A new drug against obesity is announced as a game changer – BGR

• Obesity in the US has skyrocketed over the past decade and is currently at a record high.
• Clinical trials with the drug semaglutide have resulted in obese patients losing an average of 33 pounds in just over a year.
• Drug manufacturer Novo Nordisk has already applied for FDA approval to use the drug – currently used to combat type 2 diabetes – as an anti-obesity medication.

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The rate of obesity in America has skyrocketed in recent years, mainly because unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyles are more common today than ever before. Think about it: the US obesity rate in 2021 is almost 30% higher than in 2008. In addition, recent health data show that as many as 42% of all Americans are currently obese. By the way, 2020 was the first time that obesity in the United States exceeded the 40% threshold. In light of the above, it is no surprise that heart disease remains the leading cause of all deaths in the US

Although exercise and a healthy diet are the best plan to attack in the fight against obesity, not everyone is able to accept these lifestyle changes, due to financial or health considerations. However, a new remedy may just be the answer people seek.

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The drug in question is called semaglutide and is already being used as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. However, recent clinical trials show that administering a higher dose of the drug to obese individuals can help them lose weight.

According to a research study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the drug helped people shed an average of 15% of their body weight after 68 weeks. To put it in context, someone who is 300 pounds can lose more than 45 pounds in a little over a year while taking semaglutide. What’s more, more than 33% of study participants reported losing 20% ​​of their body weight while using the drug. The average weight loss by study participants was about 34 pounds.

MedPageToday add:

In addition to weight loss, semaglutide has also improved cardiovascular risk factors, including greater decreases in waist circumference, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HbA1c, solid plasma glucose, C-reactive protein and fasting lipid levels, as well as scores for physical functioning and quality of life.

“This is an important breakthrough in improving the health of people with obesity,” said Professor Rachel Batterham of University College London about the study. ‘No other remedy has produced nearly any weight loss – it’s really a game changer. For the first time, people can achieve through drugs that were only possible through weight loss surgeries. ”

Researchers note that the improvements seen in patients with semaglutide are far greater than the current anti-obesity drugs on the market. The medication schedule itself is not very burdensome and requires an individual to take one pill only once a week.

In the wake of the successful clinical trial, drugmaker Novo Nordisk is currently seeking FDA approval to use the drug as a weight loss drug.