All articles tagged with #semaglutide
A randomized trial in adults with HIV found that semaglutide (a GLP-1 drug used for weight loss and diabetes) slowed the pace of biological aging by about 9% and reduced aging markers in multiple organs, likely by lowering inflammation and fat. Whether these benefits apply to healthier individuals remains unknown, and more research is needed before GLP-1s are considered anti-aging therapies.
A meta-analysis of 25 RCTs (n=8,069) finds GLP-1 receptor agonists used for weight loss—such as semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide—also reduce binge eating, loss-of-control eating, and emotional eating beyond weight loss, while dietary restraint tends to rise. Researchers caution that most trials had bias and limited BED-diagnosed samples, and emphasize integrating medication with psychological therapy and social support, plus addressing public-access barriers. More independently funded, long-term studies are needed to confirm clinical utility.
Some doctors warn that GLP-1 receptor agonists used for diabetes and obesity (e.g., semaglutide in Ozempic/Wegovy) could hasten ALS progression by triggering rapid weight loss; a 2025 ALS case study reported a 10-fold acceleration in decline after starting semaglutide, with stabilization after stopping, and ALS care guidelines emphasize maintaining or increasing weight; Novo Nordisk says ALS isn’t listed as a warning in their drug information.
Original GLP-1 weight-loss trials found that most people regain the lost weight after stopping treatment, but three recent studies show that some individuals can maintain weight loss post-discontinuation, underscoring variability and the potential importance of treatment duration and lasting lifestyle changes.
Vivani Medical is developing a tiny, under-the-skin implant that releases semaglutide to provide steady GLP-1 drug exposure for obesity/diabetes treatment, aiming to improve long-term adherence and potentially reduce side effects. The device uses a membrane with millions of microchannels to deliver a consistent dose over months, with a long-term goal of biannual or annual dosing. The first human trial, SLIM-1, is expected to begin mid-2026 in Australia, comparing implants to a low-dose Wegovy injection; if safe and effective, later studies would define dosing and regulatory approval. Key questions remain on comparative efficacy, tolerability, cost, insurance coverage, and how easily providers will adopt in practice; Novo Nordisk is collaborating but not licensing at this stage.
A 63-year-old woman taking semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist similar to Ozempic, developed a gastric bezoar that caused months of nausea and abdominal discomfort. CT, MRCP, and endoscopy confirmed the mass. After stopping the medication, doctors dissolved the bezoar with diet cola (instead of the typical 3 liters) and the symptoms resolved, highlighting a noninvasive, cola-based approach to treating certain bezoars in clinically stable patients.
Private Wegovy tablets (semaglutide) are now available to buy in UK pharmacies but are not yet offered on the NHS. The daily pill mirrors the injection's weight‑loss effect when combined with a reduced‑calorie diet and increased activity, with eligibility similar to the injection (BMI ≥30 or ≥27 with weight‑related conditions). Start at 1.5 mg daily, titrating up to 25 mg, with prices around £99–£199 per month depending on dose. Take on an empty stomach with up to 120 ml water, 30 minutes before meals, at the same time each day. Side effects include GI issues; serious risks exist. Not for under 18, pregnancy, or breastfeeding. A healthcare consultation is required, and NHS/NICE approval is still pending.
Stanford Medicine explains GLP-1 agonists (semaglutide/Ozempic/Wegovy and tirzepatide/Mounjaro/Zepbound) work by slowing gastric emptying and boosting satiety to reduce intake and improve insulin. On average, semaglutide yields about 15% weight loss and tirzepatide about 20%, but responses vary widely and some people lose little weight. Side effects are mainly gastrointestinal and usually transient, though long-term safety data are still evolving. Weight loss typically slows after 4–6 months, with a fuller plateau by 12–18 months; stopping these meds often leads to regain, so many clinicians view GLP-1s as long-term therapies, sometimes alongside lifestyle changes or bariatric surgery. Pediatric use exists but requires caution and specialist guidance. Insurance coverage and cost remain practical hurdles to access.
Bermuda’s Diabetes Association is rolling out generic semaglutide (a GLP-1 drug) via its community pharmacy, making treatments for diabetes and obesity cheaper and more accessible. Generics offer the same active ingredient and quality at significantly lower prices, potentially cutting monthly costs by more than half and easing financial pressure on patients, insurers, and the healthcare system. The move follows insurer partnerships and ongoing efforts to bend healthcare costs while expanding access.
A University of Louisville–led study published in JAMA Psychiatry finds that among people with eating disorders, about 32% have used GLP-1 medications (e.g., semaglutide in Ozempic/Wegovy) at some point, and roughly 22% are current users—rates much higher than the general public—while about 10% report misuse (such as higher or non-prescribed dosages or sharing). GLP-1s are not indicated for eating disorders, and some individuals may be using them to achieve rapid weight loss or extreme restriction. The researchers emphasize the need for stricter pharmacovigilance as GLP-1 products broaden in form and market reach.
A study of about 59,000 adults with type 2 diabetes found semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic/Wegovy) users had roughly 15% fewer bone fractures than peers on other weight‑loss meds (794 fractures among 26,324 semaglutide users vs 1,045 among 33,555 non‑semaglutide users), despite greater weight loss. The findings, presented at ENDO 2026, suggest a potential bone‑health benefit from semaglutide and underscore monitoring of bone health in weight‑loss therapies for older adults.
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic/Wegovy can drive dramatic weight loss, but 10–30% of users are non-responders (less than 5% loss after ~6 months), due to adherence gaps, underdosing, insulin resistance, sleep disruption, concomitant meds, and genetic factors (PAM variants and GLP‑1R/GIPR differences); studies also find women often lose more weight than men. Obesity is driven by four hunger types—slow-burn, hungry gut, hungry brain, and emotional hunger—so a single drug won’t work for everyone. The path forward is precision obesity medicine that matches therapies to a person’s genes and lifestyle, with CBT for emotional hunger, high-protein/high-fiber diets for hungry gut, tirzepatide for hungry brain, and resistance training for slow-burn hunger.
A study to be presented at ENDO 2026 found that adults with obesity who lost weight using GLP-1 medications (e.g., semaglutide-based Ozempic/Wegovy, liraglutide, dulaglutide, tirzepatide) also showed a notable drop in daily activity, with steps falling from about 5,047 to 4,487 per day and moderate-to-vigorous activity down from 28 to 22 minutes daily. The research, retrospective and observational, suggests no automatic increase in activity with weight loss and notes larger declines among men and those with joint/muscle pain. Experts emphasize that exercise remains essential and should be tailored to the individual, including resistance training and body-composition monitoring, as weight loss meds can also affect muscle mass.
In a 32-week, randomized trial of 108 adults with HIV-associated lipohypertrophy, weekly semaglutide reduced biological age by about 3.1 years on multiple epigenetic clocks and up to 5 years on the most sensitive ones, with DunedinPACE slowing by ~9%. The biomarker shifts correlated with reductions in inflammation and visceral fat, suggesting aging slows via metabolic effects rather than a direct anti-aging action. Limitations include population specificity and reliance on epigenetic biomarkers; broader trials are needed to determine applicability to the general population and real-world health outcomes.
Scotland's NHS will offer Wegovy (semaglutide) to overweight patients with cardiovascular risk after approval by the Scottish Medicines Consortium; eligible individuals must have a BMI of 27+ with health risk factors, with about 145,000 Scots potentially eligible. The drug is self-administered at home, may reduce major cardiovascular events beyond weight loss, and can cause side effects like bloating or nausea; rollout follows England's approval and aims to widen access to effective obesity treatments.