- The obesity rate in the United States has skyrocketed over the past decade and is currently at its peak.
- Clinical trials that included the drug semaglutida saw obese patients lose an average of 33 pounds in just over a year.
- Pharmacist Novo Nordisk has already applied for FDA approval to use the drug – which is currently used to fight type 2 diabetes – as an anti-obesity drug.
The obesity rate in America has skyrocketed in recent years, mainly because unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyles are more common today than ever before. Keep in mind: the U.S. obesity rate in 2021 is almost 30% higher than in 2008. In addition, recent health data show that a whopping 42% of all Americans are currently obese. . By the way, 2020 was the first time the obesity rate in the United States exceeded the 40% threshold. In light of the above, it is not surprising that heart disease remains the leading cause of all deaths in the US
While exercise and a healthy diet remain the best plan of attack in the battle against obesity, not everyone is in a position to incorporate these lifestyle changes, either for financial or financial reasons. Health. A new drug, however, might just be the answer people are looking for.
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The drug in question is called semaglutide and is already used as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. However, recent clinical trials show that administering a higher dose of the drug can help obese individuals begin to lose weight. .
According to a research study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the drug helped people lose an average of 15% of their body weight after 68 weeks. To put it in context, someone who weighs 300 pounds could lose more than 45 pounds in just over a year while taking semaglutida. In addition, more than 33% of study participants reported losing 20% of their body weight while taking the drug. The average amount of weight loss in the study participants was approximately 34 pounds.
MedPageToday add:
In addition to weight loss, semaglutide also improved cardiovascular risk factors, including reductions in waist circumference, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, C-reactive protein and fasting lipid levels, as well as physical functioning and quality of life scores.
“This is a major step forward in improving the health of people with obesity,” said Rachel Batterham of University College London. “No other drug has come close to producing this level of weight loss; this really changes the game. For the first time, people can achieve through medication what was only possible through weight loss surgery.”
Researchers point out that the improvements observed in patients with semaglutide are far superior to those offered by current anti-obesity drugs on the market. The medication program itself is not too heavy and requires a person to take a single pill once a week.
Following the success of the clinical trial, pharmacist Novo Nordisk is seeking FDA approval to use the drug as a weight loss drug.