How do weight management medications work for obesity treatment. What are the benefits and concerns of using prescription weight loss pills. Who can benefit from weight loss medications for obesity.

Understanding Overweight and Obesity: Definitions and Prevalence

Overweight and obesity are medical conditions defined by the Body Mass Index (BMI), a measure that relates weight to height. Individuals with a BMI between 25 and 30 are considered overweight, while those with a BMI of 30 or greater are classified as obese. Severe obesity is characterized by a BMI of 40 or higher.

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, affecting more than 40% of adults. Additionally, nearly 10% of Americans suffer from severe obesity. These statistics underscore the urgent need for effective weight management strategies, including the use of prescription medications when appropriate.

How is BMI calculated?

BMI is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared. While BMI is a useful screening tool, it’s important to note that it doesn’t directly measure body fat or overall health. Healthcare professionals use BMI in conjunction with other factors to assess an individual’s health risks associated with weight.

The Role of Prescription Medications in Treating Overweight and Obesity

When lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet and regular physical activity are insufficient for weight loss or maintenance, healthcare professionals may prescribe medications as part of a comprehensive weight-control program. These medications work through various mechanisms to support weight loss efforts.

How do weight management medications function?

Weight management medications operate through different mechanisms to aid in weight loss:

• Appetite suppression: Some medications help reduce feelings of hunger or increase feelings of fullness.
• Fat absorption inhibition: Certain drugs interfere with the body’s ability to absorb dietary fat.
• Metabolism alteration: Some medications may affect the way the body processes and stores energy.

By targeting these physiological processes, weight loss medications can complement lifestyle changes and enhance weight loss outcomes.

Identifying Candidates for Weight Management Medications

Weight management medications are not suitable for everyone with a high BMI. Healthcare professionals consider several factors when determining if a patient might benefit from these medications.

Who are potential candidates for weight loss medications?

Adults who may be considered for weight management medications typically fall into one of these categories:

1. BMI of 30 or greater (obese)
2. BMI of 27 or greater (overweight) with at least one weight-related comorbidity, such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes

It’s crucial to note that medication is not a standalone solution. A comprehensive weight loss program should include behavioral changes, dietary modifications, and increased physical activity.

Weight Management Medications for Children and Adolescents

While most FDA-approved weight management medications are intended for adult use, there are limited options available for younger patients struggling with obesity.

Which medications are approved for use in children and teenagers?

Currently, three prescription medications have FDA approval for use in pediatric populations:

• Orlistat (Xenical): Approved for children ages 12 and older
• Liraglutide (Saxenda): Approved for children ages 12 and older
• Setmelanotide (IMCIVREE): Approved for children ages 6 and older with rare genetic disorders causing obesity

These medications provide additional treatment options for healthcare providers managing childhood and adolescent obesity, particularly in cases where lifestyle interventions alone have proven insufficient.

The Importance of Combining Medications with Lifestyle Changes

While weight management medications can be effective tools in the fight against obesity, they are not magic bullets. These medications work best when used in conjunction with comprehensive lifestyle modifications.

Can medications replace healthy habits for weight loss?

No, weight loss medications cannot replace physical activity and healthy eating habits. Research consistently shows that the most effective weight loss outcomes are achieved when medications are combined with a structured lifestyle program. This integrated approach addresses multiple aspects of weight management, including behavior modification, dietary changes, and increased physical activity.

Healthcare professionals typically recommend a holistic approach that includes:

• Personalized nutrition plans
• Regular exercise regimens
• Behavioral therapy to address eating triggers and habits
• Stress management techniques
• Adequate sleep hygiene

By combining medication with these lifestyle interventions, individuals are more likely to achieve and maintain significant weight loss.

Benefits of Prescription Weight Loss Medications

When used as part of a comprehensive weight management program, prescription medications can offer significant benefits to individuals struggling with obesity.

What are the potential benefits of using weight loss medications?

The benefits of prescription weight loss medications include:

• Enhanced weight loss: On average, individuals taking these medications as part of a lifestyle program lose 3% to 12% more of their starting body weight compared to those on lifestyle changes alone.
• Improved health markers: Weight loss of 5% to 10% can lead to improvements in blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and triglyceride levels.
• Alleviation of weight-related health issues: Conditions such as joint pain and sleep apnea may improve with significant weight loss.
• Long-term weight maintenance: Some medications can help individuals maintain their weight loss over time.

It’s important to note that individual results may vary, and the most significant weight loss typically occurs within the first six months of starting medication.

How much weight can be lost with prescription medications?

Research indicates that some individuals taking prescription weight management medications can lose 10% or more of their starting weight. However, the extent of weight loss can differ based on the specific medication and individual factors such as adherence to lifestyle changes and genetic predisposition.

Concerns and Side Effects of Weight Loss Medications

While weight loss medications can be effective, they are not without risks and potential side effects. Healthcare professionals carefully weigh the benefits against the potential risks when prescribing these medications.

What are the main concerns regarding weight loss medications?

The primary concerns associated with weight loss medications include:

• Potential for side effects outweighing benefits in some cases
• History of serious health problems linked to certain weight loss drugs (leading to market withdrawals)
• Possibility of medication abuse or misuse for cosmetic reasons rather than health improvement

It’s crucial to use these medications only under medical supervision and for legitimate health reasons, not solely for appearance-related goals.

What side effects can occur with weight loss medications?

Side effects of weight loss medications can vary depending on the specific drug and its mechanism of action. Common side effects may include:

• Gastrointestinal issues (nausea, diarrhea, constipation)
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Fatigue
• Increased heart rate or blood pressure (with some medications)

Most side effects are mild and often improve as the body adjusts to the medication. However, in rare cases, serious side effects can occur, emphasizing the importance of regular medical monitoring while using these drugs.

Tips for Safe and Effective Use of Weight Loss Medications

To maximize the benefits and minimize the risks associated with weight loss medications, it’s essential to follow proper usage guidelines and maintain open communication with healthcare providers.

How can patients ensure safe use of weight loss medications?

Here are some tips for the safe and effective use of weight loss medications:

1. Follow prescribing instructions carefully, including dosage and timing.
2. Attend all scheduled follow-up appointments with healthcare providers.
3. Report any side effects or concerns promptly.
4. Maintain a healthy diet and regular exercise routine as recommended.
5. Keep a weight loss journal to track progress and identify any patterns or issues.
6. Be patient and realistic about weight loss expectations.
7. Never share prescription medications with others or use medications not prescribed to you.

By adhering to these guidelines and working closely with healthcare professionals, individuals can optimize their weight loss journey and minimize potential risks associated with medication use.

