The science of the weight loss and diabetes drugs Wegovy and Ozempic

Ozempic and Wegovy are model names for the drug semaglutide. Many nations have accepted Wegovy for weight reduction in people who find themselves overweight or obese and Ozempic for individuals with kind 2 diabetes.

How do these medication work?

Drugs reminiscent of semaglutide mimic the actions of a hormone referred to as glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1. These so-called GLP-1 analogues have a number of results, together with slowing abdomen emptying, performing on the mind to scale back urge for food and boosting the discharge of insulin, which helps to control blood sugar ranges.

For greater than a decade, GLP-1 analogues have been used to assist individuals with kind 2 diabetes management their blood sugar and a few customers skilled modest weight reduction. “These drugs augment a system that already exists within the human body, whose role it is to suppress appetite following meal ingestion,” says Simon Cork at Imperial College London.

Why are they making headlines now?

GLP-1 analogues have began to be prescribed for weight reduction in individuals with out kind 2 diabetes. They have additionally change into accessible in formulations which might be stronger and simpler to make use of.

Initially GLP-1 analogues have been accepted to be used at a decrease dose and wanted to be given by twice-daily injections. In the most recent formulations they’re once-weekly injections, with Wegovy’s full dose being 2.4 milligrams for weight reduction and Ozempic getting used at a most dose of two milligrams for kind 2 diabetes.

How broadly accessible are they?

In 2021, Wegovy was accepted for weight reduction in a number of nations, together with the US and Canada. Praise from some superstar customers introduced it widespread publicity.

Manufacturing issues meant its producer, Novo Nordisk, had hassle assembly world demand, so some medical doctors began prescribing Ozempic, which had been accepted for individuals with kind 2 diabetes in sure nations a number of years earlier. This led to shortages for individuals who required it for diabetes management.

In the UK, Wegovy was accepted in 2021, however solely bought the nod from England’s medical tips physique the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in March 2023, when it stated the drug must be given by weight reduction clinics inside the nation’s nationwide well being service. Wegovy is anticipated to change into accessible within the UK this yr, whereas Ozempic has been accessible for kind 2 diabetes since 2019.

How efficient are they?

Very. It is a cliche however weight problems medical doctors are speaking a few paradigm shift within the subject of weight problems administration. Previously, a lack of about 5 per cent of physique weight can be thought-about an excellent consequence for any weight reduction intervention exterior of abdomen surgical procedure and is taken into account a benchmark in weight problems drug trials.

Wegovy results in a few 15 per cent discount in physique weight over a yr, when mixed with train and consuming healthily.

In truth, some individuals appear to really feel that the GLP-1 analogues have triggered them to change into too gaunt, as mirrored within the rise of the search phrases “Ozempic face” and “Ozempic butt”. “Ozempic doesn’t do anything specific to the skin,” says Alexander Miras at Ulster University, UK. It is the load loss that causes these obvious negative effects, with related outcomes typically additionally occurring after weight reduction surgical procedure, he says.

Do the medication have any negative effects?

Side results will be delicate, reminiscent of nausea, constipation and diarrhoea, which are likely to happen as individuals get used to the drug. More worrying negative effects embrace irritation of the pancreas, though that is comparatively uncommon.

How about hair loss?

Hair loss has been reported by some semaglutide customers. This can be generally seen after vital weight reduction from different causes, reminiscent of abdomen surgical procedure, says Miras.

Hair loss following weight reduction surgical procedure is considered attributable to physiological stress on the physique inflicting an elevated variety of hair follicles to enter their “resting” section, which ends up in the hairs falling out just a few months later. It stops when the load loss stabilises, nonetheless, the hair doesn’t at all times develop again, says Miras.

What occurs to a person’s weight long-term?

The longest trial of Wegovy lasted two years and located that individuals’s weight broadly plateaued within the second yr.

In most nations, Wegovy has been accepted for 2 years’ use, but when individuals cease taking the drug, they often regain the misplaced weight – two-thirds of it after one yr, in keeping with one trial.

“The weight loss is only sustained for as long as the drug is taken because as soon as you stop the drug, all of those physiological processes that are trying to get your body weight back up kick in again,” says Cork.

This means that after two years of use, there might be demand from customers for medical doctors to proceed prescribing the drug “off label”. “I think there’ll be a big push to try to change those guidelines,” says Cork.

Ozempic will be prescribed long-term for kind 2 diabetes as a result of the situation is normally life-long.

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