A new weight loss injection, deemed revolutionary, has received approval for use in the UK, according to the Daily Mail. Officials at the British Health Authority believe that the injection, known as the "Wegovy jab," will play a crucial role in combating the obesity crisis in the country.
The injection is administered once a week for several months. British health officials announced on Tuesday that over a million adults suffering from obesity will soon be eligible to receive the injection. Scientific studies have shown that the injection, which works by breaking down fat, produces results similar to those achieved by gastric band surgery. One study revealed that patients who underwent treatment with this super injection lost more weight than those who received a placebo.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool, who led the study, described the drug as a "game changer." The Wegovy injection works by regulating appetite in the body and brain, resulting in reduced hunger and, consequently, lower calorie intake.
The British regulatory body has recommended this drug for individuals in England and Wales with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35, categorizing them as suffering from severe obesity, the most extreme category, and who have at least one weight-related health risk factor.
The revolutionary injection will be prescribed alongside a low-calorie diet and an exercise program. Patients will be able to self-administer the injection using a pen device. However, they will be advised not to stop taking it abruptly without consulting a physician. Some individuals who have used it privately ceased treatment after seeing results within a few months.
The new drug stimulates the body to produce the hormone "glucagon-like peptide-1," which is naturally produced by the intestines after meals. This hormone helps regulate blood sugar levels and makes people feel full, leading them to stop eating.
Trials for the drug, which has already been approved in the United States, found it to be nearly twice as effective as other weight loss medications. One trial involving 1,961 participants from 16 countries, who weighed an average of 105 kg and had an average BMI of 38, found that participants lost 15.3 kg over 68 weeks, which is about 15 percent of their body fat on average.
American experts stated that these results are close to the effects of gastric band surgery, which typically reduces a patient's body weight by about 25 percent. Volunteers in the study reported improvements in their quality of life and reduced risk factors for heart disease and diabetes, including decreased waist circumference, blood fat levels, blood sugar, and blood pressure.
Mild to moderate nausea and diarrhea are among the side effects caused by the drug; however, researchers noted that these symptoms were short-lived and posed no health risks. Professor Rachel Batterham, an obesity expert at University College London who co-authored the study, stated that the results represent "a major achievement in improving the health of those living with obesity." She added, "No other drug has come close to achieving this level of weight loss; this really is a game changer."
For the first time, people can achieve through medication what was previously only possible through surgery.