In conclusion, prescription weight loss medications can be valuable tools in the treatment of overweight and obesity when used as part of a comprehensive weight management program. While these medications offer significant benefits for many individuals, it’s crucial to understand their limitations, potential side effects, and the importance of combining them with lifestyle changes. As with any medical treatment, the decision to use weight loss medications should be made in consultation with healthcare professionals, taking into account individual health status, risks, and treatment goals.

Prescription Medications to Treat Overweight & Obesity

On this page:

What are overweight and obesity?

Health care professionals use the Body Mass Index (BMI), a measure of your weight in relation to your height, to define overweight and obesity.

People who have a BMI between 25 and 30 are considered to be overweight. Obesity is defined as having a BMI of 30 or greater. You can calculate your BMI to learn if you are overweight, have obesity, or have severe obesity, which may increase your risk of health problems. Your health care professional can assess your individual risk caused by your weight.

If you are struggling with your weight, a healthy eating plan and regular physical activity may help you lose weight and keep it off over the long term. If these lifestyle changes are not enough to help you lose weight or maintain your weight loss, your health care professional may prescribe medications as part of your weight-control program.

How common are overweight and obesity?

Obesity is a chronic disease that affects more than 4 in 10 adults in the United States, and nearly 1 in 10 Americans have severe obesity.¹

How do weight management medications work?

Prescription medications to treat overweight and obesity work in different ways. For example, some medications may help you feel less hungry or full sooner. Other medications may make it harder for your body to absorb fat from the foods you eat.

Who might benefit from weight management medications?

Weight management medications are meant to help people who have health problems related to overweight or obesity. Health care professionals use BMI to help decide whether you might benefit from weight management medications. Your health care professional may prescribe a medication to treat your overweight or obesity if you are an adult with

Weight management medications aren’t for everyone with a high BMI. If you are overweight or have obesity, you might be able to lose weight with a lifestyle program that changes your behaviors and improves your eating and physical activity habits. A lifestyle program may also address other things that cause you to gain weight, such as eating triggers and not getting enough sleep.

Can children or teenagers take weight management medications?

Most of the weight management medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are for adults only. Two prescription medications, orlistat (Xenical)² and liraglutide (Saxenda),³ are approved by the FDA for children ages 12 and older. A third prescription medication, setmelanotide (IMCIVREE),⁴ is approved by the FDA for children ages 6 years and older who have rare genetic disorders causing obesity.

Can medications replace physical activity and healthy eating habits as a way to lose weight?

Medications don’t replace physical activity or healthy eating habits as a way to lose weight. Studies show that weight management medications work best when combined with a lifestyle program. Ask your health care professional about lifestyle treatment programs for weight management that will work for you.

Weight management medications don’t replace physical activity and healthy eating habits.

What are the benefits of using prescription medications to lose weight?

When combined with changes to behavior, including healthy eating and increased physical activity, prescription medications help some people lose weight and maintain weight loss. On average, after 1 year, people who take prescription medications as part of a lifestyle program lose 3% to 12% more of their starting body weight than people in a lifestyle program who do not take medication.

Research shows that some people taking prescription weight management medications lose 10% or more of their starting weight.^5,6 Results vary by medication and by person.

Weight loss of 5% to 10% of your starting body weight may help improve your health by lowering blood sugar, blood pressure, and triglyceride levels. Losing weight also can improve some other health problems related to overweight and obesity, such as joint pain and sleep apnea. Most weight loss takes place within the first 6 months of starting the medication.

What are the concerns about using prescription medications to lose weight?

Experts are concerned that, in some cases, the side effects of prescription medications that treat overweight and obesity may outweigh the benefits. For this reason, never take a weight management medication only to improve the way you look. In the past, some weight management medications were linked to serious health problems, and they were removed from U.S. markets.

Possible side effects vary by medication and how it acts on your body. Most side effects are mild and most often improve if you continue to take the medication. Rarely, serious side effects can occur.

Tips for taking weight management medication

• Follow your health care professional’s instructions about weight management medications.
• Buy your medication from a pharmacy or online distributor approved by your health care professional.
• Only take weight management medication to support your healthy eating and physical activity program.
• Know the side effects and warnings before taking any medication.
• If you are not losing weight after 12 weeks on the full dose of your medication, ask your health care professional whether you should stop taking it.
• Talk with your health care professional about any other medications you are taking, including supplements and vitamins, when considering weight management medications.
• Never take weight management medications during pregnancy or if you are planning a pregnancy.

Which weight management medication might work for me?

Choosing a medication to treat overweight or obesity is a decision between you and your health care professional. Important factors to consider include

• the likely benefits of weight loss
• the medication’s possible side effects
• your current health issues and other medications
• your family’s medical history
• cost

How long will I need to take weight management medication?

How long you will need to take weight management medication depends on whether the drug helps you lose weight and keep it off and whether you experience serious side effects.

If you have lost enough weight to improve your health and are not experiencing serious side effects, your health care professional may advise you to stay on the medication indefinitely. If you do not lose at least 5% of your starting weight after 12 weeks on the full dose of your medication, your health care professional will probably advise you to stop taking it. Your health care professional may also

• change your treatment plan or consider using a different weight management medication
• have you try different lifestyle, physical activity, or eating programs
• change your other medications that might be causing weight gain
• refer you to a bariatric surgeon to see if weight-loss (bariatric) surgery  might be an option for you

Because obesity is a chronic disease, you may need to continue your new eating and physical activity habits and other behaviors for years—or even a lifetime—to improve your health and maintain a healthier weight.

Will I regain some weight after I stop taking weight management medication?

You probably will regain some weight after you stop taking weight management medication. Developing and maintaining healthy eating habits and increasing physical activity may help you regain less weight or keep it off.

Federal physical activity guidelines (PDF, 14.5 MB) recommend at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity and at least 2 days a week of muscle-strengthening activities. You may need to do more than 300 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week to reach or maintain your weight-loss goal.

Will insurance cover the cost of weight management medication?

Some, but not all, insurance plans cover medications that treat overweight and obesity. Contact your insurance provider to find out if your plan covers these medications.

What medications are available to treat overweight and obesity?

The table below lists prescription drugs approved by the FDA for weight loss. The FDA has approved five of these drugs—orlistat (Xenical, Alli), phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia), naltrexone-bupropion (Contrave), liraglutide (Saxenda), and semaglutide (Wegovy)—for long-term use. A sixth approved drug, setmelanotide (IMCIVREE), is limited to people who have been diagnosed with one of three specific rare genetic disorders, which must be confirmed by genetic testing. You can keep taking these medications as long as you are benefiting from treatment and not experiencing serious side effects.

Some weight management medications that curb appetite are approved by the FDA for short-term use only, for up to 12 weeks. Although some health care professionals prescribe them for longer periods, not many research studies have looked at how safe and effective they are for long-term use.

