The future of weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro

As a physician who specializes in obesity and lipids, I’ve seen what the drugs look like ozimbekAnd wedgesand their predecessors completely changed the landscape for people suffering Type 2 diabetes and obesity. Meanwhile, people still don’t really understand how they work and there are huge misconceptions about them, Especially on social media. What I do know is that the current medications on the market are only the beginning – more options are coming soon, and they may be even more effective.

One that has already been prescribed is Mounjaro, although at this point it is only technically approved by the FDA to treat type 2 diabetes, as is Ozempic. In the summer of 2023, Mounjaro (generally known as tirzepatide) will probably be officially Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss Also (seems to be another large study on safety and efficacy out of the way).

Mounjaro, like Ozempic, is currently prescribed off-label for: Obesity treatment, especially given the recent shortage of Wegovy, which is FDA-approved for obesity. Wegovy and Ozempic are the same drug, semaglutide – they’re just different doses. Wegovy has been shown to help people lose 15 percent of their body weight. At certain doses, Mounjaro may be able to cause a loss of up to 21 percent of body weight. These results are fast approaching what Bariatric surgery It can be done.

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The reason behind Mounjaro’s strength may lie in the fact that it hires more Weight loss Mechanisms from Wegovy. Ozempic and Wegovy belong to a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists. GLP-1 is produced naturally in the gut and sends satiety signals to the brain. These drugs lead to weight loss because they act like GLP-1 in the body and are able to suppress appetite (“agonist” refers to a drug that binds to a receptor inside or on a cell surface and causes the same effect as a substance that would normally bind to the receptor). These medications also help stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulinwhich can help lower blood sugar for those with diabetes.

Mounjaro, on the other hand, is a GLP-1/GIP agonist, which means that in addition to acting as GLP-1 in the body, it also mimics a gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) that, like GLP-1, triggers insulin secretion. While there is debate about how it works, adding GIP in this case may increase the effectiveness of GLP-1, creating an additional weight loss effect.

The future of obesity medicine revolves around the development of compounds or combinations of compounds that hit multiple receptors in the body related to appetite and perhaps even metabolic ratenutrient partitioning (how your body chooses which fuel to store), and Lean muscle mass retention. Several new compounds in research are currently under research, with the goal that each new compound will result in a greater percentage of weight loss with fewer side effects. Treatments that do not need to be taken frequently are also in the works.

CagriSema (combination of cagrilintide and semaglutide) It looks very promising. Cagrilintide mimics amylin, a hormone from the pancreas that also has an effect on satiety.

Another is retatutride, which is a GLP-1/GIP/glucagon agonist. This compound is similar to tirzepatide, but it takes it a step further by adding a glucagon agonist. It is possible that the added glucagon agonist helps with energy expenditure, allowing people to do so Burn more caloriesOn top of appetite suppression.

In addition to new compounds being researched, there are ongoing studies looking at how high doses of current GLP-1 agonists are tolerated. And while most of these compounds start out being tested and approved for type 2 diabetes, and then are tested and approved specifically for obesity, that order may change. compound called AMG-133a GLP-1 agonist with an antibody that, unlike tirzepatide, inhibits GIP rather than increasing it, appears to be First lesson on obesity.

It may seem so, but these drugs did not appear out of the blue. Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are the result of decades of research and development. Since the first GLP-1 agonist was approved in 2005, a series of new compounds have appeared on the market every few years. First there was exenatide (Byetta), then liraglutide (Saxenda and Victoza), then dulaglutide (Trulicity), then semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy), then tirzepatide (Mounjaro).

Before the next generation of drugs arrives, it’s critical to set the record straight: This isn’t just an out-of-control fad in the weight-loss drug industry. Let me think of some of the many myths that surround these new zeitgeist-yet-not-so-new drugs.

Myth 1: People shouldn’t use drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro just for weight loss.

Obesity is chronic disease. It’s been labeled as such since the 1990s, due to the fact that the body fights back when people try to lose weight, and because excess weight is linked to an increased risk of a range of health problems, including type 2 diabetes, Cardiovascular eventscomplications of Covid-19 and more.

However, for decades, our society has shamed people who are obese. They are told that their weight is simply a reflection of their failure to eat healthy foods and exercise. This is largely due to Weight stigma It permeates every aspect of our culture, from television programming to healthcare.

