All mazdutide doses were well tolerated; the most common adverse events were diarrhea, nausea, and upper respiratory tract infection. In addition, heart rate was higher on average in the survodutide group than in the placebo group (le Roux et al., 2024). In addition, co-administration of GLP-1 and glucagon increased energy expenditure, supporting the concept of a dual GLP-1/glucagon RA as a possible therapeutic for obesity (Cegla et al., 2014). The results showed that co-administration of GLP-1 and glucagon reduced food intake significantly and ameliorated the hyperglycemic effects of glucagon. Targeted injection of exendin-4 into the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus suppressed cocaine-seeking behavior in rats, without affecting body weight, food intake, or sucrose-seeking behavior. One clinical study found no differences in self-reported euphoria, craving, or cocaine infusions in individuals with cocaine use disorder treated with exenatide compared with placebo. One trial examining semaglutide in individuals with AUD demonstrated lower alcohol intake, but reported inconsistent effects on heavy drinking days. Dulaglutide was exclusively studied in clinical trials for alcohol-related outcomes and smoking cessation, with alcohol intake often assessed as a secondary outcome. Winfrey said she hopes her and Jastreboff’s new book will help change the conversation about obesity and weight loss. “For somebody who has a lower BMI of 30, this might be overpowering,” Levy noted. But both experts say not everyone needs to lose that much weight. The most common side effects were nausea, diarrhea, constipation and vomiting. Wegovy mimics one gut hormone the body produces after eating, GLP-1; and Zepbound mimics two, GLP-1 and GIP. From endless ads for medications like Ozempic or Wegovy to news stories of successful weight loss, almost everyone is aware of the newest weight loss medications, GLP-1s. Weight-loss drugs aren't an easy answer to weight loss. It's one of four similar weight-loss drugs approved for use for less than 12 weeks, called short-term use. Six weight-loss drugs have been approved by the U.S. Many people gain back some of the weight they lost when they stop taking weight-loss drugs. Hospitalized in Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Raw Oysters This medication is also helpful if you have substance use disorder or if your main issue is sugar cravings.GLP-1, which stands for glucagon-like peptide-1, is a hormone naturally made by the body that helps signal to the brain and the gut that it’s full and doesn’t need to eat any more.An earlier trial funded by the company showed people with Type 2 diabetes lost up to 14% of their body weight with the injection at 36 weeks, while those who took the daily pill lost 10%.Therefore, guidelines recommend that obese individuals lose 5% to 10% of their initial body weight within 6 months of starting a weight-loss intervention (Kim et al., 2023).Currently available long-term anti-obesity medications for adults include orlistat, naltrexone/bupropion (NAL/BUP) extended release (ER), liraglutide, phentermine/topiramate ER, semaglutide, and tirzepatide (Table 1).Common side effects include nausea, headache and constipation.Your body then redirects resources back toward growth. The pill versions are especially good for “needle phobic” people, Levy says. The once-daily Wegovy pill is already approved and became available in the U.S. in January 2026. She expects retatrutide to become available on the market in 2027, but some online companies have been selling what they claim is the medication, prompting warning letters from the FDA. Topiramate is a gamma-aminobutyric acid agonist, glutamate antagonist, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitor; it is a drug used for epilepsy treatment and migraine prophylaxis (Pilitsi et al., 2019). Naltrexone (NAL) is an opioid receptor antagonist approved as a treatment for opioid dependency and alcohol dependence. Orlistat was approved for long-term weight management by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1999 and the Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2000 (Jeon et al., 2023). Achieving sufficient weight loss to reduce obesity-related diseases requires a variety of interventions, including comprehensive lifestyle modification of diet and exercise, change in behavior, anti-obesity medications, and surgery. Trials revealed that a third of adults who were classed as obese lost more than 25 percent of their body weight after taking the increased dose for 72 weeks. According to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the new dose of 7.2mg is three times higher than the current approved dosage of 2.4mg, but could lead to even more than 20 percent weight loss. So, with demand at an all-time high, the UK's medicine regulator has just approved a much stronger dose of Wegovy, which could support even bigger weight losses. Germany's Strict Healthcare System: Novo Nordisk Popular Weight Loss Drug's Four Week Course Available For €301.91 In addition, compared with monotherapies of cagrilintide 2.4 mg or semaglutide 2.4 mg, cagrilintide 2.4 mg/semaglutide 2.4 mg (CagriSema) resulted in a significant reduction of hemoglobin A1c in individuals with T2DM and overweight or obesity. Phase 2 studies using ecnoglutide for T2DM showed a 2.26 kg body weight reduction after ecnoglutide 1.2 mg administration (Zhu et al., 2024). Phase 3 studies of orforglipron in people with overweight or obesity coupled with T2DM, obstructive sleep apnea, or Asian ethnicity are ongoing (Table 4). GLP-1 weight-loss drugs show early promise for treating addiction But losing 5% to 10% of your total weight and keeping it off can have important health benefits. The combination of weight-loss medicine and lifestyle changes leads to greater weight loss than do lifestyle changes alone. If you answered yes to these questions, a prescription weight-loss drug may be a choice for you. Are you an adult who has serious health problems because of your weight? Clinical studies mainly addressed nicotine and alcohol use disorders, assessing pharmacological effects on intake, craving, abstinence, and related neuroendocrine or metabolic parameters. Six were clinical studies, including pilot studies, secondary analyses, and RCTs, and the remaining were preclinical studies, mainly involving rodents. Relevant data were extracted from eligible studies, including study characteristics, sample details, intervention specifics, outcomes, and statistical methods. Beyond their appetite-suppressing and glucose-lowering effects, GLP-1 RAs exert neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory