The way the world defines obesity has been in need of an overhaul, according to some experts, and it could be coming soon thanks to a new set of standards.
Obesity affects over 1 billion people globally, with 40 percent of U.S. adults classified as obese under the present framework,
“The whole goal of this is to get a more precise definition so that we are targeting the people who actually need the help most,” said Dr. David Cummings, an obesity expert at the University of Washington and one of the 58 authors of the report ...
In 2023, the American Academy of Pediatrics published a clinical practice guideline recommending weight-loss medications, including glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, as a supplement to behaviour and lifestyle interventions for children and adolescents with obesity.
A commission proposed a new definition of obesity focused on how excess fat affects the body, rather than assessing body mass index, that could change clinical care.
A major new study has revealed a long list of benefits and some little-known risks of Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications. Experts break down the findings.
As demand for weight-loss injections sold under brand names such as Ozempic and Wegovy continues to soar, a study has uncovered neurological and behavioral health benefits amid risks for pancreatitis and kidney disease.
GLP-1 drugs have also demonstrated potential in reducing risks of several substance use disorders such as those involving alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, opioids and stimulants. This may be due to the ability of these drugs to modulate reward pathways, impulse control and inflammatory processes in the brain.
The newest weight-loss drugs, Wegovy and Zepbound, are incredibly popular. But doctors are still learning about all of the ways they affect the body—both helpful and harmful—beyond reducing weight. In report published in Nature Medicine,
The study revealed that weight-loss drugs significantly benefit neurological and behavioral health, including decreased risks of addiction.
Weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have been tied in a large, national study to a drop in the risk of developing dozens of health conditions. But the semaglutide-like drugs also appear to increase the risk of many others.
GLP-1 weight loss drugs - such as Wegovy and Mounjaro - may reduce risk of conditions including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.