Are diabetes medications reliable for weight loss?

"If you don't lose weight in April, you will regret it in June." Recently, semaglutide, known as a "magic drug" for weight loss, has become popular on social platforms. But is it really suitable for everyone?

Semaglutide has a certain weight loss effect on patients with type 2 diabetes

Ding Dafa, deputy chief physician of the Department of Endocrinology at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, said that semaglutide is actually a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. By simulating GLP-1 in the human body, it helps us suppress appetite and delay gastric emptying, thereby achieving the effect of weight loss.

The reporter learned that semaglutide was approved in China in April 2021 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It is suitable for patients with type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar control is still poor despite diet control and exercise. Clinical studies have shown that semaglutide can significantly reduce the patient's weight and waist circumference while treating type 2 diabetes. Semaglutide can not only reduce weight, but also improve sugar and lipid metabolism. It can also reduce the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes with cardiovascular disease.

Semaglutide is not a panacea for weight loss

Is semaglutide a "panacea" for weight loss? "Although semaglutide has weight loss effects, it has not yet been approved for obesity indications in China. It is mainly a prescription drug developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and is not a weight loss product that can be used casually." Ding Dafa said that semaglutide is not suitable for everyone. For example, if you have a family history of medullary thyroid cancer, a history of pancreatitis, or severe renal insufficiency, you cannot use this drug. It is also not suitable for people under 18 years of age and pregnant or lactating women. In addition, semaglutide may also cause some adverse reactions, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.

Ding Dafa does not recommend the use of semaglutide for patients with simple obesity (without type 2 diabetes). "If the weight loss effect is not good, you must use weight loss drugs approved for obesity indications under the guidance of a doctor. Unapproved weight loss drugs such as semaglutide should not be blindly followed and purchased and used on your own to avoid adverse reactions that affect your physical and mental health," he said.

Losing weight must be gradual

Ding Dafa pointed out that weight loss is a gradual process. Scientific and reasonable goals should be set to avoid blindly pursuing rapid weight loss. A balanced diet should be adopted. While controlling the total calories, the balanced intake of various nutrients should be ensured to avoid partial or picky eating. The appropriate exercise method should be selected according to one's own conditions to avoid injuries caused by excessive exercise. During the weight loss period, a positive and optimistic attitude should be maintained, and the ups and downs in the weight loss process should be accepted calmly to avoid excessive anxiety. At the same time, attention should be paid to changes in weight, various indicators of the body should be tested regularly, and the weight loss plan should be adjusted in a timely manner. When encountering problems, professional guidance from doctors or nutritionists should be sought in a timely manner.

In short, set scientific and reasonable weight loss goals, maintain a positive and optimistic attitude, use a combination of diet control, exercise, behavioral intervention and other methods, and use medication reasonably under the guidance of professionals. Through continuous efforts, you will definitely be able to gain a healthy body.

Correspondent/Zhang Su Reporter/Yang Yu