actions in the central nervous system and gut-related immune-inflammatory signaling via GLP-1 receptors. In phase 2 clinical trials for obesity, survodutide (0.6, 2.4, 3.6, or 4.8 mg) reduced body weight dose-dependently and resulted in a body weight loss of 6.2% to 14.9%, compared with −2.8% after placebo, at 46 weeks. In clinical trials, which compared people randomly assigned to the active drug or a placebo, participants receiving semaglutide or tirzepatide lost 15% to 20% of their body weight on average. In a phase 2 trial in people with obesity, treatment with a 12 mg dose of retatrutide resulted in a mean weight reduction of 24.2% after 48 weeks as compared with −2.1% in the placebo group. But more options are needed, Levy notes, especially since the drugs need to be taken for the long term. “There's a huge pipeline of new medications that are coming,” Dr. Melanie Jay, director of the NYU Langone Comprehensive Program on Obesity Research, tells TODAY.com. The higher the dose of the GLP-1 agonist, the greater its effects. They may switch you to a different weight-loss drug. How long you take a weight-loss drug depends on whether the drug helps you lose weight. But practicing healthy lifestyle habits may help limit weight gain. Weight-loss drugs can be expensive and aren't always paid for by insurance. That's why it's important to ask your health care provider about all treatment choices. Both of them work at the level of the pancreas and at the level of the brain and other organs in the body,” adds Jay, who has also done consulting work for Novo Nordisk. She's also co-author of a new book about obesity with Oprah Winfrey, called "Enough." “Not everybody responds to GLP-1,” she tells TODAY.com. New treatments that are more powerful, mimic more satiety hormones and can be taken in more ways than weekly injections are in the works. Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox! Although many anti-obesity medications have been developed, several have been withdrawn because of adverse events (Wen et al., 2022). Therefore, guidelines recommend that obese individuals lose 5% to 10% of their initial body weight within 6 months of starting a weight-loss intervention (Kim et al., 2023). Specifically, weight loss of 5% to 10%, along with improvements in lifestyle, has clinically significant benefits in achieving these goals. To date, anti-obesity agents with various mechanisms of action have been developed, and mostly reduce energy intake, resulting in weight loss of about 5% to 10% compared to baseline. This combination drug helps with weight loss by decreasing your appetite and helping you burn calories. Because of this, some GLP-1s are now approved for weight loss, too. Weight loss drugs work in different ways to help you lose weight. Weight loss medications help you lose weight. At least 5% weight loss is required to prevent obesity-related complications, and it is reflected in the guidelines for weight management drugs. A phase 1 study showed AMG 133 had an acceptable safety and tolerability profile and resulted in dose-dependent weight loss (Veniant et al., 2024). For example, after 20 weeks, cagrilintide 2.4 mg co-administered with semaglutide 2.4 mg resulted in a body weight reduction of 17%; when semaglutide 2.4 mg was co-administered with placebo, body weight reduction was 10% (Enebo et al., 2021). If weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy lead to a 10% slimmer society, the analysts found that would translate to total airline passenger weight declining by 2%.However, it is important to remember that using the drugs to suppress appetite doesn’t just contribute to fat loss but also to reduced muscle mass.Although many anti-obesity medications have been developed, several have been withdrawn because of adverse events (Wen et al., 2022).The medication, created by Wegovy and Ozempic manufacturer Novo Nordisk, are now being sold to self-paying patients for a very reasonable $149 per month for the 1.5mg and 4mg doses.Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health.The exploding popularity of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro, plus their high cost, can often make the knockoff versions more enticing to those on a tight budget.These drugs reduce appetite by making you feel full more quickly, so food is less rewarding.That stress pushes the body into survival mode, where hair growth shuts down and shedding shows up months later.Jay believes it will be the next hot thing in the weight-loss drug space. In controlled trials, patients receive close monitoring and support. The authors point to a key reason for the gap between trials and real life. Eli Lilly is a solid long-term investment as it builds out a strong portfolio of GLP-1 drugs. And it may obtain approval for a GLP-1 pill later this year (currently, the company's approved treatments are injectables). If the company gets another approved GLP-1 drug in its portfolio, that can bolster these results even further. Care at Cleveland Clinic The people featured weren’t just dropping weight quickly; their bodies were being pushed through abrupt metabolic shifts that strained every system.The labels for these drugs include a warning about pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia or deep sedation (Food and Drug Administration, 2024).One clinical trial reported 1.3% weight loss in the placebo group and 6.1% weight loss after NAL/BUP administration at a dose of 32 mg for 56 weeks.That compares to about 21% average weight loss for Zepbound, Eli Lilly’s GLP-1 drug.Other novel drugs like neuropeptide Y receptor type 2 agonists, cannabinoid receptor-1 inverse agonists, and gut–brain axis-targeting therapeutics are under development.Preclinical studies show that it reduces body weight by increasing energy expenditure and reducing food intake compared to the maximally effective dose of semaglutide (Zimmermann et al., 2022).Weight loss aims to improve obesity-related complications and patients’ health and quality of life.The pill versions are especially good for “needle phobic” people, Levy says. In rare cases, people have had serious liver injury with orlistat. Orlistat can cause side effects such as passing gas and having loose stools. Common side effects include nausea, headache and constipation. So your provider will need to check your blood pressure regularly at the start of treatment. Considering that 6 mg was not enough to achieve the desired weight loss target for individuals with a higher BMI, mazdutide administration at a dose of 9 mg, exclusively for adults with a BMI ≥30 kg/m2, is under evaluation (Table 4). However, heart rate tended to increase more with