Never take weight management medications if you are pregnant. If you are planning to get pregnant, you should also avoid these medications, as some of them may harm the fetus.

Prescription medications approved to treat overweight and obesity

How do health care professionals use prescription medications “off-label” to treat overweight and obesity?

Sometimes health care professionals use medications in a way that’s different from what the FDA has approved. That’s called “off-label” use. By choosing an off-label medication to treat overweight and obesity, your health care professional may prescribe

• a drug approved for treating a different medical problem
• two or more drugs at the same time
• a drug for a longer time period than approved by the FDA

You should feel comfortable asking whether your health care professional is prescribing a medication that is not approved for treating overweight and obesity. Before using a medication, learn all you need to know about it.

What other medications for weight loss may be available in the future?

Researchers are currently studying several new medications and combinations of medications in animals and people. Researchers are working to identify safer and more effective medications to help people who are overweight or have obesity lose weight and maintain a healthy weight for a long time.

Future drugs may use new strategies, such as

• regulating several gut hormones at the same time
• targeting specific genes that cause obesity
• allowing people to lose body fat without losing muscle during weight loss
• changing bacteria in the gut to control weight

Clinical Trials for Prescription Medications to Treat Overweight and Obesity

The NIDDK conducts and supports clinical trials in many diseases and conditions, including overweight and obesity. The trials look to find new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease and improve quality of life.

What are clinical trials for prescription medications to treat overweight and obesity?

Clinical trials—and other types of clinical studies—are part of medical research and involve people like you. When you volunteer to take part in a clinical study, you help health care professionals and researchers learn more about disease and improve health care for people in the future.

Researchers are studying many aspects of prescription medications to treat overweight or obesity, such as

• the effect of the FDA-approved medication liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza) on weight loss and gastric functions (stomach emptying effect) in people who are overweight or have obesity
• adolescents and young adults who don’t achieve expected weight loss or who still have severe obesity after undergoing weight-loss surgery
• patients who have obesity and binge-eating disorder
• women who are overweight or have obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome

Find out if clinical studies are right for you.

Watch a video of NIDDK Director Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers explaining the importance of participating in clinical trials.

What clinical studies for prescription medications to treat overweight and obesity are looking for participants?

You can view a filtered list of clinical studies on prescription medications to treat overweight and obesity that are federally funded, open, and recruiting at www.ClinicalTrials.gov. You can expand or narrow the list to include clinical studies from industry, universities, and individuals; however, the NIH does not review these studies and cannot ensure they are safe. Always talk with your health care provider before you participate in a clinical study.

References

[1] Hales CM, Carroll MD, Fryar CD, Ogden CL. Prevalence of obesity and severe obesity among adults: United States, 2017–2018. NCHS Data Brief 360. National Center for Health Statistics; 2020. Accessed December 7, 2020. www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db360.htm

[2] Weight-loss medicines. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Updated May 21, 2017. Accessed January 31, 2019. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000346.htm

[3] U.S. Food & Drug Administration. FDA approves weight management drug for patients aged 12 and older. Updated December 4, 2020. Accessed June 7, 2021. www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-approves-weight-management-drug-patients-aged-12-and-older

[4] U.S. Food & Drug Administration. FDA approves first treatment for weight management for people with certain rare genetic conditions. Updated November 27, 2020. Accessed June 7, 2021. www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-approves-first-treatment-weight-management-people-certain-rare-genetic-conditions

[5] Yanovski SZ, Yanovski JA. Long-term drug treatment for obesity: A systematic and clinical review. JAMA. 2014;311(1):74–86. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.281361

[6] Yanovski SZ, Yanovski JA. Progress in pharmacotherapy for obesity. JAMA. Published online June 23, 2021. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.9486

[7] FDA approves new drug treatment for chronic weight management, first since 2014. News release. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. June 4, 2021. www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-drug-treatment-chronic-weight-management-first-2014

Prescription weight-loss drugs: Can they help you?

Prescription weight-loss drugs

Examine the pros and cons of medications to treat obesity.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Are you an adult who has serious health problems because of your weight? Have you tried diet and exercise but haven’t been able to lose enough weight? If you answered yes to these questions, a prescription weight-loss drug may be an option for you.

You should know, however, that prescription weight-loss drugs are used in addition to — not instead of — diet and exercise.

Who is a candidate for weight-loss drugs?

Your doctor may consider a weight-loss drug for you if you haven’t been able to lose weight through diet and exercise and you meet one of the following:

• Your body mass index (BMI) is greater than 30.
• Your BMI is greater than 27 and you have a serious medical problem related to obesity, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

Before selecting a medicine for you, your doctor will consider your history and health challenges. Then your doctor will talk with you about the pros and cons of prescription weight-loss drugs.

It’s important to note that weight-loss drugs aren’t for everyone. For example, prescription weight-loss drugs shouldn’t be used if you’re trying to get pregnant, are pregnant or are breast-feeding.

How well do weight-loss drugs work?

Prescription weight-loss drugs approved for long-term use (more than 12 weeks) produce significant weight loss compared with placebo. The combination of weight-loss medication and lifestyle changes results in greater weight loss than lifestyle changes do alone.

Over the course of a year, that can mean a weight loss of 3% to 7% of total body weight above that achieved with lifestyle changes alone. That may seem like a modest amount. But a sustained weight loss of 5% to 10% can have important health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, blood sugar and triglyceride levels.

What you should know about weight-loss drugs

Mild side effects, such as nausea, constipation or diarrhea, are common. They may lessen over time. Rarely, serious side effects can occur. For this reason, it’s important to thoroughly discuss treatment options with your doctor.

Weight-loss drugs can be expensive and aren’t always paid for by insurance. Ask your insurance company about coverage.

Many people gain back some of the weight they lost when they stop taking weight-loss drugs. However, adopting healthy lifestyle habits may help limit weight gain.

How long does drug therapy last?

How long you’ll take a weight-loss drug depends on if the drug helps you lose weight. If you’ve lost enough weight to improve your health and you haven’t had serious side effects, your doctor may suggest that you take the drug indefinitely.

If you haven’t lost at least 5% of your body weight after three to six months on the full dose of a drug, your doctor will probably change your treatment and may switch you to a different weight-loss drug.

What drugs are approved for weight loss?

Four weight-loss drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for long-term use:

• Bupropion-naltrexone (Contrave)
• Liraglutide (Saxenda)
• Orlistat (Xenical)
• Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia)

Most prescription weight-loss drugs work by decreasing appetite or increasing feelings of fullness. Some do both. The exception is orlistat. It works by interfering with absorption of fat.

