Wegovy and Mounjaro: The Future of Weight Loss Medications?

As the prevalence of obesity increases, more and more drugs that assist with weight loss are being developed. Initial approaches in developing weight loss drugs were focused on increasing energy expenditure.

Later, as other endocrine or hormone-mediated mechanisms for weight gain were unearthed, drugs targeting newly discovered receptors and/or enzymes that help with appetite control, with improved efficacy, tolerability and safety, were introduced.

These have become the mainstay of medical weight loss treatments and have revolutionised the approach to weight loss for millions of people who have struggled for years.

Some of the older medications on average, would help people lose 5% to 7% of their body weight when combined with dietary changes and exercise. The newer class of medications specifically target GLP1 (glucagon like peptide 1) and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide). These are two very important receptors in the regulation of appetite as well as insulin release.

The medications have become famous because of their impressive weight-loss results. GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Semaglutide (the active ingredient medication in Ozempic® and Wegovy®) works by mimicking the natural GLP-1 hormone our bodies produce. GLP-1 is an incretin hormone: A type of hormone released naturally by your body when you eat food. It targets areas of the brain involved in regulating appetite and food intake to tell the body it is full, which inhibits overeating. It also plays a key role in the effective management of blood sugar levels and can improve blood sugar levels in people living with Type 2 diabetes. Over and above the benefits in Type 2 diabetes, the impact on weight loss has been so significant that in many cases people have been able to lose 10% to 20% of their body weight and more.