mazdutide than with placebo (Ji et al., 2023), similar to the phase 1 trial (Ji et al., 2021, 2022). Thus, glucagon action can reduce body weight both by increasing energy expenditure and reducing food intake (Sandoval and D’Alessio, 2015). Just know that you need to use prescription weight-loss drugs in addition to — not instead of — a healthy diet and exercise. The expected weight loss required to improve obesity-related complications and mean weight loss according to treatment. In obese mice, retatrutide results in greater body weight loss and energy expenditure than tirzepatide through glucagon receptor activation. At week 12, participants receiving mazdutide at 6 and 9 mg had body weight losses of 6.1% and 11.7%, respectively (Ji et al., 2021, 2022). Contributor: New food pyramid is a recipe for health disasters Furthermore, body weight reduction with CagriSema administration was 15.6%, compared with 5.1% and 8.1% with semaglutide and cagrilintide alone, respectively (Frias et al., 2023). Therefore, chronic administration of amylin reduces total energy intake, which results in body weight loss. At week 36, the loss of body weight ranged from 9.4% to 14.7% compared to 2.3% reduction in the placebo group. Phase 2 studies have used four different doses of orforglipron (12, 24, 36, and 45 mg); at week 26, the mean weight loss from baseline ranged from 8.6% to 12.6% across the orforglipron dose cohorts compared to 2.0% weight loss in the placebo group. "It won’t replace injectables, but it broadens our tool kit in an important way. Pills are familiar, non-intimidating and fit more naturally into most people’s routines," he said. Higher doses of the pill, with 9mg and 25mg, will be expected to pay $299 a month; unless you have insurance that covers it, meaning they will be significantly cheaper. Only a small fraction of people who meet eligibility criteria ever receive it. By contrast, bariatric surgery produces a large and sustained physiological change that does not depend on ongoing medication adherence. After adjusting for age, starting weight and medical conditions, the differences were stark. What started with Ozempic has become a new era in weight-loss success with blockbuster GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound helping fight obesity. Liraglutide and semaglutide are the only two of these drugs approved for children ages 12 and older. People in the trials who got placebo injections lost much less weight, about 2.4% to 3.4%. A Guide to Weight-Loss Medications covers the science, risks, potential side effects, pros, and cons of this medication-assisted weight loss. That approaches what people can lose with weight-loss surgery. Weight loss on these drugs can be significant. These drugs reduce appetite by making you feel full more quickly, so food is less rewarding. This marks an expansion of Sam's Club's same-day delivery operations to include refrigerated medications, including the GLP-1 injections, as well as insulin and some antibiotics. Costco is offering the drugs at a price of $499 for four injectable pens, a month's supply, which is about half the price when paying out-of-pocket. "With the drug now available in pill form and obesity rates falling, broader usage could have further implications for waist lines," analysts said. A 10% weight loss by passengers would save as much as 1.5% in fuel and boost earnings per share by 4%, the Jan. 12 note said. “With the drug now available in pill form and obesity rates falling, broader usage could have further implications for waistlines,” according to the analysis. Despite the high efficacy of GLP-1-based anti-obesity medications, the need for regular injections is still a significant barrier for many patients. Mean weight loss from baseline with tirzepatide administration (10 mg or 15 mg) in SURMOUNT 1 to SURMOUNT 3 was 12.8% to 20.9%; this weight loss was significantly higher than in the placebo group (–3.1% to –2.5%) (Jastreboff et al., 2022; Garvey et al., 2023; Wadden et al., 2023). It is approved for use in adults with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) or overweight (BMI ≥27 kg/m2) and at least one weight-related condition alongside a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity. Results from studies that used transgenic GIP-overexpressing mice or that administered GIP to humans show that GIP results in weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity (Hojberg et al., 2009; Kim et al., 2012), suggesting that GIP could be a therapeutic target for obesity. “This isn’t a failing of the medicines — it reflects the nature of obesity as a chronic, relapsing condition,” said study lead author Sam West, a postdoctoral researcher at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, in the statement. Weight loss drugs mimic the action of this hormone by increasing the secretion of insulin to lower blood sugar. FAQs about GLP-1 drugs and hair loss Since 2018, more than 62,000 adverse events and 162 deaths linked to GLP-1 drugs have been reported, a number that spiked dramatically once marketing intensified and prescriptions surged after 2022. Hair loss from GLP-1 drugs is not a surface issue. The pills are to be taken once a day, before any food or water is consumed, with users reporting similar side effects to those experienced when taking the injectable version of the drug. The Wegovy pill got the FDA approval back in December, and weight loss clinic physician Dr Christopher McGowan told NBC it represented 'a meaningful step forward in the field'. The medication, created by Wegovy and Ozempic manufacturer Novo Nordisk, are now being sold to self-paying patients for a very reasonable $149 per month for the 1.5mg and 4mg doses. NHS certified education, meal plans and coaching shown to support weight loss and improve HbA1c. Bariatric surgery remains the most effective option for substantial and durable weight loss and often leads to major improvements in blood glucose control. Before choosing a medicine for you, your health care provider thinks about your history and health challenges.The significant weight reduction and improved metabolic parameters observed with semaglutide administration would be expected to result in the reduction of adverse cardiovascular outcomes.In 2024, the Food and Drug Administration approved Zepbound as a treatment for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.If you’re feeling nauseated, then don’t increase the dose,” she explained.Losing weight can feel like an uphill battle.Medicare and Medicaid typically only provide coverage for medications like Ozempic when they are used to treat conditions such as Type 2 diabetes — not for weight