weight loss progression GLP-1 injections Kansas City semaglutide and tirzepatide

Kansas City Semaglutide & Tirzepatide: GLP-1 Benefits, Risks, Costs

Table of Contents

There’s no denying that Kansas City semaglutide and tirzepatide are game-changers for weight management. These GLP-1 receptor agonist weight loss injections, originally developed for managing type 2 diabetes, not only promote significant weight loss but may also help with countless obesity-related health risks including pre-diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, and more.

But are semaglutide and tirzepatide safe? Well, that entirely depends on your personal health profile and how well you are monitoring your health during usage! Read on to learn about how revolutionary GLP-1 weight loss drugs work, compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide, how to get GLP-1’s in Kansas City, and the benefits, risks, and cost of Kansas City weight loss injections.

Want to lose weight SAFELY with GLP-1 injections? Without losing muscle mass, suffering a nutritional deficiency, or disrupting your metabolism?

Our affordable ($49-$149) medical-grade health tests help you monitor body fat percentage, visceral “bad fat” loss, muscle mass, hydration levels, and more. Our fitness and health tests, meal plans, and workout plans are essential tools anyone on GLP-1 medications should be using to reach their weight loss goals FASTER!

We’re also happy to chat with your about our personal experiences with GLP-1 injections and the process of getting your GLP-1 medications safely and affordably in Kansas City!

How Do Kansas City Weight Loss Injections like Semaglutide and Tirzepatide Work?

GLP-1 stands for “glucagon-like peptide-1” receptor agonist medications, usually administered in the form of a subcutaneous injection. This class of medications mimics our own naturally-occuring GLP-1 hormone, which is released from the intestines when we eat.

The GLP-1 hormone’s job is to stimulate beta cells in the pancreas to secrete insulin. Insulin helps our body regulate the amount of sugar in our bloodstream (blood sugar level) and metabolism—the process that turns the food you eat into energy.

GLP-1 injections like Mounjaro®, Wegovy®, Ozempic®, and Zepbound® let our body “hack the system”. By introducing GLP-1 hormone to our body via injection, we signal to our beta cells to produce insulin and control blood sugar levels. When used for weight loss, Kansas City semaglutide and tirzepatide can help reduce appetite, increase feelings of fullness, and improve overall metabolic health.

6 Benefits of Semaglutide and Tirzepatide

Kansas City semaglutide and tirzepatide weight loss injections can help overweight individuals to lose weight, but this revolutionary drug also has many other benefits, when used responsibly. Let us explain the many benefits of Kansas City GLP-1 injections!

1. Weight Loss Results

The weight loss benefits of GLP-1 agonists are well-documented. Clinical trials have consistently shown significant reductions in body weight, often in the range of 15.8% or 33.7 lbs., when GLP-1 medications are combined with a healthy diet and exercise.

2. Manage Blood Sugar Levels

Without enough insulin, extra glucose stays in your bloodstream rather than entering your cells. A high level of sugar in the blood can stress many of our body systems and, over time, lead to pre-diabetes and insulin resistance, cardiovascular events, elevated blood pressure, and unhealthy cholesterol levels.

Conversely, lower, more stable blood sugar levels can have an overwhelmingly positive impact on both physical and mental health. Your mood, energy levels, sleep quality, libido, heart health, and much more can improve.

3. Inhibit Glucagon Secretion

GLP-1 medications inhibit the secretion of glucagon, another of our body’s hormones. Glucagon increases blood glucose levels by promoting the release of glucose from the liver. By suppressing glucagon, GLP-1’s helps to lower blood sugar levels.

4. Appetite Control and Slower Gastric Emptying

GLP-1 weight loss injections slow the rate at which food leaves the stomach. This long-lasting feeling of fullness can reduce temptation to overeat and improve the negative associations many overweight individuals have with a reduced-calorie diet. It can also curb post-meal blood sugar spikes, which leave us feeling tired and groggy with “brain fog” after meals.

5. Beta Cell Preservation

Some studies suggest that GLP-1 medications can help preserve the function and health of beta cells in the pancreas, which are responsible for insulin production. This can be beneficial in the prevention and management of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes, where beta cell function is often impaired.

