Understanding obesity requires more than just numbers
It was approved in the UK in 2023 for weight management in adults with: BMI 30 kg/m (obesity), or BMI 27 kg/m (overweight) with at least one weight-related condition The medication works through several mechanisms: Reduces hunger signals by acting on the brains appetite control centre Slows stomach emptying , creating longer-lasting fullness after meals Reduces food cravings , particularly for ultra-processed foods Improves blood sugar control by enhancing insulin function Clinical trials show that people taking Wegovy lose an average of 15% of their body weight after 68 weeks, compared to 2.4% with placebo
The second is a breakdown of three of the most notable trials for weight loss drugs (e.g., Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, and Retrutide, the latter is not yet available)
Another prevalent issue is gallbladder disease
Furthermore, loss of lean muscle mass, which can occur alongside fat loss if protein intake and resistance exercise are inadequate, further reduces metabolic heat production since muscle tissue is metabolically active and generates significant body heat even at rest