The future of obesity treatment could be transformed by the latest study on weight loss drugs, scientists have declared.
A hiked-up weekly dosage of semaglutide has allowed almost 50 per cent of participants to shed at least a fifth of their total body mass, far higher than the results of the existing dosage.
The international investigations, known as STEP UP, compared a 7.2mg weekly injection against the standard 2.4 milligram formulation currently prescribed for weight management.
Published in The Lancet, the findings indicate that the enhanced dosage achieved much better outcomes for those with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Weight loss drugs have sparked fierce debates in recent years | GETTYParticipants without diabetes who received the 7.2mg dose experienced an average reduction of approximately 19 per cent in body mass, compared to 16 per cent for those on the 2.4mg regimen and four per cent for the placebo group.
Approximately one-third of those taking the higher dose achieved reductions of more than 25 per cent.
For individuals managing both obesity and type 2 diabetes, the enhanced dosage yielded an average of thirteen per cent decrease in body mass.
This figure compared favourably to ten per cent for the standard dose and 3.9 per cent for placebo recipients, with notable improvements in blood glucose control and abdominal measurements.
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The 72-week trials demonstrated that the elevated dosage was safe for the patients involved and was tolerated.
Digestive issues, including nausea and diarrhoea, were the most frequently reported reactions, alongside occasional sensory effects such as prickling sensations.
These side effects typically proved controllable and diminished as treatment progressed, rarely causing participants to drop out of the research.
Crucially, the investigations revealed no rise in severe complications or dangerous drops in blood glucose levels associated with the increased dosage, providing confidence for potential clinical implementation.
Wegovy is the brand name of semaglutide
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Apart from weight loss, participants showed comprehensive metabolic enhancements including decreased blood pressure, improved cholesterol profiles and reduced waist measurements - all critical markers for mitigating obesity-related health risks.
The scientists conducting the research suggest these findings could transform obesity management approaches, as they wait for further investigation.
The substantial improvements across multiple health parameters, combined with the favourable safety data, position this higher-dose formulation as a potentially valuable therapeutic advancement.
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