No Quick Fixes For Obesity
According to Dr. Kabbara, Being overweight or obese puts us at a greater risk to develop multiple diseases, such as diabetes, elevated cholesterol levels, elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance, fatty liver, polycystic ovarian syndrome, circulatory problems, joint problems, conditions related to our mental health to name a few.
The World Health Organization recognizes obesity as a chronic progressive disease that results from multiple environmental and genetic factors.
It is not something that can be treated with a quick fix solution, according to Dr. Kabbara.
Obesity needs to be treated by a specialized doctor just as any other medical condition, she explained.
Just as we offer a treatment plan to people who have elevated blood pressure, the same is true when it comes to weight management. A doctor needs to evaluate and offer a treatment plan to treat obesity.
Like any medication, Semaglutide and Liraglutide when used for weight loss alone or as part of diabetes treatment plan can cause a variety of side effects, the doctors said in an interview.
According to Dr. Joumaa, some common side effects of such injections include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, headache, abdominal pain, dizziness, fatigue, and low blood sugar.
However, The benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonist medications often outweigh the potential side effects for people with diabetes or obesity-related conditions, she noted.
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Patients Can Lose Significant Weight On Semaglutide Because It Suppresses Appetite
Semaglutide can be taken orally or by injection, according to , and it works by increasing the production of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps regulate blood sugar.
Previous research found that patients taking the drug lost 15-20% of their body weight over 68 weeks, compared to 2.4% in patients taking the placebo.
The drug is currently only approved to treat type 2 diabetes. While doctors have said semaglutide may someday be prescribed for weight loss, it’s not yet available to the general public for that purpose.
Could Ozempics Overprescription Cause A Shortage For Those Who Need It Most
Yes. Within the first six months of Wegovy being introduced as a treatment for obesity in July 2021, there were supply shortages due to both demand and factory production, says Dr. Butsch, which led many to use Ozempic in its place. Many new providers were now using the lower doses of semaglutide to treat obesity, and this obviously snowballed into more supply shortages for those taking Ozempic for diabetes, despite the approval of the 2 mg dose in early 2022, Dr. Butsch continues. There is now a concern for those patients who have been on this drug for years for blood-sugar control and are unable to get the medication because of its inappropriate use, adds Dr. Rahmana. At this moment, theres a shortage of both Ozempic and Wegovy for diabetes patients who rely on them to keep their blood-sugar levels manageableand for those hoping for an off-label prescription.
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These Medications Are Going To Be Very Helpful To A Lot Of People And Not Only To Those Trying To Lose Weight Or Manage Diabetes
I think these medicines may be the most widely prescribed medicine in the history of the world sometime in the next five to 10 years. There are a few studies that suggest a person who takes this medicine in their mid-20s for weight loss might decrease their likelihood of becoming a diabetic or the likelihood of acquiring cardiovascular disease.
Again, people should use these medicines with an appropriate diet and exercise plan, so I hesitate to suggest it’s a magic bullet, but I think in the long term, these medicines are going to be very accepted not only for weight loss, but for improved health.
Have you used or prescribed semaglutide and would like to share your story? Email mlogan@insider.com.
What Are The Possible Side Effects Of Ozempic
Ozempic® may cause serious side effects, including:
The most common side effects of Ozempic® may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and constipation.
A once-weekly medicine for adults with type 2 diabetes used to improve blood sugar, along with diet and exercise, and reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease.
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Not Quite A Game Changer
Some people with a higher body mass index are perfectly healthy and dont require any treatment. Semaglutide was only indicated by the FDA for patients who classify as clinically obese with a body mass index of 30 or greater or those who are overweight and have at least one weight-related health problem.
For the many people who have used it, it has proved safe and effective, according to the FDA. In weight loss clinical trials, semaglutide helped people lose about 15 percent of their body weight on average significantly more than the currently available obesity drugs and more than enough to improve health outcomes.
The drugs most common side effects nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting were mostly short-lived. De Araujo is finding that adverse reactions might be caused by how the drug differs from the naturally occurring peptide hormone: The hormone acts mostly locally and degrades quickly, while the medicine works mainly on the brain and is designed to stick around in the body. Thats where the nausea, vomiting probably derive from, De Araujo argues.
Patients who have tried semaglutide told Vox that it helped them manage their weight and relationship to food, and that their side effects were manageable and quickly resolved.
Can Ozempic Be Used For Weight Loss
Yes, Ozempic can be used to help people lose weight even though it was originally designed for the treatment of diabetes.
Ozempic isn’t licensed by the UK medicines regulator for weight loss specifically, but clinical studies in many patients have shown Ozempic to be safe for weight loss. We know it’s the most effective drug available for patients with obesity to lose weight in the UK right now.
The drug that’s in Ozempic, semaglutide, is already approved for weight loss treatment in the UK, USA and European Union – the new versions of the product aren’t available for use in the UK yet .
We use Ozempic “off-label”, which means we’re using it for weight loss even though it’s licensed for diabetes, because there’s an abundance of clinical evidence that it’s safe and effective for weight loss too.
