, sugar, and calories while taking saxenda, as long as you don’t overeat them. However, be sure to check with your healthcare provider about any food allergies or dietary restrictions that you may have.
In general, you should eat fewer calories than you burn through physical activity and daily activities to help you lose weight. However, calorie needs vary depending on your age, body composition, and activity level.
You should also be consistent with your exercise routine and eat a healthy diet. These habits can help you lose weight and keep it off for the long term.
2. You have high blood pressure
Having high blood pressure can cause serious health problems down the road. Keeping it in check can reduce your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and diabetes.If you have high blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe a medication to help you manage it. Saxenda (liraglutide) is one such medication that's approved to lower blood pressure in adults with overweight or obesity and at least one other weight-related medical condition.
Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which means it works by helping to regulate your appetite and slow digestion. This can reduce your appetite, leading to weight loss.
However, you need to be aware that if you don't lose enough weight during your initial treatment with Saxenda, it could be due to other factors, such as your diet or your underlying health condition. You can get back on track by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
If you have high blood pressure, your doctor will prescribe a medication to help you manage it. It can be a combination of drugs, such as liraglutide and diuretics (water pills), or a sulfonylurea (a type of medicine that raises your blood sugar). Your doctor will also recommend a long-term weight management plan to help you keep the weight off.
3. You have diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic health condition that happens when the body doesn't use sugar well. It's caused by a problem called insulin resistance, which means that the pancreas (an organ near the stomach) doesn't make enough insulin to get sugar into your body's cells.People with diabetes also have higher-than-normal levels of glucose in their blood. This is a serious condition that can lead to long-term damage to your eyes, nerves and feet.
If you're worried that you may have diabetes, visit your doctor and let them run some tests. They'll check for signs of the disease like a sudden increase in your sugar level or weight gain.
If you're not losing weight on saxenda, it could be because you're not making the right changes to your diet or exercise routine. For example, you might be able to lose more weight by improving your sleep, getting more physical activity and managing stress.
4. You have high cholesterol
Saxenda works by reducing your body's resistance to the hormone leptin, which helps control your appetite. It also increases your body's fat-burning capacity and metabolism.It's important to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. This will help you to lose weight and keep it off.
A low-fat, low-cholesterol diet is the best way to reduce your cholesterol levels. You should limit foods that contain high amounts of saturated and trans fats, such as full-fat dairy products and some meats.
You should also eat more fruits and vegetables. These can contain soluble fiber that helps lower your cholesterol.
Your doctor will prescribe you a treatment plan that includes a reduced-calorie diet, regular physical activity, and Saxenda. It may also include a dietary supplement that helps increase your metabolism and decrease your appetite.
Before you start taking Saxenda, tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the medications you take. This can help your doctor determine whether the drug is safe for you and avoid any potential interactions.
Why Am I Not Losing Weight on Saxenda? |
5. You have high triglycerides
If you have high triglycerides, you are at risk for developing diabetes, heart disease and other conditions. Your doctor can check your triglyceride level with a blood test called a lipid panel.Triglycerides are a type of fat that your body stores when you consume excess calories or sugar. When your body needs energy, hormones release triglycerides from fat cells.
You can lower your triglyceride levels by making healthy changes to your diet and lifestyle. These include eating a diet low in saturated fat and sugar, exercising regularly and cutting back on alcohol consumption.
Your doctor may also recommend taking fish oil or omega-3 supplements, but be sure to speak with your healthcare provider before adding these to your daily routine. These fatty acids help your body convert fats into energy and may help lower your triglyceride levels.
The most common cause of high triglyceride levels is a poor diet. People who consume a lot of refined grains, sugar and processed foods are at higher risk for having triglyceride levels that are too high. A transition to a whole-foods, plant-based diet can help you lose weight and reduce triglyceride levels.
6. You have low iron
Iron is an important nutrient that helps your body produce hemoglobin and myoglobin, two proteins that carry oxygen in the blood. When you have low iron, you may develop a condition called iron deficiency anemia.This happens when you don't get enough iron from your diet, and your body can't make enough red blood cells (RBCs) to supply your cells with oxygen. Causes include blood loss (such as heavy menstrual periods, regular blood donations), certain inherited diseases that affect how the body makes red blood cells, poor iron absorption and increased need for iron at some life stages (for example, pregnant women).
The body uses the iron in your food to make red blood cells, which then carry oxygen to your muscles. A CBC is a blood test that measures how many red blood cells you have, as well as how much iron they contain.
If you have iron deficiency anemia, your doctor will likely prescribe iron supplements or increase your iron-rich foods. If this doesn't help, your doctor may order other tests to find out what's causing your iron deficiency and how severe it is. These tests can include a total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and transferrin saturation test. If your TIBC and transferrin are low, you may have to get an injection of iron to correct the problem.
7. You have high cholesterol levels
If you have high cholesterol levels, it may be more difficult to lose weight on Saxenda. This is because high cholesterol levels increase your risk of heart disease and other health problems.
You can lower your cholesterol levels by following a healthy diet and exercise. You also may need to take prescription medication.
Your doctor will talk with you about the best way to treat your cholesterol. This includes changing your diet, getting regular physical activity, and taking a low-cholesterol medication like Saxenda.
One of the main ways Saxenda works is by reducing your appetite. It does this by mimicking the effect of a hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1).
When you take Saxenda, it suppresses your appetite and makes you feel more full. This can help you eat less and lose weight.
However, it's important to keep in mind that it takes time for changes in your appetite to affect your weight. You will need to continue eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly to see results from your weight loss efforts.
8. You have high blood sugar
High blood sugar is a common symptom of diabetes, but it can also happen for people without diabetes. It is important to test your blood sugar regularly and make sure you are eating and drinking correctly.Your doctor may also prescribe you a medication to help control your blood sugar level. These medications are called GLP-1 agonists.
These drugs work by boosting the amount of insulin your body makes. They can't treat diabetes, but they may help keep your blood sugar levels under control.
You can use Saxenda to lose weight as part of a larger treatment plan that includes a healthy diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes. The drug can be effective in 85% of patients who take it with other treatments, according to Novo Nordisk.
When you start taking Saxenda, your doctor will gradually increase your dose in 0.6-mg intervals until you reach what's called the maintenance dose, which is 3 mg daily. You will continue to take this dose throughout your treatment period and after you've reached your target weight.