A new report has shown how diabetes drugs can now help obese people to lose as much as 5.44kg over just three months.
Illustrative photo
Scientists have claimed that a type 2 diabetes drug may stop thousands of obese people from needing gastric bypasses.
According to The Guardian, United States (US) researchers at the
Mayo Clinic found liraglutide, which controls appetite, helped patients
lose 12 pounds (lbs)/5.44 kilogrammes over three months on average.
The prescription-only drug, which is self-injected, helps to slow
down the stomach from emptying – making patients feel fuller for longer.
American experts believe the drug could steer fat adults onto the
right path and avoid the need of expensive weight loss operations.
The number of British National Health Service (NHS) obesity
operations has increased six-fold in ten years, figures show. Similar
trends have been reported in the US.
A gastric bypass costs taxpayers up to £15,000 and there were 6,438
performed last year, costing a cash-strapped health service around £96
million.
Surgeons claim they are the most effective treatments for obesity
and prevent diabetes and heart disease, saving the NHS millions of
pounds.
Mayo Clinic researchers published their paper, based on 40 adults, in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology.
The participants had Body Mass Index (BMIs) within the healthy
range, and were split into a placebo group or given liraglutide every
day for five weeks.
BMI is a measure of weight in kilogrammes divided by height in metres squared (kg/m2).
Those given sugar pills lost an average of 6.6lbs (3kg) when they
were measured at the follow-up. The average weight loss was 12lbs in the
liraglutide group.
Dr. Michael Camilleri, study author, said: “Liraglutide appears
to be very effective in inducing weight loss over three months of
treatment. We also found that liraglutide dramatically slowed stomach
emptying.”
This process is when the stomach empties its contents into the
small intestine for further digestion. Making this slower allows someone
to feel fuller for longer.
Camilleri said that weight loss could be predicted by measuring how well the stomach empties after two months on the drug.
He added: “Our findings are one example of the opportunity to individualize treatment based on the unique response of the patient.
“Medications are often prescribed in patients with obesity for at least six months.
“Making this determination after the first month has the
potential to determine whether to continue the treatment or to stop
relatively expensive treatment and move on to alternative approved
therapy in accordance with guidelines.
“These alternatives could include prescription of other medications, endoscopic devices or bariatric surgery.”
NICE does not specifically recommend liraglutide as a weight loss
treatment, but it says the drug has potential to help adults shed the
pounds.
American drug regulators, the United States Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), approved liraglutide, sold as Saxenda, three years
ago in aiding weight loss.
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