Bupropion-naltrexone

Bupropion-naltrexone is a combination drug. Naltrexone is used to treat alcohol and opioid dependence. Bupropion is an antidepressant and quit-smoking aid. Like all antidepressants, bupropion carries a warning about suicide risk. Bupropion-naltrexone can raise blood pressure, and monitoring is necessary at the start of treatment. Common side effects include nausea, headache and constipation.

Liraglutide

Liraglutide is also used to manage diabetes. Unlike other weight-loss drugs, liraglutide is given by injection. Nausea is a common complaint. Vomiting may limit its use.

Orlistat

Orlistat is also available in a reduced-strength form without a prescription (Alli). Orlistat can cause bothersome gastrointestinal side effects, such as flatulence and loose stools. You need to follow a low-fat diet when taking this medicine. Rare cases of serious liver injury have been reported with orlistat. However, no cause-and-effect relationship has been established.

Phentermine-topiramate

Phentermine-topiramate is a combination of a weight-loss drug (phentermine) and an anticonvulsant (topiramate). Phentermine has the potential to be abused because it acts like an amphetamine. Other possible side effects include an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, insomnia, constipation, and nervousness. Topiramate increases the risk of birth defects.

Phentermine by itself (Adipex-P, Lomaira) is also used for weight loss. It’s one of four similar weight-loss drugs approved for short-term use (less than 12 weeks). The other drugs in this group aren’t widely prescribed.

The bottom line

Weight-loss drugs aren’t an easy answer to weight loss. But they may help you make the necessary lifestyle changes to lose weight and improve your health.

Get the latest health advice from Mayo Clinic delivered
to your inbox.

Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research
advancements, health tips and current health topics,
like COVID-19, plus expert advice on managing your health.

Learn more about our use of data

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information and to understand which
information
is beneficial, we may combine your e-mail and website usage information with other
information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic Patient,
this could include Protected Health Information (PHI). If we combine this information
with your PHI, we will treat all of that information as PHI,
and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy
practices. You may opt-out of e-mail communications
at any time by clicking on the Unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Subscribe!

Thank you for Subscribing

Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date
on the latest health information.

We’re sorry! Our system isn’t working.

Please try again.

Something went wrong on our side, please try again.

Please try again

Nov. 04, 2020

Show references

1. AskMayoExpert. Weight management (adult). Mayo Clinic; 2018.
2. AskMayoExpert. Obesity (adult). Mayo Clinic; 2018.
3. Pilitsi E, et al. Pharmacotherapy of obesity: Available medications and drugs under investigation. Metabolism. 2019; doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2018.10.010.
4. Perreault L. Obesity in adults: Drug therapy. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Oct. 12, 2020.
5. Prescription medications to treat overweight and obesity. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/prescription-medications-treat-overweight-obesity. Accessed Aug. 23, 2018.
6. Melmed S, et al. Obesity. In: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Oct. 12, 2020.
7. Patel, K. Obesity treatment: A focus on pharmacotherapy of weight management. 2020; doi:10.1097/NOR.0000000000000643.
8. Papadakis MA, et al., eds. Obesity. In: Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2021. 60th ed. McGraw Hill; 2021. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Oct. 21, 2020.
9. Shah M (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Oct. 16, 2020.
10. Apovian CM, et al. Pharmacological management of obesity: An Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2015; doi:10.1210/jc.2014-3415.
11. FDA Drug Safety Communication: Completed safety review of Xenical/Alli (orlistat) and severe liver injury. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/fda-drug-safety-communication-completed-safety-review-xenicalalli-orlistat-and-severe-liver-injury. Accessed Oct. 16, 2020.

See more In-depth

Products and Services

1. The Mayo Clinic Diet Online
2. Book: The Mayo Clinic Diet

.

FDA Approves New Drug Treatment for Chronic Weight Management, First Since 2014

For Immediate Release:

June 04, 2021

Español

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Wegovy (semaglutide) injection (2.4 mg once weekly) for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition (such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol), for use in addition to a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity. This under-the-skin injection is the first approved drug for chronic weight management in adults with general obesity or overweight since 2014. The drug is indicated for chronic weight management in patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 kg/m2 or greater who have at least one weight-related ailment or in patients with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater. 

“Today’s approval offers adults with obesity or overweight a beneficial new treatment option to incorporate into a weight management program,” said John Sharretts, M.D., deputy director of the Division of Diabetes, Lipid Disorders, and Obesity in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “FDA remains committed to facilitating the development and approval of additional safe and effective therapies for adults with obesity or overweight.” 

Approximately 70% of American adults have obesity or overweight. Having obesity or overweight is a serious health issue associated with some leading causes of death, including heart disease, stroke and diabetes, and is linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancer. Losing 5% to 10% of body weight through diet and exercise has been associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease in adult patients with obesity or overweight.

Wegovy works by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that targets areas of the brain that regulate appetite and food intake. The medication dose must be increased gradually over 16 to 20 weeks to 2.4 mg once weekly to reduce gastrointestinal side effects.

Wegovy should not be used in combination with other semaglutide-containing products, other GLP-1 receptor agonists, or other products intended for weight loss, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, or herbal products. Wegovy has not been studied in patients with a history of pancreatitis.

Wegovy’s safety and efficacy were studied in four 68-week trials. Three were randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (including 16 weeks of dose increases) and one was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized withdrawal trial in which patients receiving Wegovy either continued with the treatment or switched to a placebo. More than 2,600 patients received Wegovy for up to 68 weeks in these four studies and more than 1,500 patients received placebo.

The largest placebo-controlled trial enrolled adults without diabetes. The average age at the start of the trial was 46 years and 74% of patients were female. The average body weight was 231 pounds (105 kg) and average BMI was 38 kg/m2. Individuals who received Wegovy lost an average of 12.4% of their initial body weight compared to individuals who received placebo. Another trial enrolled adults with type 2 diabetes. The average age was 55 years and 51% were female. The average body weight was 220 pounds (100 kg) and average BMI was 36 kg/m2. In this trial, individuals who received Wegovy lost 6.2% of their initial body weight compared to those who received placebo. 

The most common side effects of Wegovy include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal (stomach) pain, headache, fatigue, dyspepsia (indigestion), dizziness, abdominal distension, eructation (belching), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in patients with type 2 diabetes, flatulence (gas buildup), gastroenteritis (an intestinal infection) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (a type of digestive disorder).  

The prescribing information for Wegovy contains a boxed warning to inform healthcare professionals and patients about the potential risk of thyroid C-cell tumors. Wegovy should not be used in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with a rare condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).  