management.The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, and vomiting, primarily during dose escalation (Zhao et al., 2024).Higher doses of the pill, with 9mg and 25mg, will be expected to pay $299 a month; unless you have insurance that covers it, meaning they will be significantly cheaper. Other novel drugs like neuropeptide Y receptor type 2 agonists, cannabinoid receptor-1 inverse agonists, and gut–brain axis-targeting therapeutics are under development. Participants who were receiving retatrutide continued to lose weight until treatment was stopped at 48 weeks, and the trajectory of the weight-reduction curves indicated that a plateau had not yet been reached. Based on the benefits of dual GLP-1/GIP RAs and dual GLP-1/glucagon RAs, the effect of triple GLP-1/GIP/glucagon RAs on weight loss and glycemic control has also been investigated. The end-of-treatment heart rate increase was similar to or slightly higher than that observed with placebo (Ji et al., 2023). Based on this concept, Cegla et al. investigated the acute effects of intravenous infusion of a subanorectic dose of GLP-1 and glucagon on food intake. Several preclinical investigations focused on opioid-related behaviors. In another rodent study, exenatide led to a marked reduction in cocaine-primed reinstatement without impacting sucrose-seeking behavior. Further, liraglutide treatment led to a significant reduction in alcohol consumption in rodents with high baseline alcohol intake. Similarly, semaglutide led to reduced relapse-like drinking behaviors and alcohol consumption in rodents. However, secondary analyses showed significant decreases among individuals with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m². The findings instead highlight the importance of matching people to the right treatment and setting realistic expectations.In a phase 2 trial funded by the pharmaceutical company, people lost up to 20% of their body weight after taking the medication for almost a year.Are you an adult who has serious health problems because of your weight?By contrast, bariatric surgery produces a large and sustained physiological change that does not depend on ongoing medication adherence.It affects the way your body absorbs fat.It tested whether, when added to standard care, semaglutide was superior to placebo in reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events among patients with overweight or obesity and preexisting cardiovascular disease who did not have T2DM.There are side effects and risks of taking weight loss drugs.Based on this concept, Cegla et al. investigated the acute effects of intravenous infusion of a subanorectic dose of GLP-1 and glucagon on food intake. These drugs are for people who have health conditions stemming from obesity or overweight. There are side effects and risks of taking weight loss drugs. In a late-stage trial funded by the pharmaceutical company, people lost 20% of their body weight on average after taking the drug for a year and four months. Anti-obesity, or weight loss drugs can help. With technical advances, novel therapeutic drugs are being developed to target different mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of obesity; this could significantly impact the treatment of obesity and lead to more sustainable changes in weight and overall health. The effects last much longer than those of the GLP-1 produced by your body. GLP-1 receptor agonist medications mimic the action of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), a hormone secreted by your intestines when you eat. This guide is your trusted resource to help you have informed conversations with your doctor about weight and metabolic health. But they may help you make the lifestyle changes that you need to practice to lose weight and improve your health. Before choosing a medicine for you, your health care provider thinks about your history and health challenges. You can't buy them off the shelf in a drug store like you can buy nonprescription medicines. Have you tried diet and exercise but haven't been able to lose enough weight? Medicare and Medicaid typically only provide coverage for medications like Ozempic when they are used to treat conditions such as Type 2 diabetes — not for weight management. Ozempic and Wegovy contain the same active ingredient (semaglutide), but they are approved for different uses and are packaged in different doses, as TODAY.com explained previously. Airlines could have weight loss drug manufacturers to thank for savings if passengers become lighter, allowing carriers to spend less money on fuel. This rate of weight regain is significantly faster than that seen in those who have lost weight by changing other lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise, rather than relying on GLP-1 medications, researchers from the University of Oxford report in a paper published Wednesday in The BMJ journal. Remove metabolic stressors and create a stable growth environment for your hair — If your body has been running at a deficit, slowing down rapid weight loss is one of the fastest ways to stop shedding. That’s where weight loss medications come in. Most people lose around 5% of their body weight after three to six months. They aren’t as powerful or as well-studied as prescription weight loss medications. Other OTC weight loss medications are supplements. When co-administrated with other therapies, the weight loss effect of cagrilintide is more prominent. A phase 1 study reported that ecnoglutide was safe and generally well tolerated for up to 6 weeks; the most common adverse events were nausea, decreased appetite, and headaches, similar to other GLP-1 RAs (Guo et al., 2023). Tirzepatide not only results in approximately 20% weight loss but also improves cardiovascular risk factors such as blood glucose levels, blood pressure, and blood lipid profiles, which could decrease metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. Until now, most drugs have primarily focused on reducing energy intake through appetite suppression. However, guidelines suggest different weight targets are set depending on the complications, such as 5-15% weight loss for metabolic syndrome, type 2 DM and cardiovascular disease, 7-8% for obstructive sleep apnea and asthma, and 10-40% for steatohepatitis (Garvey et al., 2016). Weight loss aims to improve obesity-related complications and patients’ health and quality of life. Most adults can expect to lose between 3% to 12% of their starting body weight after one year. Talk to your healthcare provider before buying weight loss supplements on your own. Phentermine as a standalone weight loss medication (Adipex-P) is for short-term