A new solution for obesity

A new solution for obesity

FDA approved a new drug for the treatment of obesity! 

One of the significant health challenges is obesity. In the past few years, just a harsh diet or exercising  was the only solution, and we had not  an excellent pharmacological and FDA-approved drug for this issue. However, recently, semaglutide as an adjunct to lifestyle arbitration has been approved. Semaglutide as an injective drug (2.4 mg once weekly) can be used for weight management in adults with obesity or overweight, in addition to low calorie diet and increased physical activity. This is the first time since 2014 that a drug for weight management in adults with general obesity or overweight is approved..
semaglutide acts as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone that can regulate appetite and food intake. According to the article, safety and efficacy were studied in four 68-week trials that more than 2,600 patients received semaglutide for up to 68 weeks in these four studies and more than 1,500 patients received placebo. Three were randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, and one was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized withdrawal trial in which patients who were receiving semaglutide either continued with the treatment or switched to a placebo. The mean change in body weight from baseline to week 68 was −14.9% in the semaglutide group as correlated with −2.4% with placebo, so we can say a treatment difference of −12.4  was observed between the intervention and placebo groups. 
Semaglutide is a two-edged sword that can bring about a revolution in not only obesity treatment but also an economic impact on nutritionists and physical practitioners! 
We can not turn a blind on its long-term side effects that are still unknown. 
If you were obese would you rather take semaglutide? 

By: Roshanak Amirian

References: 
1-10.1056/NEJMoa2032183