Is the magic weight loss drug recommended by Musk, which can help you lose 10 pounds with one injection, really that magical?

Review expert: Wu Xi, deputy chief physician of the Department of Endocrinology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University

Doctor of Medicine

Recently, semaglutide, used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults, has been regarded as a "magic drug for weight loss" due to its obvious weight loss effect. It has been widely praised on major social platforms, such as "You can lose weight just by lying down without moving", "You can lose weight without enduring hunger", "Musk recommends", "One injection can help you lose 10 pounds"...

Image source: A foreign social platform

Thanks to the dual blessing of various recommendations and sharing on social platforms and the celebrity effect, this drug, which was initially only approved for diabetes indications, quickly gained favor among people who want to lose weight. Many people in China rushed to buy it without paying attention to the risks of adverse reactions and off-label abuse of prescription drugs, which led to shortages in hospitals. Many genuine type 2 diabetes patients were unable to buy the drugs they needed, and drug dealers sold counterfeit drugs and other chaos. Drug regulatory authorities in some countries have begun to restrict the use of semaglutide for other purposes.

Source | Baidu Encyclopedia

1What is semaglutide?

Semaglutide is an analog of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and has a high structural homology with the natural GLP-1 in the human body. GLP-1 in the human body is a peptide hormone secreted by intestinal cells. Its mechanism of action is to increase the number of pancreatic B cells by promoting the proliferation and differentiation of pancreatic B cells and inhibiting cell apoptosis. That is, it increases the number of pancreatic B cells in the body by accelerating the division of old pancreatic B cells, differentiating into new pancreatic B cells, and inhibiting the apoptosis of normal pancreatic B cells, thereby promoting the synthesis and secretion of insulin (pancreatic B cells can synthesize and secrete insulin).

It also has the following effects:

An upward arrow indicates a promoting effect, and a downward arrow indicates a decreasing or delaying effect Source | bio-review.org

Semaglutide and GLP-1 have a structural homology of up to 94%, so the biochemical properties of the two substances determined by the material structure are also extremely similar. This drug was originally developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It can help the human body reduce energy intake by reducing appetite and reducing hunger . It can also achieve weight loss effects by changing food preferences, delaying gastric emptying, and enhancing satiety.

Studies have shown that semaglutide can directly stimulate the hypothalamus and hindbrain, and indirectly activate the vagus nerve to reduce appetite , thereby reducing energy intake. This effect can control food intake from the source, which is more conducive to weight control and weight loss.

Clinical studies have shown that compared with the placebo group, obese patients using semaglutide have significantly reduced their preference and intake of high-calorie foods. Reducing the intake of high-salt and high-sugar foods will help lower blood sugar levels in the body, reduce fat accumulation in the body, maintain endocrine stability, and delay aging.

2Can semaglutide be used as a weight loss drug?

Although semaglutide has attracted much public attention for its significant weight loss effect, the drug can cause adverse reactions such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, indigestion, nausea, and vomiting , which should also be paid attention to.

Studies have found that most of the symptoms are gastrointestinal discomfort, which are mostly mild or moderate, short-lived, and usually tolerable. In addition, the weight lost by relying on drugs is likely to rebound after stopping the use of drugs , and it is impossible to achieve a permanent weight loss effect.

Currently , the drugs for weight loss that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for marketing in China include orlistat and benaglutide, which has just been approved. The most commonly used orlistat can reduce the absorption of fat in the intestinal mucosa by the food, promote fat excretion, and thus achieve the purpose of weight loss, but it is not clear what adverse effects long-term use of orlistat will have on human health.

In China, semaglutide has only been approved by the National Medical Products Administration for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults , and has not been approved for weight loss indications. This means that it is only approved as a prescription drug in China for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and using it for weight loss will carry the risk of off-label use .

Clinically, semaglutide is used for non-diabetic patients, mainly for patients who do not have diabetes but are obese and have complications (such as hypertension or sleep apnea syndrome). At the same time, it must be used under the guidance of a doctor and approved by the hospital before using the prescription drug. Regular follow-up is also required according to the condition. Patients with thyroid diseases or digestive system diseases are not recommended to use this drug.

Source | pixabay

It seems that every once in a while, a new miracle weight-loss drug becomes popular on the market. The halo of celebrity effect and the sharing of various experiences make the drug's efficacy spread as it spreads widely on the Internet, while the adverse reactions and negative effects behind it are often obscured by the light in the process of information dissemination.

When a new wave of "magic weight loss drugs" emerges, we should think objectively and rationally, not blindly follow the trend, not easily take our health to test unknown risks, not be overly anxious about our body shape, excessively pursue low weight, low body fat percentage, etc., believe that controlling diet, oil and sugar and insisting on exercise are the correct ways to lose weight healthily, and accepting and pleasing yourself is an important issue to achieve a happy life.