What is semaglutide? Semaglutide is a relatively new drug that has been shown to be just as effective at reducing body weight as certain weight loss surgeries. The drug's effects were uncovered during a clinical trial led by Professor Rachel Batterham at University College London (UCL) to evaluate the efficacy of this drug in weight management.
The trial consisted of nearly 2000 people, across multiple countries. Each participant was either given a 2.4mg dose of semaglutide or a placebo on a weekly basis. They were also provided with counselling sessions from dietitians to help them stick to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise more. The study reported an average weight loss of around 2.4 stone or 15.3kg was lost in the group of participants taking the drug, while those receiving the placebo (dummy drug) only lost an average of 0.4 stone or 2.6kg.
Moreover, within the group taking Semaglutide, 75% of those in the Semaglutide group lost over 10% of their body weight and more than 30% lost over 20% of their body weight. The findings indicate that this may indeed represent a major breakthrough in improving the health of those living with obesity.
Mechanism of action Something you may be wondering is how this new drug may work to assist with weight management.
Semaglutide is something called a GLP-1 (or glucagon-like peptide-1) agonist.
This means that it binds to the GLP-1 receptor in the brain and increases its activity, which has a number of favourable downstream effects. For instance, when activated, this receptor can trigger an increase in hormones called 'incretins', which work to:
Help the body produce insulin, but only when needed Reduce the amount of unnecessary glucose (sugar) being released by the liver Slow the rate at which the stomach digests and empties food Reduce appetite, resulting in a reduced food intake
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