How semaglutide and other appetite suppressants affect the brain and body.

Semaglutide (Brand names Ozempic, Wegovy) that was initially licensed for treating type 2 diabetes has received a lot of attention in the past couple of years, largely due to their ability to assist individuals in losing weight.

The current understanding holds that GLP-1 derivatives mimic the behavior of a similarly shaped molecule called glucagon-like peptide, which is naturally released by the intestines shortly after consuming food.

The peptide binds to a specific receptor on the surface of beta cells in the pancreas, triggering them to release insulin. For a long time, researchers believed that GLP-1 analogues only affected insulin production, which is why they’re prescribed for type 2 diabetes.

People with type 2 diabetes can control their blood sugars better by losing fat, and even put the condition into remission, thanks to the effect these drugs had on weight.

Recent research has revealed that GLP-1 analogs function in a variety of ways that contribute to weight loss, such as slowing gastric emptying and enhancing a person’s feeling of fullness after eating.

Liraglutide, semaglutide, and weight loss.

Recent years have seen a lot of research on the other possible benefits of GLP-1 analogs, many of which could be due to their effect on body mass index and weight gain.

Obese people are more likely to develop cancer and cardiovascular diseases, and recent studies have shown that those who take GLP-1 derivatives are less likely to suffer from either. Whether this is due to a reduction in body mass or other side effects of the drugs remains a mystery.

The medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, Dr. Mir Ali, a bariatric surgeon, said in a medical news article today:

“As these medications gain in use and popularity, we are likely to see more effects as people achieve their weight loss goals. There are still concerns about weight gain after stopping these medications, so further investigation is needed to uncover the main reasons for the weight gain.”

The focus of the investigation is to discover more about how these drugs work. The latest study, which appeared in the International Journal of ObesityTrusted Source, examined the existing literature on this topic, how investigations had been conducted, and how data had been gathered regarding GLP-1 analog usage.

The review authors searched PubMed for the words “obesity,” “semaglutide,” “liraglutide,” and “GLP-1 analog” to carry out their investigation.

Liraglutide, also known as Saxenda, is a GLP-1 analog.

Initial weight loss while taking GLP-1 analogs.

The researchers found that the majority of studies on the effects of GLP-1 analogs on weight loss focused on the initial weight loss phase, which typically lasts 12–18 months for semaglutide users, rather than the ongoing maintenance phase, when weight loss slows down.

Researchers have discovered that side effects, such as gastric discomfort and nausea, typically occur at the beginning of treatment. However, a review of the available literature revealed that weight loss during the initial stages of taking the medication was not associated with nausea.

The drug’s effect on reducing satiety diminished over the course of 12–18 months, but users’ caloric intake was still found to be lower than the baseline during the so-called upkeep phase.

When researchers looked into studies where drug users were asked about their food cravings and preferences, they found that they had a lower desire for dairy and starchy foods, as well as salty and spicy foods. They also found that they wanted fewer foods, especially those with high-fat content.

The macronutrient composition of what people consumed remained the same both before and after the drug’s use. The question of whether GLP-1 analogs cause a greater craving for sweeter foods, especially those containing sucralose, remains unanswered.

Research has shown that individuals taking exenatide (brand name Byetta) — another GLP-1 analog — had decreased neuronal responses to pictures of food in brain regions responsible for controlling appetite and pleasure. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was utilized to measure this response.

The study has also revealed that semaglutide fails to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, the layer that “insulates” the brain and shields it from outside influences.

This drug, on the other hand, blocks signals that could affect appetite in regions of the central nervous system that aren’t connected to the blood-brain barrier.

The collection of data on GLP-1 agonists could be sloppy.

The way diet data is collected in these studies limits our understanding of obesity and GLP-1 analogs, according to Alex Miras, clinical professor of medicine at Ulster University, United Kingdom.

He pointed out that studies based on the participants’ own accounts may be subject to errors, and argued that the most reliable method for confirming results is through empirical investigations, which are less susceptible to errors.

The overall conclusion from this paper is that there is some evidence that pharmacotherapy for obesity alters dietary preferences in some people, he said. If we want to know for sure, we should stop asking people what they do and instead observe people as they do, and then we will get solid answers.

I need to observe people in a research or clinical setting, which should be as close as possible to everyday life. But with that caveat, we should be focusing on how these people act, rather than what they’re trying to tell us.

The review’s non-involved author, Dr. Ali, noted that a common issue affecting a lot of research in this field is that it emerges from smaller studies, since double-blind controlled studies “require a lot of time and money.”

Obesity is caused by multiple factors, including genetics, hormones, physical activity, environmental factors, and socio-economic status. As a result, no single treatment strategy can be effective for everyone with weight issues, making it challenging to find the most effective approach, he warned.