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Ozempic Alternatives For Weight Loss
There are some other weight loss medications available that provide an option to treat people living with obesity prior to the extreme option of bariatric surgery. All of these should be appropriately considered for your individual circumstances and prescribed by a qualified healthcare professional.
What Pediatricians Think Of The Drug
Posner says the results are exciting but they should be interpreted cautiously because the study was not conducted in an ethnically diverse population and the drug was not thoroughly tested in young people with type 2 diabetes.
We will need more studies involving those groups as well, but we finally might have some help for adolescents who are obese and really struggling with weight loss, Posner said.
Ganjian says its refreshing to hear that scientists have potentially found a new treatment that works well.
This puts us one step closer to addressing the obesity epidemic, he adds.
More research is needed to understand the side effects and the drugs effectiveness in different ethnic groups.
Scientists can then study this drug more and formulate better, next-generation medications, Ganjian said.
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What Are The Main Health Risks Of Obesity
Diabetes is one of the biggest risks. Sleep apnea is also very closely connected to weight and is a pretty significant health issue. We also see high blood pressure and high cholesterol, but those are pretty easy to treat compared to diabetes and sleep apnea. As people age, we see the musculoskeletal complications of excessive weight. We see knee arthritis and hip arthritis and similar conditions which can become debilitating.
Semaglutide Worked Better Than Other Weight
The researchers compared the effectiveness of semaglutide to a placebo in 201 adolescents with obesity between the ages of 12 through 17.
In the study, 134 of the participants received 2.4 milligrams of semaglutide subcutaneously once a week and adhered to lifestyle interventions for 68 weeks. Among the total participants, 67 received a placebo and adhered to lifestyle interventions for 68 weeks.
After the treatment period, the research team tracked the health of the participants for an additional seven weeks.
They found that those who took semaglutide experienced a 16.1% reduction in BMI compared to their baseline BMI. Those who took the placebo had a very slight increase in BMI.
In addition, 73% of those who took semaglutide lost at least 5% of their body weight compared to 18% of those who took the placebo.
They also experienced improvements in various cardiometabolic risk factors, including lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides, waist circumference, and glycated hemoglobin levels.
Those who took semaglutide and experienced weight loss also reported better quality of life.
Similar to adults, the most common adverse effects of semaglutide in adolescents were gastrointestinal issues, but the symptoms were mild and short-lived.
According to the researchers, the benefits of semaglutide were significantly greater than the other weight-loss drugs approved for adolescents with obesity.
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What About Side Effects Of Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide may be one of the most effective drugs to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, but it does come with side effects. At least 5% of patients using Tirzepatide reported nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, stomach aches, and indigestion. Another other side effect found on the label is decreased appetite, however, for those trying to lose weight, this is a benefit. The side effects of Tirzepatide mean that those with stomach or bowel issues such as IBS or IBS-D generally dont respond well.
Slimming Down with Diets and GLP-1 receptor agonist
Is Ozempic Approved By The Fda For Weight Loss
Not exactly. Wegovy is approved for weight loss in adults 18 and over who have a body mass index of 30 or higher, or a BMI of 27 plus a comorbidity, like high cholesterol or high blood pressure. Wegovy marked the beginning of a new generation of anti-obesity medications that were highly effective, says Dr. Butsch. Its 12.4% body weight loss in its 68-week randomized controlled trial of more than 1,900 people with an average BMI of 37 was superior to all of the existing anti-obesity medications. In addition, more than half of the study group lost more than 15% body weight, and 35% lost more than 20%. But because Ozempic has traditionally been easier to get than Wegovy, many people are using this specific semaglutide to treat weight loss leading to off-label use, says Dr. Rahnama. The fact that its self-administered at home via injectiononce a week into the abdomen, thigh, or upper armhas added to its proliferation, especially during the pandemic.
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How Much Weight Will I Lose With Ozempic
About a third of people who take Ozempic for weight loss will lose 10% or more of their body weight. Most people should expect to lose at least 5% of their starting body weight when using Ozempic for weight loss.
We know that people lose weight differently, but those who see the highest weight reductions are those who are supported by healthcare professionals – making the lifestyle changes required for sustainable change much easier. This includes addressing diet, exercise and using behavioural sciences to adapt your food habits.
Ozempic Lowers Blood Sugar Levels In 3 Ways
Helps your pancreas release more insulin when your blood sugar is high
Ozempic sends signals to your pancreas making it more responsive to increases in your blood sugar levels. This means that when you eat a meal and your blood sugar increases as a result, your pancreas responds more quickly and releases more insulin to lower and improve blood sugar levels to their optimum state.
Ozempic doesn’t usually cause low blood sugar because it only triggers insulin when your blood sugar increases. Trials have shown this causes most patients’ long-term blood sugar control to be significantly improved – which may reduce the likelihood of developing diabetes or complications from diabetes later in life.
Helps prevent your liver from storing too much sugar and fat
When your blood sugar stays high for longer than necessary, it causes your liver to turn it into glycogen and store this form of sugar in the liver and muscles. This can then be released when your blood sugar falls too low, or in response to vigorous exercise.