use only. They found that “weight regain after stopping drugs was faster than after ending behavioural weight loss programmes such as diet and exercise support by approximately 0.3 kg (0.7 pounds) per month,” they said in a statement. Popular injected weight loss medications work better for one sex. GLP-1 medications, which include Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound, have proven to be highly effective for weight loss. Rebuild your nutrient intake and restore protein to support keratin production — If your appetite has been low, your body has been running in a nutrient deficit. If your gut is not healthy, fix that first before adding fiber or supplements. Akkermansia, a beneficial gut microbe, helps your body produce its own GLP-1 through a protein it naturally secretes. Your body then redirects resources back toward growth. Especially recently developed incretin-based drugs semaglutide and tirzepatide result in dramatic reductions in body weight comparable to bariatric surgery (Fig. 1). A phase 2 trial demonstrated body weight changes from baseline to week 24 of −6.7% with mazdutide 3 mg, −10.4% with mazdutide 4.5 mg, −11.3% with mazdutide 6 mg, and 1.0% with placebo. In a phase 1b clinical trial in Chinese adults with overweight or obesity, mazdutide up to a dose of 10 mg was well tolerated and had an overall safety profile similar to those of other GLP-1-based therapies. However, experts say the Costco discounted price is still too high for many people who need access to the drugs.GLP-1 drugs are highly coveted for their ability to help people lose weight.At week 36, the loss of body weight ranged from 9.4% to 14.7% compared to 2.3% reduction in the placebo group.Reports show the medications throw the body off balance by cutting hunger faster than it can adapt.Dulaglutide treatment resulted in a significant reduction in weight gain following smoking cessation.Phase 2 studies have used four different doses of orforglipron (12, 24, 36, and 45 mg); at week 26, the mean weight loss from baseline ranged from 8.6% to 12.6% across the orforglipron dose cohorts compared to 2.0% weight loss in the placebo group.Fuel costs are directly related to the weight of planes, including passengers, their luggage and other essential cargo. And more than 1 out of 8 of them said they were free of knee pain by the end of the trial. Retatrutide is an exciting GLP-1 drug that has explosive potential. Preclinical studies consistently support the efficacy of GLP-1 RAs across multiple SUDs. In contrast, one study showed that exendin-4 did not attenuate remifentanil self-administration or opioid withdrawal symptoms in mice. When people stop treatment, "rapid weight regain" can happen, a 2026 review of studies found. GLP-1 drugs now account for more than 7% of all prescriptions in the U.S., according to Truveta Research, a health data company. Oprah Winfrey is among the high-profile GLP-1 users, and credits the medication with finally helping her find lasting weight loss. (See Figure 1, page 5.) These combined effects often result in weight loss. It’s important to discuss these with your healthcare provider. A. Pawlowski is a TODAY health reporter focusing on health news and features. The candidates being investigated include MariTide, a drug from Amgen that targets GLP-1 and GIP hormones and is “administered monthly or less frequently,” the company says. "A lot of people are going to like that," Levy says. People trying to lose weight may opt for long-acting monthly shots instead of weekly injections in the future. Sometimes, eating healthy and exercising isn’t enough. Losing weight can feel like an uphill battle. If you don’t, your provider may suggest a different medication or add another medication. It depends on your results and side effects. In 2024, the Food and Drug Administration approved Zepbound as a treatment for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. One of the most promising drugs to watch for from Lilly in the near future is retatrutide. Lilly is developing a GLP-1 drug that has shown in a recent trial that it can also help with pain relief. The study provided a comprehensive overview of evidence on GLP-1 RA use in the treatment of substance use disorders. Liraglutide treatment was reported to suppress heroin self-administration and drug-induced reinstatement in rats with high drug intake. The people featured weren’t just dropping weight quickly; their bodies were being pushed through abrupt metabolic shifts that strained every system. Dermatology groups report that rapid metabolic changes linked to these drugs strain the hair cycle in consistent and predictable ways. That sudden shift forces your system out of its normal rhythm, especially once rapid weight loss begins. Hair loss often shows up when something deeper in your metabolism starts to break down, and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs push that process forward in a very specific way. Most adults need about 0.8 grams of protein per pound of ideal body weight (or about 1.76 grams per kilogram). Stop GLP-1 drugs and shift toward natural GLP-1 support through Akkermansia — If you’re using a GLP-1 drug, stopping the medication removes the stressor that pushed your follicles into shedding. These medications suppress your appetite so abruptly that your calorie and protein intake drop before your body has time to adjust. Reports show the medications throw the body off balance by cutting hunger faster than it can adapt. Most clinical trials used GLP-1 RA dosing regimens consistent with approved metabolic indications, and the optimal dosing strategies for addiction-specific outcomes remain uncertain.The growing use of weight-loss products may end up saving the biggest U.S. airlines as much as $580 million in fuel costs this year as passengers shed pounds and make planes lighter, according to a Jefferies analysis.GLP-1 drugs now account for more than 7% of all prescriptions in the U.S., according to Truveta Research, a health data company.Therefore, tirzepatide is likely to be particularly effective in improving obesity and its related complications; clinical trials of tirzepatide’s effects on obesity and obesity-related complications are ongoing.Phentermine-topiramate is a combination of a weight-loss drug called phentermine and an anticonvulsant called topiramate.In a recent study published in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology, researchers examined the potential role of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (RAs) in treating substance use disorders (SUDs).GLP-1 agonists are pivotal in obesity care, promoting weight loss and addressing related health