Wegovy should not be used in patients with a history of severe allergic reactions to semaglutide or any of the other components of Wegovy. Patients should stop Wegovy immediately and seek medical help if a severe allergic reaction is suspected. Wegovy also contains warnings for inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), gallbladder problems (including gallstones), low blood sugar, acute kidney injury, diabetic retinopathy (damage to the eye’s retina), increased heart rate and suicidal behavior or thinking. Patients should discuss with their healthcare professional if they have symptoms of pancreatitis or gallstones. If Wegovy is used with insulin or a substance that causes insulin secretion, patients should speak to their health care provider about potentially lowering the dose of insulin or the insulin-inducing drug to reduce the risk of low blood sugar. Healthcare providers should monitor patients with kidney disease, diabetic retinopathy and depression or suicidal behaviors or thoughts.

The FDA granted the approval to Novo Nordisk. Semaglutide 1 mg injection (Ozempic) was first approved as a treatment for type 2 diabetes in 2017.

Related Information

###

Boilerplate

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

Weight Loss Medications (Anti-Obesity Medications)

By combining weight loss medications with diet and exercise, most people lose 7.5—22 pounds more than with diet and exercise alone. 

Health Benefits of Losing Weight

There are also positive health benefits to losing weight. Losing just five—10 percent of your body weight will lower your:

• blood pressure,
• lipid levels (fats), and
• glucose (blood sugar).

Losing five to 10 percent of your body weight is a good starting goal for many patients.

Here are some facts around weight loss and health:

• Losing just three—five percent of your body weight will lower your chances of getting heart disease.
• High blood pressure is twice as common for obese adults than adults who aren’t obese.
• For every two pounds you gain, your chances of developing arthritis go up by nine to 13 percent.
• For every two pounds you gain, this puts another four pounds of pressure your knees. Being overweight increases your chances of having knee pain.
• Older people who are obese have lower muscles mass. This means they’re more likely to fall and fracture bones.
• People who are overweight have higher odds of dying or having serious complications during surgery.

How Quickly Do Weight Loss Medications Work?

Most people taking weight loss medications lose an average of one to two pounds per week. Of course, weight loss medications work best when you combine them with other healthy lifestyle changes like eating healthy foods and getting regular exercise.

Most patients start to lose weight within weeks. But if you can’t lose more than 5 percent of your body weight within 12 weeks, your doctor may stop prescribing these drugs and develop a different treatment plan for you.

Should I Combine Weight Loss Medications With Exercise?

Weight loss medications work best when you combine them with lifestyle changes like choosing healthier foods, eating fewer calories, and exercising regularly.

You will need to combine weight loss drugs with lifestyle changes if:

• your BMI (body mass index) is more than 30kg/m², or
• your BMI is more than 27kg/m² and you have a chronic disease like type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure (hypertension).

How Long Will I Need to Take Medication?

Depending on your health and weight loss goals, you may need to take weight loss medications for years. Because obesity is a chronic disease, the FDA has approved these drugs for long-term use.

#1 Branded Weight Loss Pills

CONTRAVE can cause serious side effects including:
Suicidal thoughts or actions: One of the ingredients in CONTRAVE is bupropion. Bupropion has caused some people to have suicidal thoughts or actions or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking medicines used to treat depression. Bupropion may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. If you already have depression or other mental illnesses, taking bupropion may cause it to get worse, especially within the first few months of treatment.

While taking CONTRAVE, you or your family members should pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. This is very important when you start taking CONTRAVE or when your dose changes.

Stop taking CONTRAVE and call a healthcare provider right away if you or your family members notice any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: thoughts about suicide or dying; attempts to commit suicide; depression; anxiety; feeling agitated or restless; panic attacks; irritability; aggression, anger, or violence; acting on dangerous impulses; an extreme increase in activity and talking; other unusual changes in behavior or mood; trouble sleeping.

CONTRAVE is not approved for use in children under the age of 18.

Do not take CONTRAVE if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure; have or have had seizures; use other medicines that contain bupropion such as WELLBUTRIN, WELLBUTRIN SR, WELLBUTRIN XL, APLENZIN and ZYBAN; have or have had an eating disorder called anorexia or bulimia; are dependent on opioid pain medicines or use medicines to help stop taking opioids, or are in opiate withdrawal; drink a lot of alcohol and abruptly stop drinking, or use medicines called sedatives (these make you sleepy), benzodiazepines, or anti‐seizure medicines and stop using them all of a sudden; are taking or have taken medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) in the past 14 days; or are allergic to any of the ingredients in CONTRAVE.

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions including if you have: depression or other mental illnesses; attempted suicide; seizures; head injury; tumor or infection of brain or spine; low blood sugar or low sodium; liver or kidney problems; high blood pressure; heart attack, heart problems, or stroke; eating disorder; drinking a lot of alcohol; prescription medicine or street drug abuse; are 65 or older; diabetes; pregnant or planning to become pregnant; or breastfeeding.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

The most common side effects of CONTRAVE include nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, dry mouth, and diarrhea. These are not all of the possible side effects of CONTRAVE.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

CONTRAVE is a prescription weight-loss medicine that may help some adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or greater (obese), or adults with a BMI of 27 kg/m² or greater (overweight) with at least one weight-related medical problem such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes, lose weight and keep the weight off.

CONTRAVE should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

It is not known if CONTRAVE changes your risk of heart problems or stroke or of death due to heart problems or stroke.

It is not known if CONTRAVE is safe and effective when taken with other prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal weight-loss products.

CONTRAVE is not approved to treat depression or other mental illnesses, or to help people quit smoking (smoking cessation).

Please see Full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide, for CONTRAVE.

Get Contrave Now® – CONTRAVE®

CONTRAVE can cause serious side effects including:
Suicidal thoughts or actions: One of the ingredients in CONTRAVE is bupropion. Bupropion has caused some people to have suicidal thoughts or actions or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking medicines used to treat depression. Bupropion may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. If you already have depression or other mental illnesses, taking bupropion may cause it to get worse, especially within the first few months of treatment.

While taking CONTRAVE, you or your family members should pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. This is very important when you start taking CONTRAVE or when your dose changes.

Stop taking CONTRAVE and call a healthcare provider right away if you or your family members notice any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: thoughts about suicide or dying; attempts to commit suicide; depression; anxiety; feeling agitated or restless; panic attacks; irritability; aggression, anger, or violence; acting on dangerous impulses; an extreme increase in activity and talking; other unusual changes in behavior or mood; trouble sleeping.

CONTRAVE is not approved for use in children under the age of 18.

