Obesity management drugs are mainly pharmacological agents which reduce or control excessive weight. These drugs change one of the body's most fundamental systems, weight regulation, by changing either nutrient absorption or appetite. These drugs are designed to modulate appetite and boost calorie metabolism. Although these drugs can successfully achieve their main purpose, they also have some dangerous side effects that may include heart attacks, stroke, blood clots, and other diseases. Thus, their long-term use is not recommended.
Most of the obesity management drugs are chemically engineered from naturally occurring compounds in the body. They occur naturally in fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Obesity management drugs reduce excess fats and carbohydrates, increase protein and carbohydrate metabolism, decrease hunger, and improve the absorption of nutrients in the human body. They are mostly used to treat different forms of obesity.
The two common types of obesity management drugs are Orlistat (Alli, Xenical), Phentermine and topiramate (Qsymia), Bupropion and naltrexone (Contrave), and Liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza). Besides inhibiting the ability of hunger to stimulate the brain, these drugs prevent fat accumulation. Diabetes mellitus type 2 patients taking obesity management drugs have showed significant improvements in insulin sensitivity even after just a short period of treatment. The improvement are mainly due to improvement in glucose tolerance and decreased insulin resistance.
Emergence of Covid-19 has increased demand for obesity management drugs. However, the cost of these drugs is high. In June 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Wegovy (semaglutide) injection for chronic weight management. The cost of the drug is US$ 1,350 and cash price of about US$ 1,627 for a 28-day supply. Wegovy is not covered by most Medicare and insurance plans, but manufacturer and pharmacy coupons can help offset the cost.
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