Who is the internet celebrity's "weight loss needle" suitable for?, Musk's previous "sales" of Smegglutide applied for a weight loss indication for life | population | weight loss needles
Recently, the application for a new indication for Novo Nordisk Smegglutide Injection has been accepted by NMPA, and the indication for this application is a weight loss indication. Injecting can lead to weight loss. Previously, Smegglutide was approved as an indication for weight loss overseas, and its good therapeutic effect was highly sought after by people including Musk, and it was dubbed the "internet celebrity miracle drug" for weight loss.
Who is Smegglutide suitable for? What are the working mechanisms and side effects of this drug? Jiefang Daily's Shangguan News reporter interviewed medical experts to solve this problem.
According to the information reviewed by the reporter, Smegglutide Injection has previously been approved in Europe and America for two indications of hypoglycemic and weight loss, with the product names Ozempic and Wegovy respectively. In China, Smegglutide has been approved as a hypoglycemic indication, but the weight loss indication has not yet been approved. Last year in the second half of the year, the third phase of weight loss clinical trials for Smegglutide Injection was completed in China, and this time the application for marketing was officially submitted.
Professor Lu Hao, Director of the Endocrinology Department at Shuguang Hospital affiliated with Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, told reporters that the dosage of Simeglutide has changed in the application for weight loss indication. For the treatment of type 2 diabetes, the patient is injected with 1 mg per week; For weight loss indications, a weekly injection of 2.4 milligrams is required. However, currently, weight loss indications are only accepted for application and have not been officially approved.
It is reported that the drug has not yet entered medical insurance, and high-dose use costs around 800-900 yuan per week.
How does smeglutide interfere with diabetes and weight? The reporter learned that this drug is the most popular drug in the field of diabetes treatment - glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonist. As a new type of hypoglycemic drug, its working mechanism is to activate the GLP-1 receptor in a glucose concentration dependent manner, which not only enhances insulin secretion but also inhibits pancreatic glucagon secretion, and can delay gastric emptying. Through central appetite inhibition, it reduces food intake, thereby achieving the goal of lowering blood sugar, reducing intake, and weight loss.
Lu Hao said that based on foreign experience, the suitable population for weight loss indications is mainly patients who still cannot effectively control their weight after lifestyle interventions. But experts are clear: not everyone who wants to lose weight meets the indications. Generally speaking, at least a body mass index greater than 24, clinical doctors generally have a body mass index of 25 or above, and obese individuals with a body mass index between 28 and 30 are most suitable for application.
Previously, Musk promoted Smegglutide to the altar of sales, and many people with weight anxiety were eager to try injections to lose weight in their daily lives. Experts say that this concept is not advocated. The so-called "three parts toxicity of medicine", the more obvious side effects of simagliptin are gastrointestinal reactions. Most patients will experience nausea, stomach fullness, and in severe cases, even vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. Previous clinical studies on drugs have found that around 10% of the population cannot tolerate this side effect and choose to discontinue the medication. Therefore, for weight loss indications, it is recommended to gradually increase from a small dose. The guidance is to start with a dose of 0.25 milligrams and climb up one dose every 4 weeks until it reaches 2.4 milligrams.
For some middle-aged people with central abdominal obesity, if the effect of diet and exercise is not ideal and weight loss indications have been achieved, injection of smeglutide can also be considered. However, in the opinion of experts, this group of people is not the most suitable for this drug, and lifestyle interventions such as eating less and exercising more are always the fundamental approach.
Will stopping taking a weekly injection to lose weight rebound? In response to the doubts raised by many netizens, Lu Hao made it clear that weight loss after discontinuing medication is certain. The problem that all weight loss drugs have not been able to solve so far is weight rebound, and the same applies to Smegglutide. When taking medication continuously, weight can be maintained, and after reaching a certain level, weight will also enter a plateau period. If the patient continues to exercise and eat after discontinuing the medication, it is possible to avoid rebound as much as possible; If you stop taking medication and return to your original lifestyle, it will definitely rebound. "When using weight loss drugs, it is also necessary to intervene based on lifestyle. It is neither scientific nor practical to rely solely on injections for a lifetime." Experts say.
In recent years, it has been very popular among the public to lower blood sugar and lose weight. Some people do not have indications and take metformin to lose weight. Lu Hao told reporters that this is actually a cognitive misunderstanding. The overall regulation of weight by metformin is neutral, and there is no indication for weight loss. Some patients may experience weight loss to some extent after taking metformin, which is just an isolated case. Metformin itself is not a weight loss drug.
To control weight reasonably, controlling your mouth and stepping out of your legs is always a scientific approach. The expert's final list: The diet should mainly be low calorie, low-fat, and moderate protein. It is recommended to balance the diet, increase the proportion of fresh vegetables and fruits in the diet, avoid fried foods, try to avoid adding meals, and avoid drinking sugary drinks. Long term regular exercise is also beneficial for reducing abdominal obesity, controlling blood pressure, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. The recommended amount of exercise is at least 150 minutes per week, for 3-5 days per week. It is recommended to engage in moderate intensity exercise, including brisk walking, cycling, Tai Chi, table tennis, badminton, and golf, to maintain a healthy weight.