6. “Food Noise” and Mental Health Benefits

GLP-1 injections like Mounjaro®, Wegovy®, Ozempic®, and Zepbound® have also been said to switch off “food noise” or obsessive thoughts about food. This is especially helpful for overweight individuals who struggle with disordered eating, food cravings, and binge eating. The temptation and internal struggle many people face is enemy #1 when it comes to weight loss and healthy attitudes about food. Can you imagine the mental health benefits of an injection that removes this exhausting “food noise”?

doctor showing a patient a life-sized plastic model of the human pancreas to illustrate the risks of Semaglutide and Tirzepatide for Weight Loss

The Risks of Semaglutide and Tirzepatide for Weight Loss

While GLP-1 agonists are generally well-tolerated, Kansas City semaglutide and tirzepatide have potential side effects and risks.

Common Semaglutide and Tirzepatide Side Effects

  • Loss of Muscle Mass
  • Nutritional Deficiencies
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Injection site reactions
  • Headache
  • Dizziness

These side effects are usually mild and tend to decrease over time as the body adjusts to GLP-1 medication. Loss of muscle mass and nutritional deficiencies can be avoided with a focused, high-protein meal plan, workout plan, and regular health and fitness testing.

Rare But Potentially Serious Side Effects

  • Hypoglycemia
  • Pancreatitis
  • Thyroid Cancer (Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma)
  • Gallbladder Disease
  • Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndrome Type 2

If you have a personal medical history or family history of thyroid issues or gallbladder disease, you will require careful monitoring and your doctor may advise you to avoid GLP-1 injections altogether.

How Can I Avoid Common GLP-1 Pitfalls?

It’s extremely important to monitor your body composition (body fat and muscle mass) and metabolic health while taking GLP-1 weight loss injections. This not only helps you track progress toward your health goals, but also helps you avoid common health pitfalls we have seen often in those using GLP-1 injections.

>>>Maintain Muscle Mass

Many people who take GLP-1 injections have a goal of losing body fat. However, reduced appetite can ALSO lead to a loss of calorie-burning muscle mass.

Our 3D Body Scan and Body Composition Test can tell you body fat percent, muscle mass, and also how much visceral fat you’ve shed—the “toxic fat” around organs and in our abdomen. We offer meal plans to help you get the proper amount of protein and nutrition you need to shed fat AND build or maintain muscle mass.

>>>Mind Your Metabolism

We also recommend a Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) Test every 3-6 months to track changes in your metabolism. RMR Testing provides a highly-accurate estimate of the minimum number of calories your body needs to function.

If the number of calories your body needs drops because of chronic under-eating, you are setting yourself up to regain lost weight quickly when you go off of GLP-1 medication. You can imbalance your metabolism long-term and make it harder to lose without the GLP-1 meds.

>>>Track Body Composition Changes

What’s more motivating than seeing medical-grade fitness data and 3D before and after’s that illustrate your own personal weight loss success story!?!

What’s the Difference Between Semaglutide and Tirzepatide?

Semaglutide targets a single GLP-1 receptor agonist. Tirzepatide targets both the GLP-1 and glucagon receptors, so it’s a “dual agonist”.

While researchers are still gathering data about the weight loss benefits of both drugs, Tirzepatide is likely a more effective weight loss injection for some people.

How Can I Get Semaglutide or Tirzepatide in Kansas City?

kansas city map with a pin to indicate location of kansas city

From a Kansas City Physician

FDA-Approved GLP-1 Medications are only available via a prescription from a licensed medical professional. If you’re interested in brand-name, FDA-approved GLP-1 injections like Mounjaro®, Wegovy®, Ozempic®, and Zepbound®, you can talk to your primary care physician or a general practitioner. You can also see a specialist, like an endocrinologist or medical weight loss clinic.

Mounjaro® and Ozempic® are prescribed for individuals who have diabetes or pre-diabetes. Wegovy® and Zepbound® are indicated for weight loss. Talk to your doctor about which medication and dosage are right for your weight loss and health goals.

