Diabetes Drug Could Be Game Changer For Obesity And Weight Loss

A new diabetes drug could be a game changer for obesity and weight loss, according to a new study.
The drug, liraglutide, is already approved for the treatment of diabetes, but the new study, published in the Lancet, suggests it could also be effective for treating obesity.
The study found that liraglutide helped people lose weight, even when they didn’t change their diet or exercise habits.
The drug works by increasing levels of a hormone called GLP-1, which helps to regulate appetite.
“Liraglutide is the first drug that has been shown to help people lose weight and keep it off for a sustained period of time,” said study author Dr. Rachel Batterham, of University College London.
“This is a significant advance in the treatment of obesity and could help to tackle the growing global problem of this condition.”
The study involved 3,700 people from eight countries, who were randomly assigned to receive either liraglutide or a placebo.
After 56 weeks, those who received liraglutide had lost an average of 5 percent of their body weight, while those who received the placebo had gained an average of 2 percent.
The liraglutide group also had a significantly higher rate of weight loss of 10 percent or more, and a significantly lower rate of weight regain.
“Liraglutide is the first drug that has been shown to help people lose weight and keep it off for a sustained period of time. This is a significant advance in the treatment of obesity and could help to tackle the growing global problem of this condition.”
The study also found that liraglutide was associated with a reduction in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and a reduction in the risk of heart disease.
“This is a very exciting development,” said Batterham. “Liraglutide not only helps people to lose weight, but also reduces the risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. This could have a major impact on the health of millions of people.”
The study was funded by Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of liraglutide.
Obesity is a major global health problem, and is a major risk factor for a number of chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
The World Health Organization estimates that more than 1.9 billion adults are overweight, and 650 million are obese.
The prevalence of obesity has nearly tripled since 1975.
In the United States, more than one-third of adults are obese.
Liraglutide is not the only drug that has been shown to be effective for weight loss.
Other drugs, such as orlistat and phentermine, have also been shown to be effective.
However, liraglutide is the first drug that has been shown to be effective for both weight loss and the prevention of weight regain.
“This is a very important study that shows that liraglutide can help people lose weight and keep it off,” said Dr. Scott Kahan, of the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
“This is a major advance in the treatment of obesity.”
The study was published in the Lancet.