Teens with obesity lose 15% of body weight in trial of repurposed diabetes drug - Ars Technica

Enlarge / Woman connected a kg value standard

A repurposed Type 2 diabetes cause helped teens with obesity suffer a important magnitude of assemblage weight,  lowered their hazard factors for cardiovascular disease, and improved their weight-related prime of beingness implicit a 68-week objective trial, researchers reported this week successful the New England Journal of Medicine.

The cause is semaglutide (brand sanction Wegovy), which was archetypal approved to dainty Type 2 diabetes successful 2017, but has since besides proven utile for value nonaccomplishment successful adults who are obese oregon overweight. The cause works by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that targets areas of the encephalon that modulate appetite and nutrient intake, the Food and Drug Administration explained portion approving its usage for value nonaccomplishment successful adults.

The caller information suggests that it whitethorn besides substantially assistance teens struggling with obesity and overweight issues amended their wellness and outlook arsenic they caput into adulthood. One successful 5 children and teens successful the US has obesity, which tin acceptable children up for superior wellness conditions, including precocious humor pressure, precocious cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, breathing problems, and associated problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Of course, semaglutide is not a magical cure for obesity, which is simply a complex, multifactorial, chronic disease. The researchers enactment that successful a seven-week follow-up aft the 68-week-long treatment, immoderate teens regained a tiny magnitude of weight, suggesting that they whitethorn request to enactment connected the cause to support their value loss. It's besides unclear however agelong a idiosyncratic tin instrumentality the cause portion inactive seeing value loss. Still, the cause could beryllium a utile caller instrumentality successful the combat against an intractable, progressive condition.

Results

In the Phase 3, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled proceedings reported this week, researchers had teens betwixt the ages of 12 and 17 instrumentality a weekly, 2.4-mg injection of semaglutide for 68 weeks.

Of the 201 teens enrolled successful the trial, 133 teens with obesity and 1 who was overweight were treated with semaglutide, portion 67 were fixed a placebo. Both groups, on with their parents and guardians, besides received counseling connected steadfast nutrition and exercise.

The cause appeared mostly safe, with immoderate gastrointestinal broadside effects—nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea—mainly seen successful the aboriginal phases of the treatment, which tended to lessen arsenic the weeks went on.

After 68 weeks, those treated with semaglutide mislaid an mean of astir 15 percent of their archetypal weight—about 34 pounds. In the placebo group, teens gained astir 3 percent of their archetypal weight—about 5 pounds. The mean alteration successful BMI (body wide index) was -16 percent successful the attraction group, and +0.6 percent successful the placebo group.

In the attraction group, 73 percent mislaid astatine slightest 5 percent of their weight, 62 percent mislaid astatine slightest 10 percent, and 37 percent mislaid astatine slightest 20 percent. Treated teens besides saw reductions successful clinically important cardiovascular hazard factors, including little waist circumference, full cholesterol, and triglycerides, which were not seen successful the placebo group. Last, the treated teens reported improvements successful their prime of beingness scores connected carnal comfort.