All articles tagged with #obesity
Medicare’s 18-month GLP-1 Bridge offers weight-loss drugs for about $50 a month, but anyone with an FDA-approved medical indication for GLP-1s (like sleep apnea or diabetes) is redirected to costly Part D plans, leaving potentially 5.9 million beneficiaries excluded and highlighting a gap between cost relief and real medical need.
UC Berkeley researchers report that the experimental compound TOFA (5-tetradecyloxy-2-furoic acid) increased whole-body energy expenditure by up to 18% and produced about 18% weight loss in obese male mice on a high-fat diet over four weeks, mainly from fat while preserving lean mass; food intake and activity were unchanged. TOFA appears to slow fat creation and boost fat burning, though exact cellular mechanisms are unclear. Lower-dose TOFA combined with GLP-1 drugs semaglutide or tirzepatide yielded greater weight loss than either alone, suggesting potential synergy. The work is in mice, TOFA has not been tested in humans, and safety/dosing are unknown; further toxicology and animal studies precede any human trials. Authors are co-founders of ReRx Therapeutics.
GLP-1 drugs, used for diabetes and obesity, show potential beyond weight loss—lowering cardiovascular risk, easing sleep apnea, supporting kidney and liver health, and possibly reducing cancer risk and addiction. Experts urge cautious optimism; evidence for healthy individuals or longevity is preliminary, and safety monitoring remains important. These drugs are widely used, with ongoing research into broader uses and dosing.
A new experimental compound called TOFA increased energy expenditure by up to 18% in mice without reducing appetite or increasing activity, and it also blocks two enzymes involved in fat and cholesterol production. Unlike GLP-1 drugs (Ozempic/Wegovy/Zepbound), which can cause lean muscle loss during rapid weight loss, TOFA could enable fat loss while preserving muscle and might be used alongside GLP-1 therapies. The findings are early and limited to animals, with human trials not yet underway.
Roche/Genentech struck a deal with Hanmi to license HM17321, a UCN2-based obesity drug aimed at promoting weight loss while preserving lean muscle, for $190 million upfront and up to $2.3 billion in milestones. Genentech will hold global rights outside Korea, with Hanmi advancing to Phase 1 before Roche leads later-stage development, as Roche expands its cardiometabolic lineup and explores applications in obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
A UC Riverside study found that greater access to dollar stores (Dollar General, Dollar Tree, 99 Cent Store, Family Dollar) is associated with higher rates of obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes, while access to traditional grocery stores correlates with better health outcomes. The pattern held across the US even after accounting for income and unemployment, with stronger effects in the South and Midwest; researchers note that excluding dollar stores from research skews results and suggest expanding healthier options in dollar stores, potentially through partnerships with local farmers, rather than simply reducing their numbers.
UC Berkeley researchers report that TOFA, an old ACC inhibitor, lowers lipid production and activates fat-burning energy pathways in obese mice, increasing energy use by up to 18% and reducing fat while preserving lean mass; it also improves insulin sensitivity and triglycerides and works additively with GLP-1 obesity drugs, though safety in humans remains untested and researchers are pursuing clinical development.
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin found that a common dietary yeast beta-glucan supplement reprograms early bone marrow immune cells to create trained immunity that strengthens anti-tumor responses against colorectal, skin, and breast cancers in obese mice and can reverse obesity-related immune memory defects after weight loss; since Wellmune is already food-grade, this could accelerate human trials to test dietary supplementation alongside cancer therapies.
Doctors warn that President Donald Trump's weight gain—about 23 pounds since his last campaign, with accompanying swelling and drowsiness—poses a significant health risk, prompting calls for weight loss through diet and exercise, even as the White House touts his energy.
GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound are reshaping healthcare economics by reducing bariatric surgeries and improving cardiovascular outcomes; a May 2026 JAMA study shows surgeries fell about 34% as GLP-1 use rose 140%, with access and coverage debates shaping potential savings, even as next-generation meds promise more dramatic weight loss.
Enveda’s ENV-308, a pill designed to mimic the exercise-linked molecule Lac-Phe, successfully completed a Phase I trial in 88 healthy volunteers, showing safety, tolerability, and an exceptional GI safety profile. Early signs suggest it may influence leptin levels and aid weight maintenance and muscle preservation, with Phase II planned for weight-loss maintenance and exploration in migraines and inflammatory bowel disease. It’s not a substitute for real exercise, but could offer a convenient metabolic aid as development continues.
A growing number of families are turning to pediatric GLP-1 therapies such as Wegovy and Zepbound to treat obesity and related health problems in children, hoping to jump‑start healthier habits and prevent long‑term disease. While clinicians say there can be real medical benefits beyond weight loss, experts caution about unknown long‑term effects on development, potential puberty impacts, access barriers, and social stigma; use remains relatively rare but is expanding in pediatric care.
BBC follows comedian Steffen Peddie’s personal use of weight-loss injections (Wegovy) to shed over 8 stone and examines why men discuss such treatments less openly than women. With about 1.6 million adults in England, Wales and Scotland estimated to have used weight-loss drugs in 2024–25 (often bought privately), the piece shares men’s experiences, the stigma and privacy surrounding use, reported side effects, and medical calls for open discussion and routine monitoring to ensure safe, effective use.
Early-stage studies suggest obesity drugs may help manage PMOS, a hormonal disorder, offering hope to affected families; further research is needed to confirm effectiveness and safety.
Eli Lilly filed six lawsuits to crack down on a growing black‑market for retatrutide, an experimental obesity drug not yet approved by the FDA. The company says online merchants, clinics, compounders and foreign sellers are offering untested versions of retatrutide, which could be fake, impure or mis‑dosed. Lilly has referred more than 200 entities to regulators and flagged over 14,000 listings across 100 countries as it prepares for a potential FDA filing next year.