- GLP-1 analogues, such as semaglutide, are prescribed for people with type 2 diabetes, including those with the condition who have obesity, in order to promote weight loss and improve control of blood sugars.
- Their use as a treatment for obesity, often off-label, has gained a lot of attention in recent years.
- The number of potential benefits of these drugs for minimising the risk of other conditions, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, has also become a focus of research.
- Researchers have now carried out a review of existing medical literature to summarise our understanding about how, exactly, GLP-1 analogues contribute to reduced calorie consumption.
GLP-1 analogues, such as semaglutide (brand names Ozempic, Wegovy) that were initially licensed for treating type 2 diabetes have received a lot of publicity in the past couple of years, in great part due to their ability to help people lose weight.
The understanding so far has been that GLP-1 analogues work by mimicking the action of a similarly shaped molecule called glucagon-like peptide, which is naturally released by the intestines soon after eating food.
This peptide binds to a specific receptor on the surface of beta cells in the pancreas, causing them to release insulin, and for a long time researchers assumed that GLP-1 analogues only affected insulin release, hence why they were prescribed for type 2 diabetes.
The effect these drugs had on weight did not long go unnoticed, however, as losing fat can help people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugars better, and even make the condition go into remission.
Studies conducted in recent years have discovered that GLP-1 analogues work in a variety of ways that contribute to weight loss, including by slowing gastric emptying, and by increasing a person’s sense of fullness after eating.
There has been significant research in recent years focused on the other potential benefits of GLP-1 analogues, many of which could be due to the impact they have on…
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