issues, with a focus on personalized, holistic treatment.No amylin analogs are approved for weight loss right now by the U.S. Popular GLP-1 medications may have health benefits that extend beyond weight loss and blood sugar control, a new study finds Many people who stop using weight loss drugs will return to their previous weight within two years, a new review of existing research has found. You should only use weight loss drugs if you plan on keeping regular checkups with your healthcare provider. The decision to begin weight loss drugs should only happen after you and your provider discuss your health history. In addition, tirzepatide resulted in significantly lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels and improved lipid profiles compared to placebo (Qin et al., 2024). The ratio of total fat mass to total lean mass decreased significantly more from baseline with tirzepatide than with placebo (Jastreboff et al., 2022). Body fat reduction in SURMOUNT 1 was 33.9% with tirzepatide administration, compared with 8.2% with placebo administration. Several phase 3 programs have investigated tirzepatide; these are titled the SURMOUNT development programs (Table 3). The mean duration of semaglutide 2.4 mg administration was 34.2 ± 13.7 months; the mean duration of follow-up was 39.8 ± 9.4 months. GLP-1 RAs, initially developed for type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity, have emerged as promising candidates for treating addiction. SUDs represent a significant public health concern and are characterized by limited therapeutic efficacy and high relapse rates. In a recent study published in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology, researchers examined the potential role of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (RAs) in treating substance use disorders (SUDs). The safety profile of CagriSema is consistent with the GLP-1 RA and amylin analog drug classes, which means gastrointestinal adverse events are the most common adverse events (Frias et al., 2023). The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, and vomiting, primarily during dose escalation (Zhao et al., 2024). A weight reduction of at least 10% by week 36 occurred in 46% to 75% of the participants who received orforglipron. The most frequently reported adverse events were gastrointestinal-related symptoms similar to those reported after the administration of subcutaneous semaglutide (Knop et al., 2023). However, acute cholecystitis was reported more frequently in the tirzepatide groups than in the placebo group (Jastreboff et al., 2022). In addition, topiramate has weight loss effects caused by an incompletely understood mechanism; however, dose-dependent adverse neuropsychiatric events such as depression limit its use as a single agent for weight loss (Allison et al., 2012). It was approved in 1959 for short-term obesity treatment at a dose of 15.0 to 37.5 mg/day (Gadde et al., 2011). Currently available long-term anti-obesity medications for adults include orlistat, naltrexone/bupropion (NAL/BUP) extended release (ER), liraglutide, phentermine/topiramate ER, semaglutide, and tirzepatide (Table 1). If patients with a BMI ≥30 kg/m2 (or ≥25 kg/m2 for certain ethnicities, including Koreans) fail to lose weight through diet, physical activity, and behavior counseling, the use of anti-obesity medications can be considered (Garvey et al., 2016; Kim et al., 2023). Dermatologists are seeing a clear pattern of hair loss in people using GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic. But these medications have risks and side effects. They’ll need to monitor your weight loss and make sure it’s still safe for you to take the medication. In everyday practice, many people stop GLP-1 treatment due to side effects, cost or difficulty maintaining weekly injections. Even among those who remained on GLP-1 treatment continuously for a full year, average weight loss reached only 7%. Some underwent bariatric surgery, either sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass, while others were prescribed injectable GLP-1 drugs such as semaglutide or tirzepatide. Participants in this most recent trial included people with obesity and knee osteoarthritis. To take the drug, you'll need to have test results that show you have one of these conditions. You take it as a weekly shot to manage obesity. Other possible side effects include an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, insomnia, constipation, and nervousness. Phentermine has the potential to be misused because it acts like a stimulant drug called an amphetamine. But researchers haven't found that the drug causes liver injuries. Preclinical studies show that it reduces body weight by increasing energy expenditure and reducing food intake compared to the maximally effective dose of semaglutide (Zimmermann et al., 2022). Currently, CagriSema is undergoing phase 3 trials in people with overweight or obesity and various related conditions (Table 4). A preclinical study reported that ecnoglutide reduced blood glucose and body weight and increased insulin secretion significantly more than semaglutide (Guo et al., 2023). The Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity (STEP) program was designed to comprehensively explore the efficacy of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide administration (2.4 mg) in people with overweight or obesity and consists of eight different trials (Bergmann et al., 2023) (Table 2). The results demonstrated significant body weight reductions in individuals taking liraglutide at a dose of 3 mg compared with those taking the placebo (8.0% vs. 2.6%); in addition, more people in the liraglutide group achieved a ≥5% reduction in body weight than in the placebo group (63.2% vs. 27.1%). In the present study, researchers systematically assessed the therapeutic potential of GLP-1 RAs in SUD treatment. “If you’re on blood pressure medication, you get your blood pressure to the level that your doctor says is healthy for you, you come off the medication, your blood pressure is gonna go up,” she stated. While drinking lots of water makes Winfrey’s kidneys “very happy,” Jastreboff said there are other ways to “lessen nausea” while on weight-loss medication. Another consumer reported receiving a call saying they owed $800 for a subscription to a weight-loss medication and would face a collection agency if they didn't pay. One example reported to the bureau was a text from a "Laura at WellnessCare" saying a doctor had cleared the person for a GLP-1 prescription and they were approved to begin treatment. The decision to begin weight loss drugs should only happen after you and your provider discuss your health history.Your health care provider may suggest a weight-loss drug for you in some cases.It may cause side effects like gas and diarrhea.A phase 1 study reported that ecnoglutide was safe and generally well tolerated for up to 6 weeks; the most common adverse events were nausea, decreased appetite, and headaches, similar to other GLP-1 RAs (Guo et al., 2023).Heart rate increased dose-dependently up to 24 weeks and reduced thereafter (Jastreboff et al., 2023).Unlike older weight-loss medications, which are taken as pills, GLP-1 drugs are self-administered via daily or weekly subcutaneous (under the skin) injections using a pre-filled pen.Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.In everyday practice, many people stop GLP-1 treatment due to side effects, cost or difficulty maintaining weekly injections.Six were clinical studies, including pilot studies, secondary analyses, and RCTs, and the remaining were preclinical studies, mainly involving rodents.Semaglutide 2.4 mg reduced the physical limitations and improved exercise function compared with placebo (Kosiborod et al., 2023, 2024); semaglutide 1.0 mg delayed the progression of diabetic kidney disease, which is lower than that recommended for people with obesity (Perkovic et al., 2024). Adults taking semaglutide for Type 2 diabetes or weight reduction formed the core of the cases described in this analysis. A letter to the editor published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology examined growing reports of alopecia in people prescribed semaglutide and other GLP-1 receptor agonists. Evidence links GLP-1 drugs with rising reports of alopecia In another trial, no overall reduction in heavy drinking days was observed with exenatide. Behavioral outcomes included substance intake, operant motivation, relapse-like reinstatement, and drug-seeking behavior. Studies assessed a wide range of outcomes, comprising neurobiological, clinical, and behavioral domains. Liraglutide and semaglutide were predominantly studied in the context of opioid and alcohol use disorders. GLP-1 RAs included liraglutide, dulaglutide, exendin-4, and semaglutide. Both Eli Lilly, maker of Zepbound and Mounjaro, and Novo Nordisk have seen success with oral versions of their drugs in recent clinical trials. Popular weight loss drugs are now available at a discount for Sam's Club and Costco shoppers without insurance. If weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy lead to a 10% slimmer society, the analysts found that would translate to total airline passenger weight declining by 2%. The labels for these drugs include a warning about pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia or deep sedation (Food and Drug Administration, 2024). The FDA updated drug safety-related labeling for liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide on November 5th, 2024. Body weight often plateaus before increasing again after treatment cessation (Christoffersen et al., 2022). “Artificially providing GLP-1 levels several times higher than normal over a long period may cause you to produce less of your own natural GLP-1, and may also make you less sensitive to its effects,” he said in a statement shared with CNN by the Science Media Centre. “It sounds a cautionary note for short-term use without a more comprehensive approach to weight management.” They also slow the movement of food through the digestive tract, which helps people feel full more quickly and for longer, and they work in the brain to reduce appetite. The next generation of weight-loss drugs will also mimic another natural gut hormone — amylin, which is released by the pancreas in response to food.In the near future, GLP-1 medications may be available in pill form rather than injections.In addition, tirzepatide resulted in significantly lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels and improved lipid profiles compared to placebo (Qin et al., 2024).People trying to lose weight may opt for long-acting monthly shots instead of weekly injections in the future.Our mission is ending childhood health epidemics by eliminating toxic exposure.Behavioral outcomes included substance intake, operant motivation, relapse-like reinstatement, and drug-seeking behavior.Other AI-involved scams include fake doctor presentations outlining the efficacy of certain weight-loss products, and an online presentation about a "pink salt trick," per the BBB.In rare cases, people have had serious liver injury with orlistat.In obese mice, retatrutide results in greater body weight loss and energy expenditure than tirzepatide through glucagon receptor activation.The NAL/BUP combination was approved by the FDA in 2014 and by the Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2016 (Jeon et al., 2023). It was approved for chronic weight management in adults in December 2014 and in patients aged 12 and older in December 2020 by the FDA. In addition, it delays gastric emptying and modulates central hunger–satiety controls, which, in turn, create a feeling of fullness, reduce food intake, and promote weight loss (Bailey, 2021). The maximum dose of phentermine/topiramate ER is 15 mg of phentermine and 92 mg of topiramate; these doses are lower than those marketed or studied as monotherapies in obesity (Allison et al., 2012). There were four reported cases of adjudication-confirmed pancreatitis, which were evenly distributed across treatment groups, including the placebo group. In November 2023, tirzepatide became the first GLP-1/GIP dual RA approved by the FDA for chronic weight management. In the semaglutide group, the primary cardiovascular endpoint incidence was 20% lower than in the placebo group, which was a statistically significant effect (Lincoff et al., 2023). No amylin analogs are approved for weight loss right now by the U.S. The next generation of weight-loss drugs will also mimic another natural gut hormone — amylin, which is released by the pancreas in response to food. Jastreboff is on the scientific advisory boards of several pharmaceutical companies that make weight-loss medications. The Better Business Bureau has issued a scam alert warning consumers about "a troubling trend" of fraudsters using everything from fake AI videos of celebrities to phony pharmacies to sell products that aren't approved by the U.S. By contrast, if passengers slim down by 10%, to weigh an average of 162 pounds, that aircraft's total weight drops to 177,996 pounds. If it seats 178 passengers with an average weight of 180 pounds, plus about 4,000 pounds of other cargo, its total takeoff weight reaches 181,200 pounds. Last month, management announced phase 3 trial