Do not take CONTRAVE if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure; have or have had seizures; use other medicines that contain bupropion such as WELLBUTRIN, WELLBUTRIN SR, WELLBUTRIN XL, APLENZIN and ZYBAN; have or have had an eating disorder called anorexia or bulimia; are dependent on opioid pain medicines or use medicines to help stop taking opioids, or are in opiate withdrawal; drink a lot of alcohol and abruptly stop drinking, or use medicines called sedatives (these make you sleepy), benzodiazepines, or anti‐seizure medicines and stop using them all of a sudden; are taking or have taken medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) in the past 14 days; or are allergic to any of the ingredients in CONTRAVE.

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions including if you have: depression or other mental illnesses; attempted suicide; seizures; head injury; tumor or infection of brain or spine; low blood sugar or low sodium; liver or kidney problems; high blood pressure; heart attack, heart problems, or stroke; eating disorder; drinking a lot of alcohol; prescription medicine or street drug abuse; are 65 or older; diabetes; pregnant or planning to become pregnant; or breastfeeding.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

The most common side effects of CONTRAVE include nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, dry mouth, and diarrhea. These are not all of the possible side effects of CONTRAVE.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

CONTRAVE is a prescription weight-loss medicine that may help some adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or greater (obese), or adults with a BMI of 27 kg/m² or greater (overweight) with at least one weight-related medical problem such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes, lose weight and keep the weight off.

CONTRAVE should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

It is not known if CONTRAVE changes your risk of heart problems or stroke or of death due to heart problems or stroke.

It is not known if CONTRAVE is safe and effective when taken with other prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal weight-loss products.

CONTRAVE is not approved to treat depression or other mental illnesses, or to help people quit smoking (smoking cessation).

Please see Full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide, for CONTRAVE.

About CONTRAVE® | CONTRAVE (naltrexone HCI/bupropion HCI)

CONTRAVE can cause serious side effects including:
Suicidal thoughts or actions: One of the ingredients in CONTRAVE is bupropion. Bupropion has caused some people to have suicidal thoughts or actions or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking medicines used to treat depression. Bupropion may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. If you already have depression or other mental illnesses, taking bupropion may cause it to get worse, especially within the first few months of treatment.

While taking CONTRAVE, you or your family members should pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. This is very important when you start taking CONTRAVE or when your dose changes.

Stop taking CONTRAVE and call a healthcare provider right away if you or your family members notice any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: thoughts about suicide or dying; attempts to commit suicide; depression; anxiety; feeling agitated or restless; panic attacks; irritability; aggression, anger, or violence; acting on dangerous impulses; an extreme increase in activity and talking; other unusual changes in behavior or mood; trouble sleeping.

CONTRAVE is not approved for use in children under the age of 18.

Do not take CONTRAVE if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure; have or have had seizures; use other medicines that contain bupropion such as WELLBUTRIN, WELLBUTRIN SR, WELLBUTRIN XL, APLENZIN and ZYBAN; have or have had an eating disorder called anorexia or bulimia; are dependent on opioid pain medicines or use medicines to help stop taking opioids, or are in opiate withdrawal; drink a lot of alcohol and abruptly stop drinking, or use medicines called sedatives (these make you sleepy), benzodiazepines, or anti‐seizure medicines and stop using them all of a sudden; are taking or have taken medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) in the past 14 days; or are allergic to any of the ingredients in CONTRAVE.

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions including if you have: depression or other mental illnesses; attempted suicide; seizures; head injury; tumor or infection of brain or spine; low blood sugar or low sodium; liver or kidney problems; high blood pressure; heart attack, heart problems, or stroke; eating disorder; drinking a lot of alcohol; prescription medicine or street drug abuse; are 65 or older; diabetes; pregnant or planning to become pregnant; or breastfeeding.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

The most common side effects of CONTRAVE include nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, dry mouth, and diarrhea. These are not all of the possible side effects of CONTRAVE.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

CONTRAVE is a prescription weight-loss medicine that may help some adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or greater (obese), or adults with a BMI of 27 kg/m² or greater (overweight) with at least one weight-related medical problem such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes, lose weight and keep the weight off.

CONTRAVE should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

It is not known if CONTRAVE changes your risk of heart problems or stroke or of death due to heart problems or stroke.

It is not known if CONTRAVE is safe and effective when taken with other prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal weight-loss products.

CONTRAVE is not approved to treat depression or other mental illnesses, or to help people quit smoking (smoking cessation).

Please see Full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide, for CONTRAVE.

New tool helps to lose weight very strongly

Semaglutide more than successfully passed the third phase of clinical trials and showed a high degree of effectiveness: the body weight of every third subject decreased by as much as 20%. The large-scale study was conducted on several continents under the guidance of experts from University College London.

The results of the study, which involved nearly two thousand people from 16 countries, are published in the New England Journal for Medicine.

Semaglutide affects the brain centers responsible for appetite and satiety. This drug was previously approved as a treatment for type 2 diabetes because Semaglutide helps lower blood glucose levels and stimulates insulin production. Now scientists have used its properties in the fight against obesity, and the drug has more than successfully coped with the task.

“The results of this study represent a real breakthrough in the treatment of obesity,” said Dr. Rachel Batterham, one of the study’s lead authors.- Three quarters (75%) of participants who received 2.4 mg of Semaglutide lost 10% of their weight, and more than a third lost 20%. No other drug can match its effectiveness, so it really is a game changer. For the first time, a drug was able to do what was previously only available through surgery. “

Dr. Butterham also added that obesity is a risk factor for COVID-19, and in itself increases the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, liver disease and some cancers. Therefore, a new drug can make a great contribution to maintaining public health.

Almost two thousand people from 129 cities in Asia, Europe, North and South America were selected for the final trials of the drug. All participants in the experiment were overweight or obese: the average body weight of the volunteers was 105 kilograms. They received 2.4 mg of Semaglutide subcutaneously every week. In much the same way, patients receive insulin for diabetes. Some of the subjects received a placebo.The study lasted more than 15 months and was successfully completed by 94.3% of the subjects.

Participants talked with a dietitian every month. During telephone or face-to-face consultations, they discussed adapting to a new diet and exercise, because sudden changes in appetite and level of physical activity can adversely affect the psychological state. Moreover, at the beginning of the experiment, each participant received gymnastic weights and culinary scales as a kind of stimulus to a healthy lifestyle.

As a result, weight loss in subjects treated with Semaglutide averaged 15.3 kilograms. Their body mass index (BMI) decreased by 5.5 units. The placebo group lost an average of 2.6 kilograms in weight and less than one in BMI.

In addition, Semaglutide reduced the risks of cardiovascular disease in volunteers. After all, they have decreased waist circumference, decreased blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and also normalized blood pressure.

Despite all the benefits, the drug still has side effects.Thus, the patients complained of nausea and diarrhea during the experiment, but the symptoms passed without causing great inconvenience. None of the volunteers completed the trial prematurely due to this problem.

