Search weight loss drug This is a big obsession for many people. So much so that you risk taking an over-the-counter drug that actually has a different purpose. This is exactly what has happened in recent years with Ozempic, an anti-diabetes drug, one of the side effects of which is decreased appetite. This has led to many people without diabetes becoming obsessed with taking it, even leading to a shortage in countries where a prescription is not required. The ideal would be an alternative that focused only on appetite, and that is exactly what a group of US scientists came up with. University of Copenhagenthe results of which have just been published in Nature.
These researchers developed what some media outlets have dubbed Ozempic second generation. But, strictly speaking, this weight loss drug has nothing in common with Ozempic. At least not that much.
Rather, it uses an entry point for drugs. GLP-1 agonists, including Ozempic. But once he walks through that door, his behavior becomes very different, and if the results obtained in mice can be extrapolated to humans, it will be much more useful.
Is there already a drug for weight loss?
There really is no cure for weight loss. This is not the goal of Ozempic or any other GLP-1 agonist.
These drugs mimic the action a hormone called GLP-1the function of which, among other things, stimulate insulin production and reduce glucagon productionwhen it detects the presence of nutrients in the small intestine. This makes it easier for cells to use glucose so that it does not accumulate in the blood.
On the other hand, it has also been observed that the hormone GLP-1 has some receptors in the brain. In combination with them, it promotes a feeling of fullness and, as a result, reduces appetite. Both effects together are very beneficial for patients with diabetes. These are the receptors for which this drug was developed.
The problem is that a message has spread on social networks that Ozempic reduces appetite and therefore can be used as a weight loss drug. A whole revolution has taken place around this drug, which should never be taken without a prescription or medical supervision. At the end of the day, weight loss This is not its only side effect. This can cause other, much more problematic consequences that need to be taken into account.
Trojan horse that took advantage of Ozempic’s exit
Scientists at the University of Copenhagen have developed a molecule that can use the GLP-1 gateway to enter the brain. Once there, it acts on areas of the brain associated with appetite and promotes formation of new connections neurons that contribute to long-term control of satiety.
Essentially, it takes advantage of the plasticity of the human brain, which can form new connections as it learns something new. Other methods could be used to deliver the drug to the brain, but for this purpose they use GLP-1 entry pathway because in this way it will act only on the appetite centers of the brain, and not on the rest of the organ.
At the moment has only been tested on mice, with very good results. It had some common side effects with Ozempic, such as nausea, but there was one big difference. And if we promote brain plasticity, there will come a point when medication becomes unnecessary. Additionally, it can be prescribed in lower doses than traditional medications used for diabetes.
Who may need this drug?
In this case, it does not act at the digestive level. It has nothing to do with intestines or secretions pancreatic hormones, like insulin. It focuses only on the brain and appetite, so it can be considered as weight loss drug. But there is something very important to remember. Losing weight is not just a matter of eating less. There are people who gain weight for other reasons. Even if it is associated with a large diet, it is possible that this excessive appetite has more of an anxious origin, so it is more useful to resort to psychological therapy than weight loss drugs.
Reduce the possibility of losing weight to a simple fact There are less This is something that misses a huge problem and leaves all those people left out of the equation unprotected. Moreover, the promotion of an appetite-reducing weight-loss drug may lead some people who actually have a healthy appetite and weight to still turn to it because they want to look thinner and thinner. This is a very complex issue and developing new drugs for specific cases is always a good idea, but we must try not to let it get out of control. Indeed, a cure for weight loss will eventually appear, but is our society ready for it?
Source: Hiper Textual
