New drug targeting appetite dramatically reduces weight

A promising new weight loss drug is the latest in a string of medications aimed at helping people lose weight and keep it off.  Semaglutide developed by a Danish pharmaceutical company, works by targeting the appetite control system in the brain resulting in reduced food hunger but also reduced cravings for food and the sensation of wanting to eat. 

The research published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, involved 28 people with a body mass index (BMI) range of 30 to 45 kg/m2 – all obese - whom were part of the study for 12 weeks.  The participants were split into two groups – half got semaglutide and the other half a placebo substance. Neither group knew whether they got the drug or a placebo.

At the end of 12 weeks, the participants were offered a lunch and evening meal and were told to eat as much as they needed to feel “pleasantly full.”  Their intake of food was recorded along with food preferences and their sensations of liking and wanting food.  Everyone’s body weight and body composition along with percent body fat were also recorded.  Then, the researchers repeated the process by having the participants who got semaglutide to get the placebo while those who had the placebo first, were given semaglutide.

After another 12 weeks, each group was compared.  Results showed that on average the daily energy intake or the measure of food consumed, was 24 percent lower with semaglutide. Also discovered was when using semaglutide, on average, the participants lost 11 pounds or 5 kg during the 12 week period.  This was found to be highly effective for weight loss as generally it can take as long as six months to see this type of results with other anti-obesity medication. 

The researchers found that most of the weight lost came from a reduction in body fat.  By reducing food cravings, people made healthier choices by eating smaller meals and reducing their preference for high fat foods.  Semaglutide has a chemical structure very similar to the naturally-occurring hormone GLP-1 which is believed to act on the appetite control center in the hypothalamus in the brain to reduce feelings of hunger.

Even though semaglutide is in the advanced stages of development, it is not yet available for the general public.  But it looks to be very promising however for weight loss as it appears to reduce daily food intake by about a quarter along with a substantial reduction in body fat.