From a Kansas City Health Clinic or Compounding Pharmacy

Because the need/demand for GLP-1 injections is high, manufacturers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lily have had difficulty meeting patient demand. In response to GLP-1 shortages, many wellness clinics and med spas offer off-label formulations or “compounded” versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide.

If you go this route, we strongly urge you to do your research and make sure the compounded drug you choose is safe. Formulations that contain salts, like semaglutide sodium and semaglutide acetate, can make you very sick and have not been proven to be effective for weight loss.

GLP-1 weight loss injection pens alongside a stack of money the cost of kansas city Semaglutide and Tirzepatide for Weight Loss

How Much Does Kansas City Semaglutide or Tirzepatide Cost?

Kansas City semaglutide and tirzepatide costs vary. Below, you’ll find a chart that maps out pricing for popular weight loss injections in Kansas City. What you actually pay will depend on your pharmacy or provider pricing, whether you have insurance coverage, your dosage, and your eligibility for available savings programs.

Drug NameManufacturer List Price (Per 28-day Supply)Cost WITH Insurance AND Drug CoverageCost WITH Insurance and WITHOUT Drug CoverageCost WITHOUT insurance.
The manufacturer’s original price before any discounts or rebates are applied.You have insurance. Your insurance policy partially covers weight loss injections, but you are responsible for a portion of the cost.You have insurance. Your insurance policy does not cover weight loss injections and you must pay entirely out-of-pocket.You don’t have insurance.
Wegovy® (Semaglutide)$1,350$0+$650+$1,000+
Compounded Semaglutide$250-$500+$250-$500+$250-$500+
Zepbound (Tirzepatide)$1,060$25+$550+$1,000+
Compounded Tirzepatide$450-$650+$450-$650+$450-$650+

Zepbound® can cost from $25-$1,500+ per month for American consumers.

The list price of Zepbound® is $1,060 for a 28-day supply. If your insurance covers Zepbound® but you’re still responsible for a portion of the cost, you may qualify for an Eli Lily manufacturers savings card that brings the monthly cost of Zepbound® down to $25 out-of-pocket. Through this same savings program, you’ll pay $550 a month for tirzepatide if you’re insured but your policy does not cover medical weight loss injections.

Wegovy® can cost from $0-$1,500+ per month for American consumers.

The list price of Wegovy® is $1,350 for a 28-day supply. If your insurance covers Wegovy® but you’re still responsible for a portion of the cost, you may get lucky and pay $0 monthly. Novo Nordisk also offers a manufacturers savings card program. Through this same savings program, you’ll likely pay $650 a month for semaglutide if you’re insured but your policy does not cover medical weight loss injections.

Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide cost from $250-$650+ per month for American consumers.

If you don’t have insurance or can’t get Zepbound® or Wegovy® due to supply shortages, you still have access to off-label, compounded formulations of semaglutide and tirzepatide. Many of the clinics listed in this article offer compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide.

There are also many online subscription services available for those who live in more rural areas or prefer to get their health assessment, prescription, and follow-up visits virtually. Most online services require a $65-$150 monthly membership fee, plus the cost of the $300-600+ cost of compounded weight loss injections.

Where to Get Semaglutide and Tirzepatide in Kansas City

BodymetRx does not endorse the healthcare providers below, they are simply some of the more popular sources for GLP-1 injections in Kansas City. We ask you to please do your own research when choosing a provider or compounding pharmacy.

We are happy to chat through our experiences with GLP-1 injection providers in Kansas City at your next 3D Body Scan or Body Composition Test.

Want To Learn More About Kansas City GLP-1 Injections?

Are you curious about Kansas City GLP-1 injections? Do you want to take GLP-1’s the safe, effective, and sustainable way?

Come talk to us here at BodymetRx Kansas City! We’ll capture baseline health data before you start weight loss injections and help you find a trustworthy source of compounded Kansas City semaglutide and tirzepatide. Click here to schedule your free consultation and tour of our KC fitness testing facility.

I hope to see you soon!

Sincerely,

Alex Jabr

Co-Owner, BodymetRx Kansas City