How Do Diabetes Medicines Work for Weight Loss?
In recent times, a large number of diabetes drugs have shown positive results in reducing weight. Some of the popular diabetes medicines like Saxenda, Trulicity, Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, etc. have created a huge hype in the weight loss industry. But how exactly diabetes medicine reduces weight? Are they approved by FDA for obesity? What are its side effects?
Main Ways Diabetes Medicine Aid Weight Loss
1) Diabetes medicines slow down gastric emptying. In simpler words, the moment of food from the stomach to the small intestine becomes slower, resulting in making you feel full for a longer time. As your food intake reduces due to less hunger, you tend to lose weight.
2) They remove extra sugar from your blood. That means, your body needs to use fat as the main source of its energy. Also, there is less sugar available for the body to turn into fat, so you don’t gain the weight back for a longer period of time.
This is how diabetes drugs help you to accelerate the weight loss journey.
Side Effects of the Diabetes Medicines Used for Weight Loss
Here are some common side effects of diabetes medicines, for both, diabetic and non-diabetic obese patients.
- nausea,
- diarrhoea,
- decreased appetite,
- vomiting,
- constipation,
- indigestion, and
- abdominal pain.
Rare side effects
- inflammation of the pancreas
- kidney failure
- changes in vision
- gallbladder problems
- hypoglycemia
- thyroid cancer
Popular Diabetes Medicines for Weight Loss
1. Wegovy: Approved by FDA to treat obesity in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. It became popular when Elon Musk mentioned on Twitter that he’s taking Wegovy for weight loss. Its active ingredient is Semaglutide.
2. Saxenda: Approved by FDA as a treatment for chronic weight loss in both, diabetic and non-diabetic patients. FDA also approved Saxenda to treat obesity in pediatric patients aged 12 and older. Its active ingredient is liraglutide.
3. Trulicity, Mounjaro, and Ozempic: These three medicines have shown positive effects on weight loss. But they are not yet approved by FDA as a weight loss medicine. The clinical trials are in process.