However, it can also cause your liver to store this excess energy in your body as fat. Both Ozempic, together with lifestyle changes such as increased exercise, act to improve blood sugar levels which reduces this from happening.
Slows down food leaving your stomach
Overall, this improves blood glucose control and likely also reduces the chances of developing diabetes and the health consequences of complications on your body’s organs.
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Diabetes Drug For Weight Loss: Does It Work
Obesity is a disease within the adult population in the United States that has increased to almost 42% of the population. The highest rates of almost 50% are found in non-Hispanic Black adults and around 46% in Hispanic adults. People with obesity have been shown to be at an increased risk of other serious weight-related comorbidities such as certain types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, heart disease, strokes, hypertension , metabolic disorders, and an increased risk of developing diabetes. Obesity increases blood glucose levels due to insulin resistance. Obesity has also been seen to affect the quality of life and negatively impact mental health.
Certain diabetes medications have been shown to help improve blood sugar control and cause weight loss. Here we will take a look at some of the treatments available for diabetes and how they help with weight loss.
How Childhood Obesity Is Currently Treated
Current guidelines for young people with obesity recommend multiple lifestyle interventions, however, research has generally found that its more difficult to achieve long-lasting weight loss results with lifestyle interventions once obesity has occurred
If young people are unable to achieve their weight loss goals through lifestyle interventions, pharmaceutical medications are available, but the options are limited.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration had already approved three weight loss drugs for adolescents with obesity liraglutide , orlistat , and phenterminetopiramate .
Besides lifestyle interventions, there are not much other options besides meds that are used for only very specific medical indications, says Dr. Daniel Ganjian, a pediatrician at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, CA.
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Semaglutide Side Effects And The Complicated History Of Weight Loss Drugs
While the weight loss seen with semaglutide seems dramatic, the medicine isnt risk-free.
In clinical trials, the majority of people on semaglutide experienced gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation. Most side effects were mild to moderate, but around 5 percent of individuals discontinued trials due to treatment-related gastrointestinal problems and around 10 percent of patients experienced serious adverse events.
When the FDA approved Wegovy for weight loss in 2021, it warned that the drug carries a risk of serious side effects, such as pancreatitis, gallstones, dangerously low blood sugar, acute kidney injury, eye damage, increased heart rate, and suicidal behavior or thoughts.
None of the clinical trials that prompted the FDA to approve Ozempic and Wegovy involved people at a healthy weight. This makes it unclear how safe or effective the drug would be for dieters without overweight or obesity who still want to lose a few pounds.
The FDA has withdrawn approval for several weight loss drugs over the years due to concerns about severe or potentially life-threatening side effects, an editorial accompanying a semaglutide obesity study in The New England Journal of Medicine noted. These include several amphetamines that caused addiction fenfluramine, which caused heart valve damage and lorcaserin, which increased the risk of cancer.
How Does Ozempic Help With Weight Loss
Ozempic helps you lose body weight by working with your brain and digestive system to make you feel fuller for longer after meals, reduce your food cravings, and regulate how your body uses sugar and stores fat.
Ozempic is a pharmaceutical drug. Whilst it’s beneficial to help you start your weight loss journey, lifestyle intervention and sustainable lifestyle changes are needed to ensure the weight stays off once you stop taking the drug.
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How Does Tirzepatide Work For Weight Loss
Tirzepatide is in the glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist class of drugs, meaning it antagonizes GLP-1, the hormone responsible for blood sugar regulation and the feeling of fullness. Tirzepatide essentially makes the patient sense when they are full sooner, and therefore caloric intake is lessened. Tirzepatide is administered by a syringe into the subcutaneous layer of tissue once a week. There are a range of doses, starting low and working up to higher doses for purportedly, more benefit.
Celebrities Who Have Spoken Out About Hollywood Weight Loss Drug Ozempic
The diabetes medication Ozempic has become an ubiquitous part of the public conversation in recent months, not least because it has been touted as something of a weight loss wonder drug on social media.
Celebrities and influencers alike have endorsed the drug as a fat-melting miracle, and the hashtag #ozempic has amassed hundreds of millions of views on TikTok.
Ozempic is an injectable prescription drug that is used to manage blood sugar levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes. It is based on a naturally occurring human hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1 , which plays an important role in regulating appetite and blood sugar levels.
The active ingredient in Ozempic is a molecule called semaglutide, which acts as a GLP-1 agonist. In other words, it mimics the structure of GLP-1 and activates its receptors.
Studies have shown that people with obesity are often less sensitive to the hormones that make us feel full. But by slowing gastric emptying, drugs like Ozempic can restore feelings of fullness in these patients.
However, the drug has also become immensely popular outside of those requiring it for medical use, with a host of people with already-enviable physiques leaning on it to appear all the more svelte.
A host of celebrities have also spoken out about having used Ozempic themselves. Others have given less glowing reviews, either through mockery or outright condemnation.
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