Diabetes drug may lower death rate in obese people: study

Sub: Sci

Sec: Health

Context:

Recently, a class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists, originally used for diabetes, has gained attention for its role in weight loss.

About the study:

The trial included 17,604 obese or overweight participants with cardiovascular disease but no diabetes.
They were randomised to receive weekly injections of either semaglutide or a placebo and were followed-up for three years.

Findings:

Compared to the placebo group, participants who received semaglutide had lower death rates from all causes, including cardiovascular, non-cardiovascular, and also COVID-19 deaths.
A 19% reduction in cardiovascular mortality, heart attacks, and strokes was recorded in the semaglutide group.

GLP-1 agonists:

These drugs mimic the gut hormone GLP-1, which enhances insulin release and slows digestion, promoting a sense of fullness.
Among these drugs, Semaglutide has been in use for diabetes since 2017.
In higher doses, it is now used as a weight-loss drug in Western countries.

Semaglutide:

Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) drug that increases the secretion of insulin (which helps decrease blood sugar levels) after a meal while reducing the production of glucagon (which helps increase blood sugar levels).
Besides regulating glucose levels in the body, the drug also aids in weight loss, lowers the risk of hypoglycaemia, and improves heart health and kidney function.
The drug was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2017.
According to a study, semaglutide specifically showed greater weight loss in subjects than other GLP-1 RA drugs.
Apart from regulating glucose, it also increases gastric emptying time, meaning food takes longer to pass through the gastrointestinal tract and it makes you feel full for a longer period of time.