results showing that patients who had been taking a 12-milligram dosage of retatrutide had lost 28.7% of their body weight, on average, at the 68-week mark. GLP-1 agonists are pivotal in obesity care, promoting weight loss and addressing related health issues, with a focus on personalized, holistic treatment. From laboratory models to small human trials, a new review explores whether popular metabolic drugs could help curb alcohol, nicotine, and drug use, while underscoring how much clinical testing still lies ahead. Most prescription weight-loss drugs work by making you feel less hungry or fuller. For example, you shouldn't take prescription weight-loss drugs if you're trying to get pregnant, are pregnant or are breastfeeding. Then your provider talks with you about the pros and cons of prescription weight-loss drugs. Your health care provider may suggest a weight-loss drug for you in some cases. Prescription drugs are medicines that a health care provider prescribes for you. This medication is also helpful if you have substance use disorder or if your main issue is sugar cravings. Healthcare providers also use body mass index (BMI) as a factor. Losing weight isn’t always as simple as eating less and exercising more. As many as 1.6 million adults in the UK used weight loss drugs like Mounjaro or Wegovy in the last year, and 3.3 million more have expressed an interest in taking GLP-1s this year. By comparison, patients prescribed GLP-1 drugs for at least six months lost about 12 pounds on average, or around 4.7% (5.4 kg) of body weight. Two years after treatment, people who had surgery lost an average of 58 pounds (24.5 kg), equivalent to around 24% of their body weight. A large comparison study found that people who underwent bariatric surgery lost dramatically more weight over two years than those treated with GLP-1 medications. GLP-1, which stands for glucagon-like peptide-1, is a hormone naturally made by the body that helps signal to the brain and the gut that it’s full and doesn’t need to eat any more. Get important articles and updates on issues critical to children’s health. Our mission is ending childhood health epidemics by eliminating toxic exposure. Once you restore your energy intake, correct nutrient deficiencies and remove the stressor driving the imbalance, your follicles return to an active growth phase and density improves. That sudden metabolic stress pushes your hair follicles into telogen effluvium, a resting-and-shedding phase that shows up months later as thinning, reduced density and increased shedding. Winfrey revealed that she gained 20 pounds last year after going off of her medication to test if she would retain her weight loss without the drug. While the public might see these as simply generic alternatives to brand-name medications, the FDA cautioned that it does not evaluate compounded drugs for safety or effectiveness, so they may pose unknown risks to consumers. He added, "If we really want to make the biggest difference on the health of the nation, we have to make sure that the people who would benefit the most have access to medications that are being shown to be beneficial.” The deals come from partnerships with Novo Nordisk, the makers of GLP-1 weight loss drug Wegovy and diabetes medication Ozempic. Jefferies conducted the study in response to pharmaceutical companies developing weight loss pills and following a 2023 report it released studying the effects of weight loss on fuel costs. This report explains each medication in detail. For some people diet and exercise alone may not be enough. To lose weight, especially harmful belly fat, combine diet and exercise You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. The NAL/BUP combination was approved by the FDA in 2014 and by the Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2016 (Jeon et al., 2023). In addition, the incidence of T2DM was 45% lower in the orlistat group than in the placebo group over 4 years (Torgerson et al., 2004). Short-term treatment options include phentermine, diethylpropion, phendimetrazine, and mazindol (Jeon et al., 2023). They are also at higher risk of developing weight-related conditions such as arthritis, low back pain, and obstructive sleep apnea than normal-weight individuals. This goes further than the currently approved GLP-1 drugs, and the early results from retatrutide have been promising. What's encouraging, however, is that there may be more benefits with GLP-1 drugs than simply losing weight and controlling blood sugar. However, the clinical evidence base remains preliminary, heterogeneous, and limited in size, with several trials not primarily powered to detect addiction-related outcomes. An earlier trial funded by the company showed people with Type 2 diabetes lost up to 14% of their body weight with the injection at 36 weeks, while those who took the daily pill lost 10%. Unlike older weight-loss medications, which are taken as pills, GLP-1 drugs are self-administered via daily or weekly subcutaneous (under the skin) injections using a pre-filled pen. Taking these drugs for a year can mean a loss of total body weight of 3% to 12% more than that lost with lifestyle changes alone. Although current anti-obesity medications are expected to improve obesity-related complications and cause weight loss, for weight loss maintenance, a strategy that promotes both appetite suppression and energy expenditure is most likely to succeed. Study the pros and cons of medicines to treat obesity. It was created by conjugating a fully human monoclonal anti-human GIPR-antibody with two GLP-1 analog agonist peptides using amino acid linkers. Heart rate increased dose-dependently up to 24 weeks and reduced thereafter (Jastreboff et al., 2023). A pilot study reported that a combination of exenatide and nicotine replacement therapy improved smoking abstinence rates, reduced withdrawal symptoms, and alleviated post-cessation weight gain. Dulaglutide treatment resulted in a significant reduction in weight gain following smoking cessation. In one RCT examining GLP-1 RAs in tobacco use disorder, semaglutide treatment reduced daily cigarette smoking. Preclinical studies also support the use of GLP-1 RAs in AUD treatment. However, it is important to remember that using the drugs to suppress appetite doesn’t just contribute to fat loss but also to reduced muscle mass. This is further exacerbated if the individual in question has relied solely on GLP-1 to do the heavy lifting during weight loss,” he said, rather than making behavioral changes. Collins added that this isn’t a problem when taking these drugs, but taking away this source of GLP-1 then makes overeating “far more likely.”