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News: The WHO has issued its first guideline on GLP-1 therapies, conditionally recommending them for long-term obesity treatment worldwide.
About GLP-1 Agonists
- GLP-1 drugs, also called GLP-1 agonists, are shortened names for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists.
- They mimic the GLP-1 hormone that is naturally released in the gastrointestinal tract in response to eating.
- Function: They help lower blood sugar and support weight loss by increasing insulin release, slowing stomach emptying and reducing appetite.
- Mechanism
- They mimic the natural hormone GLP-1, which signals the pancreas to release insulin after meals and suppresses excess glucagon.
- They also act on the brain to reduce hunger and on the gut to slow digestion, leading to better glucose control and reduced calorie intake.
- Side effects
- It can cause gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation.
- They may also cause “Ozempic face,” which appears as hollow or sagging skin, with sunken cheeks or eyes, especially when weight loss happens quickly.
- GLP-1 drugs can cause problems like pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), gastroparesis or bowel obstruction, and gallbladder or bile-duct issues.
- WHO recommendations
- WHO conditionally recommends GLP-1 drugs for long-term obesity treatment in adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, except pregnant women.
- The guideline recommends three GLP-1 medicines: semaglutide, tirzepatide and an older medicine from the same class called liraglutide.
