Starting or maintenance dose, 8-10 weeks supply (est. $34 a week): Semaglutide is a revolutionary peptide weight loss medication that functions as a Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, mimicking the action of a natural hormone released in the gut after eating. This mechanism provides a powerful three-pronged benefit: it slows gastric emptying to prolong feelings of fullness, regulates appetite by acting on brain centers that control satiety, and in diabetic patients, it stimulates glucose-dependent insulin release. Collectively, these actions lead to significant and sustained weight loss in adults with obesity or overweight, and effectively improves blood sugar control for those with type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, research has demonstrated that semaglutide can reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (like heart attack and stroke) in high-risk individuals, establishing it as a key therapeutic agent in metabolic and cardiovascular medicine.