obesity

An article published in Nature Medicine outlines the new framework for pharmacologically treating obesity and its complications established by the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO). The new guidelines establish semaglutide and tirzepatide as first-line treatment for this disease and most associated conditions. The team of authors, with Spanish participation, reviewed the scientific evidence on the effects of drugs on total weight loss and its complications and designed an algorithm to help medical personnel guide treatment, taking into account each patient's medical history and the action profiles of available medications.

An international team has analyzed data from 17 studies in 10 countries involving more than 9,000 participants and concluded that childhood obesity prevention programs focused on mothers and fathers do not appear to have an impact on young children. According to the authors, who published their findings in The Lancet, broader, coordinated, and well-resourced public health actions are needed.

In mice, administering semaglutide - the molecule marketed under the name Ozempic or Wegovy - does not reduce muscle mass as much as expected, but it does affect muscle function, according to a study published in Cell Metabolism. In some types of muscle, the experiment measured a decrease in force-generating capacity of about 20%, disproportionately greater than the loss of muscle mass.

Patients who are prescribed weight loss drugs may experience a rebound effect after stopping treatment, according to a meta-analysis published in BMC Medicine. The study, which analyses data from patients who received weight loss drugs in 11 randomised clinical trials, suggests that while the amount of weight regained varies depending on the specific drug, there is a general tendency to regain weight once treatment is stopped.

An analysis published in the medical journal The BMJ points out that lifestyle changes recommended by doctors to people with obesity, focusing on calorie restriction and increased physical activity, have little effect on long-term weight loss, fail to significantly reduce cardiovascular risks and, yet, can lead to discrimination, stigmatisation and eating disorders. The authors also point out that weight alone is an inadequate measure of a person's health, as reflected in recent clinical guidelines, and propose a ‘health for all sizes’ approach with effective, patient-centred care.

By 2030, there will be more than 1 billion adolescents (aged 10 to 24) living in countries facing preventable and treatable health issues. This figure represents half of the world’s adolescent population, according to a new analysis by the Lancet Commission on adolescent health and well-being. Among these health issues, the study highlights HIV/AIDS, early pregnancies, risky sexual behavior, depression, poor nutrition, and injuries.

Without urgent action and policy reforms, more than half of the world's adult population (3.8 billion) and a third of all children and adolescents (746 million) are expected to be overweight or obese by 2050. The figures are published today in The Lancet.

The use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), used to treat diabetes and obesity, may be associated with a wide range of health effects, both positive - such as a reduced risk of cardiometabolic disorders - and negative - an increased risk of gastrointestinal conditions or hypertension. These are the conclusions of an observational study published in Nature Medicine. The findings are based on analysis of data from 2.4 million participants.

The work of a global commission, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology and endorsed by more than 75 medical organisations worldwide, presents a new approach to diagnosing obesity. This is based on other measures of excess body fat, in addition to body mass index (BMI), and on objective signs and symptoms of poor health at the individual level.