#semaglutide

#semaglutide

For decades, the obesity rate among Americans trended inexorably higher, to a peak of 39.9 percent in 2022. But now, new data from Gallup's National Health and Well-Being Index shows that something extraordinary has happened: that longstanding trend has reversed, with the obesity rate falling back down to 37 percent this year. "This is a statistically meaningful decrease representing an estimated 7.6 million fewer obese adults compared with three years ago," reads the report.

The study, led by Lisa Beutler, MD, PhD, assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, improves the understanding of the molecular mechanisms influenced by these drugs and could help refine the development of future targeted therapies for treating diabetes and obesity. Incretin receptor agonists are a class of drugs that mimic the effects of incretin hormones - glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) - to stimulate insulin secretion and regulate blood sugar levels.

GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy, were originally intended to treat diabetes - and didn't become blockbuster prescriptions until doctors realized that they were also potent weight loss aids that seem to re-wire patients' relationship to food and satiety. Since then, it's slowly been emerging that they have another surprising effect: many users report less of a desire to throw back as many drinks as they did before starting the injections.

Before I explain, I want to clarify that I firmly believe in body autonomy. If someone chooses to take a weight loss medication, they should be able to do so without judgment. I hope all potential users are fully informed about the risks and benefits of these medications and are followed responsibly by medical providers. Ideally, they would also be screened for a current or past eating disorder or any other condition that might contraindicate the use of GLP-1s and GIPs.

Semaglutide mimics a hormone that is released when we eat, tricking the brain into thinking we are full and dialing down appetite.

Novo Nordisk, creator of the mega-hit drug Ozempic, has seen a loss of nearly $100 billion in market value due to collapsing sales and missed forecasts.

Approximately 40% of the weight lost from taking semaglutide -- a type of weight-loss medication known as a GLP-1 -- comes from lean mass, including muscle.

This suggests that these nerve cells control the beneficial effects of semaglutide. We have therefore identified a specific group of nerve cells that is necessary for the effects that semaglutide has on weight and appetite, but which does not appear to contribute to any significant extent to side effects such as nausea.