This new anti-obesity drug could cause weight regain when treatment is stopped

A new generation of drugs against obesity has for months aroused the enthusiasm of millions of patients and the pharmaceutical sector – but raises a question: what happens if these treatments are stopped? According to a study published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Jama), a significant portion of the weight lost during treatment returns once treatment is stopped, indicating that these new moleculesmolecules could create a form of long-term dependence.

The study was carried out with tirzepatide, a molecule from the American laboratory Eli Lilly present in Zepbound, approved in November in the United States as a treatment for obesity, a disease from which around 40% of adults suffer in the country.

The Zepbound is part, with Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic in particular, of the recent wavewave drugs that are panicking the pharmaceutical sector and fueling the hopes of millions of patients around the world with their very attractive properties: they treat type 2 diabetes, help you lose weight and can be used to treat obesity. These medications mimic a hormone secreted by the intestines, GLP-1 (abbreviation for glugaco-like peptide 1) which stimulates insulin secretion and curbs the appetite by providing a feeling of fullness.

Half the weight lost… then regained

In the study published Monday, a cohortcohort of 670 patients first took a dose of Zepbound as a weekly injection, causing them to lose an average of 21% of their weight after 36 weeks. They were then separated into two groups: one continues to receive Zepbound, the other placeboplacebo.

After 88 weeks (more than a year and a half), those who received the placebo regained almost half of the weight lost, with a weight still 10% lower than at the very start of treatment. The group with Zepbound continued to lose weight, with a massmass body 25% weaker than at the beginning.

The cohort consisted of patients in Argentina, Brazil, Taiwan and the United States, with an average age of 48 years, approximately 70% women and a baseline weight of 107 kilos on average. They all received advice to eat less and exercise. These results ” highlight the need to continue treatment to prevent weight regain and ensure continued weight loss “, which provides important cardiac benefits, write the authors.

Continuous treatment for the chronic disease of obesity

Their publication shows, as 4 other clinical trials had already done, that with this new generation of drugs, “ weight is regained significantly » in the event of stopping treatment, they summarize. “ Patients, caregivers and the public do not always understand that obesity is a chronic disease that requires ongoing treatment, meaning that treatment must be stopped when weight loss goals are achieved. said Jeff Emmick, an Eli Lilly laboratory manager, in a statement reacting to the study. Eli Lilly sells Zepbound for $1,060 per month in the United States — a high price, rarely reimbursed by the country’s health insurance plans.

This new generation of medications increases the risk of gastrointestinal problems. And even if they are rarely serious, these side effects could perhaps, according to experts, ultimately outweigh the benefits of the treatment if it must be administered over the long term.

Article from Julie KernJulie Kernpublished on March 22, 2023

Wegovy is an injectable medication that has allowed obese patients to lose an average of 15% of their body weight. If this treatment hasairair miraculous, uncertainties persist about its long-term effects.

Nearly one in two French people are in overweightoverweight or obesity according to a recent study coordinated by Inserm. A public health problem whoseimpactimpact is increasing worryingly among young people. The management of obesity begins with a lifestyle change in the hope of reducing weight by 10% and thus limiting the appearance of complications. A goal that is difficult to achieve for some people, doctors can then offer a surgerysurgery or taking certain medications.

Wegovy has recently been authorized in Europe to treat obesity or overweight accompanied by health problems. It has provided impressive results in several clinical trials, allowing patients to lose approximately 15% of their weight after more than a year of treatment. But questions remain about the risks posed by the use of Wegovy in the long term. Is this a “miracle” injection to fight obesity?

Wegovy contains semaglutide (dosed at 2.4 mg), the same molecule contained in Ozempic, a antidiabeticantidiabetic touted for its slimming properties TikTokTikTok. It is also produced by the same manufacturer, Novo Nordisk. Semaglutide, a agonistagonist of GLP-1 receptors, increases the feeling of satiety while reducing food intake and feelings of lack in treated patients.

Several clinical studiesclinical studies were conducted to estimate the effectiveness of Wegovy. Objective: that participants lose at least 5% of their weight. According to studies, 67 to 86% of people with BMIBMI greater than 30 or between 27 and 30 with comorbiditiescomorbidities have managed to lose at least 5% of their weight, with averages between 10 and 16%. The same result was only obtained for 30 to 40% of participants placed on placebo. Most patients experienced moderate side effects such as headache, fatigue, nausea and stomach ache. Rarer but more serious side effects have also been identified: pancreatitis, gallstonesgallstoneskidney problems, an increase in resting heart rate or even vision problems, particularly in diabeticsdiabetics.

Uncertainties that persist despite the effectiveness of Wegovy

Despite these good results, uncertainties persist about the long-term effects of Wegovy. It was tested for a maximum of 68 weeks in clinical trials, and data is lacking to know its longer-term effects. The consequences of stopping treatment on weight (some patients regained the lost weight) and comorbidities are still poorly understood.

The benefit-risk balance is still positive, which led the European Medicines Agency to issue a AMMAMM at Wegovy. In France, the High Authority for Health has declared itself in favor of its reimbursement on prescription for people under 65 years of age who are severely obese (BMI greater than 35) and who have not succeeded in losing weight with taking in nutritional load. On the other hand, the reimbursement notice is unfavorable for people with a BMI less than 35. This notice is valid for two years and will be updated with the publication of data from an ongoing clinical trial aimed at estimating the cardiovascular health of participants.