Of Wegovy and its effects on weight loss

We have done a few articles about Ozempic, an antidiabetic medication with the active ingredient semaglutide, but have not really explored the world of Wegovy — an injection that also contains semaglutide, but is aimed at weight loss. So, we decided to learn more about it this week.

“Wegovy is a medication that aids weight loss and also promotes long-term weight management. This medication is nothing but a type of drug also known as GLP-1 agonist because it mimics the GLP-1 hormone, which is naturally present in the body and plays a role in digestion and appetite control,” said Dr Rohini Patil, nutritionist, founder, Nutracy Lifestyle.

Thus, injectable semaglutide — 2.4 mg once a week — is marketed for obesity under the brand name Wegovy. “It also helps to reduce hunger by slowing the emptying of the stomach and, thus, makes people feel fuller for a longer period. As a result, they eat less and contribute to weight loss,” noted Dr Patil.

Dr Rajiv Kovil, head of diabetology, Zandra Healthcare and co-founder of Rang De Neela initiative described its working. “It works on the satiety receptors in the brain, hence one eats what is required. It reduces the movement of the stomach so one cannot eat very fast and hence eats less. It secretes insulin only in the presence of glucose, hence it doesn’t cause low sugar,” said Dr Kovil.

Elucidating more about the FDA-approved drug, Dr Patil said that Wegovy was initially approved for diabetes, and is administered once a week. But it has proven effective for weight loss. “According to research, people who took Wegovy could lose about 10 per cent of their body weight over four years. Some people experienced a greater amount of weight loss. Thus it serves as a powerful tool for those who are obese or have weight-related issues, under guidance,” said Dr Patil.

She added that when one stops taking Wegovy, the lost weight might return gradually. “So you to combine the medication with regular exercise, and taper it slowly to maintain weight loss. This is one of the approaches that would help maintain the weight loss during treatment,” Dr Patil told this outlet.

Here’s a guide to know about Wegovy (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

Besides weight loss, Wegovy also can also help manage other health conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. “But, maintaining a healthy lifestyle along with Wegovy is what works best,” said Dr Patil.

However, Wegovy and similar medicines can cost more than $1,000 (about Rs 83,000) per month, according to a Reuters report, and may “require extended use to yield meaningful benefits”.

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