Robert Kushner, professor of medicine and medical education at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and an internal medicine physician at Northwestern Medicine. “This is by far the most effective intervention we have seen for weight management when you compare it to many of the currently existing drugs,” said corresponding author Dr. 10 in the New England Journal of Medicine. Obesity is associated with multiple complications such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, arthritis, sleep apnea, some forms of cancer and decreased life expectancy. It could be a gamechanger for those who struggle with obesity, which impacts more than 40% of adults in the U.S. The drug, semaglutide, taken once a week at 2.4 mg, works by suppressing appetite centers in the brain to reduce hunger and calorie intake.

It should also not be used in combination with other products intended for weight loss, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, or herbal products.A new anti-obesity medication was shown to be almost twice as effective at helping individuals lose weight than some of the current weight-loss drugs on the market, according to a new landmark study conducted at Northwestern Medicine and other institutions. The agency said Wegovy should not be used in combination with other drugs that contain semaglutide or other GLP-1 receptor agonists. The medication dose is increased gradually over 16 to 20 weeks to 2.4 mg once weekly to reduce gastrointestinal side effects. Wegovy works by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that targets areas of the brain that regulate appetite and food intake. “This approval gives people with obesity a once-weekly, non-surgical option with results that have never been demonstrated with an anti-obesity medicine before.” Reduces appetite Robert Kushner, professor of medicine and medical education at Northwestern University. 'This is the first time we have seen this magnitude of weight loss with a medicine,” said Dr. After a little more than a year people getting Wegovy and exercising on a regular basis reduced BMI an average of nearly 15%. In clinical trials, the drug achieved weight loss results compared to participants getting a placebo. It said dropping 5% to 10% of body weight through diet and exercise has been associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease in adult patients with obesity or who are overweight. The FDA said Wegovy is designed to be used in association with a healthy diet and lifestyle. Obesity is a leading risk factor for diabetes and stroke and has been linked to cancer in some studies. Nearly 70% of American adults have a weight problem, whether it’s obesity or simply being overweight. John Sharretts, deputy director of the Division of Diabetes, Lipid Disorders, and Obesity. “Today’s approval offers adults with obesity or overweight a beneficial new treatment option to incorporate into a weight management program,” said Dr. The FDA says it’s for patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 kg/m2 or greater who have at least one weight-related ailment or in patients with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater. The drug will be taken by injection once a week. It’s the first drug approved for weight control since 2014. The drug, to be marketed under the brand name Wegovy, is for patients with either high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug to help overweight or obese adults manage their weight. Photo (c) kevajefimija - Getty Images There’s new help for diabetes patients battling weight gain.

Prescription weight loss medication