UK health officials have approved the use of a new weight loss drug, called Semaglutide, for people struggling with obesity.
Obesity has gradually become a global health challenge. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the prevalence of obesity tripled between 1975 and 2016. Moreover, overweight and obesity have caused more deaths worldwide than underweight. The increasingly overweight population not only places a burden on health officials but also poses several challenges to people suffering from the health condition. Cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers, and osteoarthritis are more common in people with raised body mass index (BMI). Thus, the approval of another weight loss drug will likely benefit people struggling to shed the extra pounds.
It is a lifelong condition that needs medical intervention, has psychological and physical effects, and can affect quality of life.
Helen Knight, program director at the center for health technology evaluation at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
In a recent statement, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended a new weight loss drug for those struggling with obesity. As per the recommendation, doctors can prescribe the drug, called semaglutide, to adults suffering from at least one weight-related condition and a body mass index (BMI) of at least 35 kg/m2. In exceptional cases, doctors can also offer treatment to those with a BMI of 30.0 kg/m2 to 34.9 kg/m2. The drug is meant to be used alongside other dietary and lifestyle interventions. Moreover, it can only be used for a maximum of two years.
Semaglutide acts on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors and suppresses appetite. Thus, resulting in reduced calorie intake. Its approval is based on results from the STEP 1 clinical trial that assessed the impact of once-weekly injections of the drug among obese adults. Compared to the placebo group, the participants that received weekly injections reported a 12% decrease in their body weight.
Reference:
Wilding, John P.H., et al. “Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity.” New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 384, no. 11, 2021, pp. 989–1002., doi:10.1056/nejmoa2032183.
