“Wegovy, Ozempic, and More: An Overview of the Newest Weight Loss Drugs on the Market
The weight loss business is worth billions of dollars, and one of the most common methods is medication, which is marketed as a quick fix for losing weight and controlling cravings.
Pills and injections that help people drop weight and control their hunger are frequently heralded as the Holy Grail of easy fat-blasting that previously seemed unattainable.
All weight-loss drugs, however, have side effects.
Here are the most recent diet drugs, how they work, and what adverse effects they have.
Wegovy
Semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy, is the most recent drug to be authorized for routine use by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). It is a once-week weight-loss injection that prevents you from getting hungry. Semaglutide is meant to be used in conjunction with a diet and exercise program to improve the health of people who are overweight or obese.
It is not a lifestyle drug for people who are already slim and want to drop a few more pounds.When blood sugar levels are high, semaglutide includes a compound that mimics a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and helps the pancreas release the appropriate amount of insulin.It also makes you feel full by slowing stomach emptying and suppressing your hunger.
The drug has assisted individuals in losing up to 15% of their body weight. However, in clinical studies, participants reported constipation, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and diarrhea. According to research, people who cease taking the drug may gain weight.
Ozempic
Ozempic is another medication that contains semaglutide. It is administered once a week via injection into the thigh, shoulder, or stomach. It is similar to Wegovy in that it delivers the drug Semaglutide in slightly smaller doses but with comparable weight-loss side effects.
Ozempic is suggested for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and is prescribed to help people with the condition control their blood glucose levels. It is not meant to be a weight-loss medication. It has become Hollywood’s worst-kept weight-loss secret, with celebs clamoring to obtain the drug in order to drop a few dress sizes for the red carpet.
Last month, Al Arabiya English reported that doctors in Dubai revealed that interest in the drug has peaked after videos on TikTok and Instagram advertisements promoted the medication as a miracle cure for stubborn fat – as residents are warned they cannot simply walk into a pharmacy to get their hands on the drug.
Xenical
Xenical is the trade name for the generic drug Orlistat. When combined with a low-calorie diet, it is recommended for obesity management, including weight loss and weight maintenance. One tablet with water is consumed before, during, or up to an hour after each of the three daily meals. It has been shown in trials to block up to one-third of dietary fat from food from being digested by the body. Mellor says that it works by inhibiting the enzymes that break down fat in the digestive system, gastric and pancreatic lipase.
Some of the undigested fat is eliminated from the body in stools by preventing these enzymes from working correctly. It is normally prescribed for 12 weeks, during which time you can expect to lose up to 5% of your body weight, which is usually three to seven kilograms.
According to The Times publication in the United Kingdom, the side effects of Xenical are numerous.
These medications can result in oily diarrhea and gas. Other possible side effects include headaches, anxiety, and menstrual irregularities.
Because it can reduce the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, it is suggested that users take a multivitamin containing these nutrients, ideally before bedtime when the medication will not be used.
Alli
Alli, an over-the-counter Orlistat product that claims to help people reduce weight by absorbing about 25% of the fat in food. However, the most frequent side effects are stomach pain and oily diarrhea, and it should not be used for more than six months at a period. Individuals with a BMI of 28 or higher are advised to use Alli, and a pharmacist consultation is needed prior to use.
Mysimba
Mysimba is another weight-loss pill that contains Naltrexone, an opiate antagonist, and Bupropion, an antidepressant. This combination is believed to target the central nervous system pathways involved in hunger and eating, but it may also cause dizziness, nausea, and drowsiness. Mysimba has been shown in clinical studies to produce an average weight loss of five kilograms in a year, but it also has a high probability of causing people to discontinue use due to side effects.
