Weight Loss That Sticks
Written by Natalie Hopkins
Edited by Priya Ram
July 31st 2021
Edited by Priya Ram
July 31st 2021
For those struggling with obesity, it can be difficult to find medical solutions that give long term results without the lengthy list of potential side effects, making the “solution” appear more harmful than beneficial. A group of medical physicians have gathered data on subcutaneous semaglutide -- a drug meant to increase the speed of sugar metabolism -- to support healthy weight loss in obsese individuals that will remain long term.1 Though subcutaneous semaglutide is perhaps a novel term, it is a medication for type two diabetes generally accepted by both physicians and the public. In this experiment, the medication is tested based on its holistic properties.
The experiment is in phase four of its trials, meaning the set up and preliminary trials have been completed and the conclusive results are being measured. The experiment was conducted in random groups for obese individuals measured with a BMI of over thirty. They were then provided with 2.4 mg of subcutaneous semaglutide and a placebo. Initially, there were 902 participants and 803 of them advanced to the next phase of the trial. These 803 participants consisted of 2 groups: placebo and continuation with subcutaneous semaglutide. The experiment was conducted as a double blind, meaning neither the participants nor the administrators knew who received what treatment. This style of experimentation allows for confounding bias, which is the prevention of bias by accounting for contributing variables. After the twenty week period-- a sufficient time period to allow for proper measure of weight fluctuation -- the results showed that body weight decreased 7.9% with the use of subcutaneous semaglutide and increased 6.9% with the use of a placebo. Waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, and physical functioning measurements also showed numerical improvements in trial participants who were treated with the subcutaneous semaglutide. This study concludes there were few adverse effects with the use of subcutaneous semaglutide and had positive results for sustained weight loss.
References
Rubino D, Abrahamsson N, Davies M, et al. Effect of Continued Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Placebo on Weight Loss Maintenance in Adults With Overweight or Obesity: The STEP 4 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2021;325(14):1414–1425. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.3224