Recall that the drug has not yet been officially approved as a treatment for obesity. Self-administration of medicines without constant supervision by the attending physician can lead to undesirable and even disastrous results.

Previously Vesti. Ru wrote about the most diverse methods of dealing with obesity.For the treatment of obesity, nanoparticles have been used, a safe analogue of nicotine, blocking genes and even parasitic worms.

90,000 Means used for the treatment of obesity

Order drugs for the treatment of obesity

The website of the “36.6” network allows you to order drugs with delivery and subsequent payment to one of the more than 1200 nearest pharmacies in Moscow and Moscow.
region, St. Petersburg and Leningrad region. Convenient search in the catalog allows you to make a selection of the necessary medicines both by brand and
the manufacturer and the active substance, which makes it possible to order cheaper and more expensive analogues of the desired drug.Treatment
obesity drugs becomes available thanks to constant discounts and promotions taking place on the portal.

Readings

Treatment of obesity can be both surgical and medication. Obesity medications alter weight regulation by reducing appetite,
acceleration or deceleration of metabolism, and also control the absorption of calories [1]. They are prescribed in cases where the body mass index of a person
exceeds the permissible values. It is important to remember that many of them are hormonal.This can change the overall
hormonal levels, so they should be taken only after the appointment of the attending physician.

From a medical point of view, such drugs have a list of indications:

• severe forms of obesity;
• overweight.

Contraindications

Having in their composition substances that affect the nervous system, drugs for the treatment of obesity have a number of contraindications:

• pregnancy and lactation;
• hypersensitivity to individual components;
• cholestasis;
• increased nervous excitability;
• insomnia;
• high blood pressure;
• atherosclerosis;
• diseases of the liver and kidneys;
• ischemic heart disease.

Form of issue

Obesity pills are a popular form of drug release associated with the treatment of overweight. The greatest effect from their use
obtained with an integrated approach – it is possible to use gels and creams to combat aesthetic imperfections [2].

Also drugs against overweight are in the form:

90,042 90,043 capsules;

90,043 powders;

Countries of origin

Given the extent of the disease, anti-obesity drugs are being manufactured around the world.

The most common manufacturing countries of the drug are:

• Russia;
• USA;
• India;
• Israel and other countries.

BEFORE USING PREPARATIONS, PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE OR CONSULT A SPECIALIST BEFORE USING THE PREPARATIONS.

References:

1. [1] Kushner, R. Overweight and obesity. Prevention, diagnosis and treatment / R. Kushner. – M .: Binom. Knowledge Laboratory, 2014.- 380 p.
2. [2] Bulynko, S.G. Diet and medical nutrition for obesity and diabetes mellitus / S.G. Bulynko. – Moscow: RGGU, 2014 .– 256 p.

Payback for a piece. How to cripple diet pills

It was pills with sibutramine that 24-year-old Alexandra Kovalevskaya (name has been changed) took for several months. Since childhood, the girl has been struggling with overweight, but her love of sweets and a sedentary lifestyle prevented her from achieving tangible results.
“After taking this medication and the side effects, I decided to pull myself together and at least start eating right.On pills, I threw off only a couple of kilograms, which I then quickly ate back. In addition, there were abdominal pains, constant dry mouth and severe stress, because sibutramine also affects the nervous system. Therefore, I gave up the drug and limited myself to flour and fatty foods. The result was not long in coming: in a month I threw off five kilograms, “Kovalevskaya tells her story.

It is impossible to lose weight with the help of pills without dieting, says Alexey Kovalkov.The fact is that all medications work symptomatically – they help to cope with the symptoms of the disease, not the cause. That is, as soon as the patient stops taking pills, the extra pounds will return, because the person does not know why the excess weight has arisen.

“When a patient, for example, has a headache, he goes to the pharmacy and buys pills for fever, instead of going to the doctor. And if a person has a heart arrhythmia, he drinks medicine for it, but does not cure the disease itself.It is worth stopping the intake, as the heart rhythm will break again. Excess weight appears due to an imbalance, lack or excess of certain substances in the body. Doctors prescribe medications only after getting acquainted with the blood test, when it is already clear what exactly is missing. Any normal pharmacy will tell you to consult a dietitian before taking sibutramine or orlistat, “says the doctor.

Slim figure

The main thing is not to buy potent drugs without a doctor’s prescription, explains Alexey Kovalkov: not only will you not lose weight, but also aggravate health problems.

Geneticists talked about the prospects for creating a pill for obesity

Novosibirsk scientists have established that gender seriously affects the results of drug correction of obesity. The results of studies carried out on mice showed that the introduction of a special drug affects the body functions impaired by overweight only in males.

As the head of the laboratory for the regulation of carbohydrate-fat metabolism of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Nadezhda Bazhan, said at a round table in Rossiyskaya Gazeta, the fibroblast growth factor discovered by American specialists ( FGF21).

It has been proven that the introduction of this protein into the blood of mice relieves them of excess weight. However, according to the data of many years of research by Novosibirsk biologists, such therapy requires a special approach depending on gender.

“It is known that many indicators of carbohydrate-fat metabolism differ in male and female bodies,” explained Nadezhda Bazhan. – In particular, with obesity in the female body, much more white fat is formed. Our goal is to find out how FGF21 affects the male and female body, not only in terms of weight loss, but also the correction of metabolic and other body functions.As part of a project supported by the Russian Science Foundation, we conducted research on mice, for which a group of animals was kept on a special diet for ten weeks, including lard, cookies, and sunflower seeds in the diet.

As a result of this diet, the animals gained about 20 percent in relation to the control group, which was fed as usual. At the same time, the proportion of white adipose tissue in males increased slightly, and in the case of females – immediately threefold. The concentration of FGF21 in males was many times higher than in females.Normally, this protein may not be produced at all. However, it acts as an internal “first aid” for certain metabolic calls, such as hunger or, conversely, overnutrition.

– We found that when additional FGF21 was injected into the blood of mice, body weight decreased in both males and females, although in the second case the effect was less, – notes Nadezhda Bazhan. – But glucose tolerance, the ability to regulate its metabolism, increased only in males. The same goes for the expression of genes and proteins in the liver that are involved in insulin signaling, fatty acid oxidation.

Thus, according to a specialist, the protein had a beneficial, healing effect only on the body of males. According to scientists, this can be explained by the differences between the male and female body: a different set of sex chromosomes, a different body structure, the level of sex steroids, the influence of other hormones that regulate body weight. But it is obvious that for the effective use of FGF21 for weight correction, it is necessary to study the effect of sex differences.

