A new drug has been approved by the European Medicines Agency for use in all EU countries, including Ireland, to help patients who struggle with obesity and who have at least one health issue that is associated with their weight.
The weight-loss drug, known as Wegovy, has been shown in clinical trials to be effective.
A study conducted in 2021 by Novo Nordisk, a leading health care company in Denmark, showed that 77.1% of study participants who received Wegovy, followed a calorie-restricted diet and increased their physical activity levels lost at least 5% of their overall body weight in comparison to 34.4% of those who received a placebo (and also stuck to a calorie-restricted diet and exercise protocol).
Upon approval of the weight loss drug here in Ireland, professor Carel le Roux who is an Obesity Specialist at St Vincent's University Hospital said:
"The unprecedented level of weight loss this medication achieves marks a new era in the treatment of this disease.''
"Wegovy may be a foundation drug that can revolutionise the management of obesity.''
"The drug was found to be safe and well-tolerated during trials, with the most common side effects including mild to moderate gastrointestinal upset."
The weight-loss drug works by suppressing hormones associated with hunger and helps those who take it feel fuller for longer, which in turn reduces daily calorie consumption.
Combined with a calorie-restricted diet and an increase in physical activity, the drug makes it easier for users to stay within a calorie deficit each day, which in turn results in the body tapping into fat cells to make up for the deficit, thus resulting in fat or weight loss over time.
While this weight-loss drug can help anyone lose weight, it isn't designed for everyone and is currently quite expensive. Rather, it is designed for people who struggle with obesity, and who will likely need to take the drug for the rest of their lives in order to sustain the weight loss and prevent further health complications.
As a weight loss and fitness Coach, I find this development exciting. While I don't encourage my clients to take quick-fix weight-loss potions and pills, and instead focus on helping them make behavioral changes and develop psychological flexibility, I do, at the same time, recognise that behavioral and psychological protocols don't work for many people who struggle with obesity, and if a drug has been shown to work for such people, with limited side effects, then I am in favor of it.
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