2023-10-17 11:11:00
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In the last year, Ozempic, a drug developed by the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk in 2012, has made global headlines. And this medication, whose active component is semaglutide, has proven to be an effective tool in the fight against obesity, although it was initially developed to treat type 2 diabetes.
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This is how Ozempic works
The semaglutide It stimulates the release of insulin by the pancreas, a hormone crucial for reducing blood glucose levels. In addition, it promotes the growth of pancreatic beta cells, which are responsible for the production and release of insulin.
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Semaglutide also inhibits glucagon production, a hormone that promotes the release of carbohydrates stored in the liver and the synthesis of new glucose, thus contributing to the regulation of blood glucose levels. Lastly, it reduces food intake by decreasing appetite and slowing digestion in the stomach, which in turn helps reduce body fat.
In addition, semaglutide has been shown to be able to reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular problems, a discovery that specialists have celebrated as a revolutionary advance in the treatment of obesity.
In terms of efficacy, semaglutide has shown promising results in clinical trials. For example, in a phase III trial, adults treated with semaglutide experienced an average 14.9% reduction in body weight at 68 weekscompared to a 2.4% reduction in the placebo group, representing an estimated treatment difference of 12.4%.
Other similar medications
Semaglutide is not the only drug that has shown promise in this area. Tirzepatide is another drug that, in clinical trials, has shown a remarkable ability to reduce weight, in some cases up to an average of 21% of participants’ body weight.
There are other medications that share similarities with Ozempic, both in their mechanism of action and in their applications for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and weight management:
Wegs (semaglutide): It is a version of dOzempic Highest osis Approved for weight loss in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older.
Mounjaro (tirzepatide): It is another injectable option for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Metformin: This is an oral medication that is also used to treat type 2 diabetes, although its mechanism of action differs from that of Ozempic.
Trulicity (dulaglutide): Like Ozempic, Trulicity is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Rybelsus (semaglutide): Rybelsus is an oral form of semaglutide, the same active compound in Ozempic, and is used to manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Victoza (liraglutide): Similar to Ozempic, Victoza is another GLP-1 receptor agonist used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Side effects
Although the arrival of medications that mimic physical exercise to promote weight loss is still on the horizon, Ozempic has established itself as an effective option to combat obesity. However, it is not without controversy, since it is not indicated for this purpose and its use could lead to unwanted side effects.
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Special attention has been paid to the gastrointestinal problems and muscle loss associated with these drugs. Some findings on these aspects were recently shared, fueling the debate about the benefits and risks of these emerging treatments.
Change in consumer habits?
However, the popularity of Ozempic has generated unexpected situations, and this has only just begun, because according to a file published by Axios, Morgan Stanley analysts, strategists and associates estimate that over the next decade 7% of the US population could be taking drugs for obesity.
At the moment, in the United States, where this medication is accessible in pharmacies and supermarkets such as Walmart, a change has been observed in the purchasing habits of people who purchased semaglutide, after making an investigation. They discovered that those who bought Ozempic reduced the number of calories and the total number of products they purchased during their visits to the supermarket.
This could end up happening in other supermarkets and even in Fast-food restaurants. Simply because people who consume this medication will eat fewer caloric foods. It is still early to calculate the real effects on consumption that these medications will produce, but the industry is not stopping monitoring, as is the case with Walmart, any change in habits.
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