All articles tagged with #weight loss drugs
GLP-1 weight‑loss medications help many people but not everyone; about 10–15% of users in trials didn’t lose at least 5% of their body weight. A Nature study suggests DNA differences may explain this variability, indicating genetics could influence who responds to GLP‑1 therapies.
A Nature study of about 15,000 people using obesity drugs (Wegovy and Mounjaro) finds that certain genetic variants influence weight loss. One variant, especially in two copies, is associated with more weight loss; another variant may raise the risk of nausea. On average, participants lost 11.7% of body weight over eight months, with some achieving as much as 30%. Differences by sex, age, and ancestry, plus drug type, dose, duration and lifestyle, also shape outcomes. While promising for tailoring treatment, these findings are early and not yet practice-changing; further trials are needed to guide precision medicine in obesity care.
Scientists analyzed data from 27,885 patients taking GLP-1 obesity drugs and found two gut-hormone gene variants may partly explain why weight loss and side-effects vary: rs10305420 is linked to slightly more weight loss, while rs1800437 is linked to nausea with tirzepatide. But the genetic contribution is modest; non-genetic factors like sex, drug type, dose, and duration explain much more of the variability, so genetics are not yet ready to guide routine treatment, though the findings could inform future precision approaches.
A Danish study followed 193 adults after an eight-week very-low-calorie diet and randomized them to exercise, a GLP-1 drug (liraglutide), both, or neither for a year. While the drug helped maintain weight loss, fitness improvements came from exercise—taking the drug without exercising offered little benefit, and combining both yielded the best weight maintenance. Across measures like stair-climb time and VO2 max, exercise consistently boosted fitness, underscoring that GLP-1 meds aren’t a substitute for physical activity.
A Washington University study of more than 333,000 adults with type 2 diabetes found that even short gaps in GLP-1 therapy (such as six months) erase much of the cardiovascular protection these drugs provide, with longer interruptions raising the risk of heart attack, stroke and death; discontinuation due to side effects and access barriers remains high, underscoring the need for sustained treatment and better strategies to keep patients on GLP-1 medications like Ozempic/Wegovy.
GLP-1 weight‑loss drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound help many people lose weight, but about 10% are non-responders who shed little to no weight. Researchers are investigating genetics, hormones, and timing to predict response, and some doctors use genetic tests to guide therapy. For non-responders, options include switching medications or bariatric surgery, and new drugs targeting other hormones are in development.
A five-year study of 73,483 people starting GLP-1 medications (e.g., semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide) and 73,483 matched controls found small but statistically significant increases in osteoporosis (0.9%), gout (0.8%), and osteomalacia (0.1%) among GLP-1 users. The study does not prove causation and factors like diet and exercise were not analyzed. The findings could inform bone-health surveillance and more personalized prescribing, though GLP-1 therapies also offer metabolic benefits and long-term effects require further study.
Hims & Hers Health stock jumped about 40% after Novo Nordisk announced it would distribute weight-loss medications on the Hims & Hers platform, signaling a potential major partnership and upside for the telehealth company.
Two deaths in Northern Ireland were reported to the MHRA as potential adverse reactions to GLP‑1 weight‑loss medicines (one tied to Mounjaro, the other to an unspecified semaglutide product), among 511 suspected reports in NI over the last two years. The MHRA cautions that a reported reaction does not prove causation. The dataset also records six pancreatitis cases and shows heavy reporting from healthcare professionals. GLP‑1s are widely used for weight loss and diabetes; in NI, NHS access is restricted, with private options available for some patients. Safety reporting via the Yellow Card scheme is encouraged.
Kenya is seeing a rapid rise in weight‑loss treatments as societal beauty norms shift from celebrating larger bodies to slimmer figures. Nairobi clinics report booming demand for surgery and prescription injections like Ozempic, with patients including public figures who share their journeys—often facing mixed reactions online. Costs can run into thousands of dollars, and regulators warn about unsupervised use and unregulated sources, while doctors say medical help is sometimes necessary to address obesity and related health risks.
Celebrity Savannah Chrisley drew an FDA warning over statements on her GoodGirlRX site implying FDA‑approved weight‑loss drugs, which the FDA said were not FDA‑approved or evaluated for safety. In response, the site was updated to say the results are clinically studied and that the GLP‑1 drugs are not FDA‑approved. The FDA gave 15 business days to make corrections. GoodGirlRX was launched with Verb Technology to offer prescription weight‑loss options for women, a move that continues to keep Chrisley in the media spotlight.
A large US study of 606,434 veterans with type 2 diabetes found GLP-1 receptor agonists used for weight management and diabetes were associated with lower risks of developing alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, nicotine and opioid use disorders, and with reduced overdose, emergency visits and deaths among those already using substances. However, the study is observational and cannot establish causation, and more research is needed. Separately, most GLP-1 users regain weight within two years after stopping therapy, with side‑effects and cost contributing to discontinuation, and stigma prompting many to hide their treatment.
UK researchers report in animal models that GLP-1 weight-loss drugs (such as Ozempic and Wegovy) reduced no-reflow, a dangerous post-heart-attack blood-flow problem, suggesting a potential new therapy pending human trials.
Brian Kinsella, who has privately used Mounjaro since December 2024, says he has lost more than 44.5 kg (seven stone) at up to £1,000 a year, highlighting uneven access as England’s NHS rolls out weight‑loss drugs. GPs are to receive £3,000 annually to prescribe these treatments, but since a limited NHS rollout began in June last year not all practices prescribe them. Kinsella expects the new incentives won’t help much due to workload and the system’s complexity, noting the requirement for two 85‑minute consultations, a 20‑minute follow‑up every four weeks, and a 60‑minute dietitian appointment. He calls the situation a “postcode lottery” and says a mechanism is needed to widen access to this drug.
England’s health strategy will pay GPs £3,000 a year plus about £1,000 for referring patients to weight‑loss programmes to increase NHS prescriptions of the drug Mounjaro; Wegovy remains prescribed only through NHS weight‑loss services. Access to these drugs on the NHS remains tightly restricted (BMI thresholds and health conditions), with rollout described as patchy. Experts say the incentives may help access but won’t widen eligibility, and concerns about workload and realistic patient eligibility persist as the NHS aims to shift toward prevention and reach an expected 220,000 Mounjaro users by 2028.