By Kazeem Zainab Omowunmi
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new drug for the treatment of obesity. The drug, called semaglutide, is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that has been shown to reduce body weight and improve glycemic control.
Semaglutide is administered via injection and works by mimicking the action of a natural hormone in the body that helps to regulate appetite and metabolism. The drug has been shown to reduce body weight by an average of 10-15% in clinical trials.
The FDA’s approval of semaglutide comes as obesity rates continue to rise in the US, with over one-third of adults considered obese. The agency has urged healthcare providers to consider semaglutide as a treatment option for patients with obesity who have not achieved adequate weight loss with other treatments.
Semaglutide is not without side effects, however, and common adverse reactions include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The drug’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, has also warned of the potential for pancreatitis and thyroid cancer.