Semaglutide, a GLP-1 drug found in medications like Ozempic and Rybelsus, has been shown in two new studies to have significant benefits for people struggling with obesity. One study involving 17,000 adults without diabetes classified as overweight or obese found that taking semaglutide-based medication led to an average weight loss of 10% of body weight and a reduction in waistline measurements of over 7 centimeters in a four-year period. The study also showed that more than half of participants moved down at least one body mass index category after two years of taking semaglutide, with 12% reaching a healthy BMI.
The research also suggested that GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide are more effective than other popular weight-loss medications such as phentermine or naltrexone/bupropion, which are associated with an average weight loss of 3% to 7% of body weight. Another companion study from University College London indicated that GLP-1 drugs may benefit the cardiovascular system regardless of the amount of weight lost or starting weight. Positive outcomes were observed among all genders, races, ages, regions, and body sizes compared to placebo effects.
Although semaglutide treatment can have side effects like gastrointestinal symptoms and increased risk of gallbladder stones, the negative symptoms were lower among the semaglutide recipients than the placebo group. The findings were presented at the May 2024 European Congress on Obesity and were sourced from the SELECT research trial, which launched in 2018 and found that taking semaglutide for over three years reduced the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death from cardiovascular disease by 20%.
Dr. Donna Ryan of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans, who led one of the studies, emphasized that the sustained weight loss seen in the study is rarely observed in other weight-loss interventions and could have significant implications for public health. The study also highlighted additional benefits of semaglutide beyond simply reducing unhealthy body fat, including impacts on blood sugar, blood pressure, inflammation, the heart muscle, and blood vessels. More research is needed to determine the long-term impact of GLP-1 treatment beyond four years and how it could be combined with heart-healthy diets and exercise.
In conclusion, the studies suggest that GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide have transformative effects on weight loss and cardiovascular health, offering promising solutions for individuals struggling with obesity. The findings underscore the potential for semaglutide to impact multiple obesity-related illnesses and improve public health outcomes. Further research is needed to explore the long-term benefits and potential synergies of combining GLP-1 treatment with other interventions for optimal results.