People who use these medications must still make healthy lifestyle choices and work hard to lose weight. But they can do so without starting to be at a disadvantage.”

Weight stigma hurts large people in many ways. Research shows that people who are classified as obese are at a higher risk Discrimination against him at work and his dismissal in health care settings. But another way the weight stigma hurts those with larger bodies is that there is also a provision around getting medical treatment for obesity – be it Bariatric surgery Or now, with an FDA-approved weight-loss drug. It is seen as a “crutch” or “easy way out”, while that couldn’t be further from the truth. Just as you don’t tell someone with type 2 diabetes that they should feel bad for injecting insulin, you shouldn’t tell obese people that they should feel bad for using medications to treat their obesity.

It’s true that most of the GLP-1 agonists on the market are approved as drugs for type 2 diabetes, and not all of them are approved for obesity treatment yet — but it’s a major misconception that people shouldn’t take them for Weight loss Alone. Considering that semaglutide was approved by the FDA specifically to treat obesity (in the form of Wegovy) in 2021, we know that ozimbek (The same compound) is safe and works for weight loss.

Faced with a Wegovy shortage, people can work with their doctor to see if an over-the-counter medication is right for them. Obesity should be taken as seriously as any other disease, and people who suffer from it have just as much right as anyone else to take medications that can help them deal with it.

Myth 2: You can take these drugs to lose weight and then quit.

Another big misconception about these drugs is that they are a “quick fix,” where you can use them to lose weight and then stop taking them. In fact, they only work if you take them consistently, like blood pressure medicine or otherwise chronic disease pharmaceutical. They are meant to be taken indefinitely, and going on and off these medications may cause a yo-yo effect on appetite and weight. There may be some people who can get off these medications, but many will need to stay on at least a low dose.

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By affecting one of the keys to long-term weight loss—appetite regulation—these medications allow people to live the lifestyle they already know they need in order to lose weight. Most people know that Eat an apple instead of potato chips It might be a good idea if they are trying to lose weight. But why don’t they do it despite the knowledge? That’s because the brain is powerful at getting people to eat larger portions and high-calorie foods, especially for those with A Genetic predisposition to obesity. Some people are capable of Practice moderation with these foods. Some people can abstain. Many cannot, despite their best efforts.

When people struggling with obesity – despite the best guidance and advice available – try these medications, they describe feeling what it must have been like to not struggle with appetite and weight. They say they feel “normal”. They still have to do Healthy lifestyle choices And work hard to lose weight. But they can do so without starting to be at a disadvantage.

“It is a fact that diet and exercise only work for a minority of obese patients who want to lose weight. With these new tools, there is now another option.”

Obesity medications can go a long way in improving the lives of people with obesity-related health concerns — but only if we allow it. Right now, only 30 percent of insurance companies will cover these drugs, another way of stigmatizing weight and the misconception that obesity is Just a lifestyle issue Continue to hurt people.

Myth 3: These drugs are great whether you’re trying to lose 15 pounds or 100 pounds.

People who do not have type 2 diabetes or a diagnosis of obesity You should not seek these drugs. Not only does this exacerbate supply issues for people with real medical conditions who are dependent on these medications, there are risks. A person looking to lose a few pounds may become underweight and lose bone and muscle mass rather than excess fat if they take it. While the medications are relatively safe, there is a potential for uncomfortable side effects—nausea mainly.

The use of these medications requires the supervision of a qualified physician. I don’t trust a doctor to help you access medication you don’t really need, especially if they prescribe a version from a compound pharmacy (the one that not only dispenses medications, but manufactures them, putting you at risk of contamination).

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It is the fact that Diet and exercise It only works for a minority of obese patients who want to lose weight, because it’s so hard to stick to it. With these new tools, there is now another option—relatively safe, non-invasive, and effective—to help people lose weight and keep it off without a constant battle.

At the end of the day, everyone should have complete autonomy over their own body. Someone who is classified as obese but otherwise healthy and happy You shouldn’t feel pressured to lose weight Or are they discriminated against because of their size, if at all. At the same time, people who are struggling and need change should not feel ashamed or face barriers in accessing tools that can help.


Spencer Nadolski is a physician who specializes in obesity and lipids. He is the medical director for JoinSequence.comIt helps provide comprehensive obesity treatment that can be accessed online. You can follow him on Instagram at @employee.

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