Article provided by: Dr. Joel Kahn, MDHe is a professor of clinical medicine at Wayne State University School of Medicine, one of the world’s top cardiologists, a bestselling author and lecturer, and a leading authority on plant-based nutrition and holistic care.
Cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, heart attack and congestive heart failure remain the number one cause of death worldwide. Rising obesity rates are largely responsible for this sad statistic. A new class of medicines such as semaglutide, marketed as Ozempic and Wegovy, was developed as an antidiabetic drug, but results in significant weight loss in most patients and is prescribed to non-diabetics. Indeed, the epidemic continues and expensive mediation is in short supply.Will the weight loss and associated benefits persist if the medication is discontinued? Data disclosure We will answer this important question recently.
Purpose of research
To investigate changes in body weight and cardiometabolic risk factors after treatment discontinuation in a randomized weight loss trial using semaglutide or placebo.
material and method
In the STEP 1 study, 1961 overweight or obese adults without diabetes were treated with semaglutide 2.4 mg subcutaneously weekly for 68 weeks (including 16 weeks of dose escalation) or placebo as an adjunct to a lifestyle intervention. assigned randomly.
At 68 weeks, treatment (including lifestyle interventions) was discontinued.
A subset of participants was followed for 1 year after injections were discontinued. This subset consists of all eligible participants from any site in Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom, as well as sites in the United States and Japan, with the highest main phase enrollment.
result
The study included 327 participants who were followed after stopping injections. Average weight loss from weeks 0 to 68 was 17.3% with semaglutide. After treatment discontinuation, the semaglutide and placebo participants each regained 11.6% weight loss by week 120, and his final net weight loss from weeks 0 to 120 of the study was 5.6% of body weight. Approximately 75% of body weight recovered.
Cardiometabolic improvements seen with semaglutide from weeks 0 to 68 returned to baseline for most variables at week 120 after drug discontinuation, including blood pressure and glycemic control.
Conclusion
One year after discontinuing the weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg and lifestyle intervention, participants had regained two-thirds of their previous weight loss, with similar changes in cardiometabolic variables.
These findings support the chronicity of obesity and suggest that continued treatment is required to maintain improved weight and health.
There are some serious side effects that can occur with these drugs, including pancreatitis, renal failure, and medullary thyroid cancer.There is also a potential risk to fetal development in pregnant patients. Many patients experience nausea and even vomiting.
Overall, diabetics who take these medications long-term to treat their diabetes are likely to stay healthy and maintain their weight. Others who use it as a short-term crutch must focus on replacing their previous lifestyle with better diet, exercise programs, sleep hygiene, and a holistic approach to health.
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