What Did the Research Discover?
A systematic review and meta-analysis examined how well semaglutide helps people lose weight if they are obese or overweight but do not have diabetes. Researchers analyzed data from eight clinical trials with 4,567 participants, comparing semaglutide to a placebo.
The results showed that semaglutide led to significant weight loss:
- On average, participants lost 10.09% of their body weight compared to those on a placebo.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) dropped by an average of 3.71 kg/m².
- Waist circumference decreased by 8.28 cm.
- More participants achieved weight loss goals of 5%, 10%, 15%, and even 20% compared to the placebo group.
In addition to weight loss, semaglutide was found to lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and improve cholesterol levels. However, side effects were more common compared to placebo, especially nausea and diarrhea.
How Can I Apply This Information?
These findings suggest that semaglutide could be an effective option for people who are obese or overweight but do not have diabetes. If you have struggled with weight loss through diet and exercise alone, you may want to talk to your doctor about whether semaglutide could be right for you.
Since gastrointestinal side effects (such as nausea and diarrhea) are common, patients using semaglutide should start with a low dose and increase it gradually as advised by their healthcare provider.
Semaglutide may also provide additional health benefits, such as improving blood pressure, cholesterol, and inflammation markers, which could reduce the risk of heart disease.
For those considering weight loss medications, semaglutide offers a promising option with clinically proven results. However, regular medical supervision is important to monitor both effectiveness and side effects.
Source:
Gao X, Hua X, Wang X, Xu W, Zhang Y, Shi C, Gu M. Efficacy and safety of semaglutide on weight loss in obese or overweight patients without diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Frontiers in pharmacology. 2022 Sep 14;13:935823. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9515581/