– Medical treatment of obesity is difficult for a number of reasons.And one of them, of course, is the impossibility of finding a universal medicine that equally effectively corrects carbohydrate-fat metabolism in representatives of different sexes, – Nadezhda Bazhan is sure. “Therefore, only personalized medicine that can take into account the sex and age characteristics of obese people, as well as different types of obesity, can be a promising area of ​​drug therapy.

Another factor that works against the fight against obesity, according to the scientist, is evolution itself.Indeed, in nature there are no natural mechanisms for reducing obesity. On the contrary, there are powerful mechanisms of adaptation to hunger, which are aimed precisely at maintaining the achieved weight.

Read the full report from the round table on the problems of combating obesity in the next issue of “Rossiyskaya Gazeta”.

Medicinal interventions for the treatment of obesity in children and adolescents

Review Question

Do drug interventions reduce weight in obese children and adolescents and are they safe?

Relevance

Around the world, more and more children and adolescents are overweight and obese.These children and adolescents are more likely to have health problems, both in childhood or adolescence, and in later life. More information is needed on which therapies are most effective in addressing this problem, recognizing that so-called lifestyle changes (diet, exercise and counseling) have limited effectiveness.

Characteristics of research

We found 21 randomized controlled trials (clinical trials in which people were randomly assigned to one of two or more treatment groups) comparing different drugs in combination with behavior-modifying interventions such as diet, exercise, or both (= intervention groups ), usually with a placebo (fake drug) combined with behavior-modifying interventions (= control groups). We also identified eight ongoing studies (studies that are currently ongoing but not yet completed). A total of 2,484 children and adolescents participated in the included studies. The length of the intervention period ranged from 12 weeks to 48 weeks, and the follow-up period ranged from six months to 100 weeks.

Main results

Included studies examined metformin (10 studies), sibutramine (six studies), orlistat (four studies), and one study group evaluated the combination of metformin and fluoxetine.Ongoing studies are looking at metformin (four studies), topiramate (two studies), and exenatide (two studies).

Most studies have reported body mass index (BMI) and body weight: BMI measures the amount of body fat and is calculated by measuring weight and height (kg / m ² ). In children, BMI is often measured in terms of gender, weight and height as children grow (BMI z-score). The mean change in BMI in the control groups was between a decrease of 1. 8 kg / m ² and an increase of 0.9 kg / m ² , while in all intervention groups (experimental) the mean decrease was more pronounced (a decrease by 1.3 kg / m ² ).The same effect was observed with respect to weight change: on average, children and adolescents in the treatment groups lost 3.9 kg more weight than children and adolescents in the control groups. The study authors reported serious side effects on average of 24 out of 1000 participants in the treatment groups, compared with an average of 17 per 1000 participants in the control groups. The number of participants who left the study due to side effects was 40 per 1000 in the treatment groups and 27 per 1000 in the control groups.The most common side effects in studies of orlistat and metformin were intestinal (such as diarrhea and mild abdominal pain). Typical side effects in trials of sibutramine included increased heart rate (tachycardia), constipation, and high blood pressure. The fluoxetine study reported dry mouth and loose stools. One study presented data on health-related quality of life (a measure of physical, mental, emotional and social functioning) and found no significant differences between intervention and control.None of the studies reported participants’ opinions on the intervention or socioeconomic impact. Only one study reported the incidence (how often the disease occurs in a specific area) associated with the intervention, when more gallstones were found after treatment with orlistat. The study authors reported one case of suicide in the orlistat group. However, the studies were not long enough to reliably study death from any cause.None of the studies examined drug treatment for children who were only overweight (obese children are much heavier and have a much higher BMI or BMI z-score than overweight children).

This evidence is current to March 2016.

Quality of proof

Overall, the certainty (confidence) of the evidence is low or very low, mainly because there were only a few studies measuring outcomes, the number of children or adolescents included was small, and because of the variation in study results. In addition, many children or adolescents left research before it was over.

Scientists have identified a new way to treat obesity | News | Izvestia

Australian scientists from the Garvan Institute for Medical Research, together with colleagues from China and Canada, have identified a new way to treat obesity. The results of their work were published on May 11 in the journal Nature Communications.

Experts have found that blocking a specific receptor in adipose tissues in a certain way affects the metabolic process.Thus, the body begins to actively spend the accumulated fat, using it for energy production and thermoregulation.

Thus, scientists have discovered a method that allows you to directly affect adipose tissue. This approach to the treatment of obesity is safer and more effective than the currently widely used appetite suppression method. Drugs that eliminate hunger have an effect on the central nervous system and also have a number of side effects, experts say.

Scientists have studied the analysis of biopsies of adipose tissue of obese people. As a result, the experts concluded that blocking the receptor for the neuropeptide Y1 (NPY) molecule, which contributes to the conservation of energy in conditions of nutritional deficiency, prevents weight gain.

In addition, experts conducted appropriate experiments on mice, during which it was found that animals receiving a special antagonist substance BIBO330 to block the Y1 receptor gained less weight than ordinary rodents on a similar diet.

“In our study, we found that mice injected with BIBO3304 gained about 40% less weight in seven weeks than normal mice on the same diet. This is due to an increase in body heat release and a decrease in fat mass, ”said Yan-Chuan Shi, one of the authors of the study.

He explained that the experts tested the technique on human fat cells and found a result similar to that obtained in rodents. The cells began to switch to more active heat production, which also led to weight loss.

Earlier, on April 11, endocrinologist, nutritionist Olesya Gurova told about the correct way to lose weight. According to her, the pace of weight loss should be smooth. This will help to avoid sagging skin, which is often faced by losing weight. The nutritionist added that when losing weight through surgery, when the weight loss is sharp and intense, only other operations will help get rid of excess skin.

Ligand – a new word in obesity treatment :: Society :: RBK

Scientists searching for a cure for cancer seem to have discovered a new weight loss drug.They noticed a protein that causes cancer patients to rapidly lose weight . ..

Scientists looking for a cure for cancer seem to have discovered a new weight loss drug.They drew attention to a protein that causes cancer patients to rapidly lose weight …

Scottish researchers studying cancer cells have made an unexpected discovery. In their quest for a cure for cancer, they discovered a protein that controls how fat is stored and shed in the body. It is known that at a certain stage of the disease, cancer patients begin to lose weight very quickly. This is due to the fact that this very protein, or rather one of its molecules, a ligand, is connected to the metabolic process. Doctors intend to use this substance to create a new generation of drugs for the treatment of obese patients. Scientists at the University of Glasgow, who made this discovery, hope that they will be able to synthesize the ligand, as well as control its activity. But doctors are by no means going to release the next newfangled diet pills. They intend to use their discovery exclusively for medical, and not for cosmetic purposes, so the new drug based on the ligand will only be available to patients suffering from true obesity.

Ananova

.