- The obesity rate in the U.S. has skyrocketed over the past decade and is currently at its highest level.
- In clinical trials involving the drug semaglutide, obese patients lost an average of 33 pounds in just over a year.
- The drug maker Novo Nordisk has already applied for FDA approval to use the drug – which is currently used to combat Type 2 Diabetes – as an anti-obesity medication.
The rate of obesity in America has gone up in the last few years, especially as unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyles are more common today than ever before. Consider this: the U.S. obesity rate in 2021 is nearly 30% higher than it was in 2008. In addition, recent health data show that 42% of Americans are obese. -currently. Apparently, 2020 was the first time the obesity rate in the United States exceeded the 40% threshold. Despite the above, it is not surprising that heart disease is the leading cause of all deaths in the US
While exercise and a healthy diet are the best attack plan in the fight against obesity, not everyone is able to reverse these lifestyle changes due to financial or health issues. A new drug, however, may be just the answer people are looking for.
Today’s main deal 
How is this Alexa speaker just $ 15 today at Amazon? List Price:$ 34.98 Price:$ 14.99 Save you:$ 19.99 (57%) 
Available from Amazon, BGR may receive a commission Available from Amazon BGR may receive a commission
This drug is called semaglutide and is already used as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes. Recent clinical trials, however, show that administering a higher dose of the drug help obese people begin to shed weight.
According to a research study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the drug helped people shed 15% of their body weight on average after 68 weeks. To put that in context, someone who weighs 300 pounds could lose up to 45 pounds in just over a year while taking semaglutide. In addition, more than 33% of study participants reported losing 20% of their body weight while on the drug. The average rate of weight loss with study participants was around 34 pounds.
MedPageToday add:
In addition to weight loss, semaglutide also improved cardiovascular risk factors including greater reductions in waist circumference, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, C-reactive protein, and levels lipid fasting, as well as physical activity scores and quality of life.
“This is a major step forward in improving the health of people with obesity,” said Dr Rachel Batterham of University College London, who said of the study. “No other drug has come close to achieving this level of weight loss – this is a real game change. For the first time, people can achieve what was possible through drugs only through weight loss surgery. “
Researchers note that the improvements seen in patients on semaglutide far outweigh what conventional anti-obesity drugs on the market offer. The drug list itself is not very heavy and an individual only needs to take one pill once a week.
As a result of the successful clinical trial, the drug manufacturer Novo Nordisk is currently seeking FDA approval to use the drug as a weight loss drug.
Apple’s lifelong and enthusiastic Mac user, Yoni Heisler has been writing about Apple and the tech industry in general for over 6 years. His writing has appeared in Edible Apple, Network World, MacLife, Macworld UK, and most recently, TUAW. When not writing about and analyzing the latest happenings with Apple, Yoni enjoys capturing Improv shows in Chicago, playing football, and cultivating TV shows. new examples, the most recent of which are The Walking Dead and Broad City.