Developments in Weight Management

Update on new developments by Professor Gerard Conway

These are exciting times for the management of weight control. While lifestyle measures such as diet and exercise remain the fundamental approach to weight loss, many people find that these alone are not effective. Bariatric surgery has become widely available and, for some people, this is an important treatment option. In between lifestyle and surgery, there have been a few effective treatments until now. 

GLP-1 agonists, or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, are a class of medications primarily used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, their potential reaches far beyond just managing blood sugar levels. One of the remarkable features of GLP-1 agonists is their ability to promote weight loss. They work by increasing feelings of fullness and satiety, leading to reduced food intake. GLP-1 agonists are available in various formulations, including tablets, prefilled injectable pens and once-weekly formulations. Semaglutide is the most widely available in this group under the trade names Ozempic and Weygovy. 

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) is a new agent working on both glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors.  New additions to this group of treatments are expected to come online in the next few years.

These treatments have a good safety profile so far, but require monitoring in terms of both effectiveness and side-effects in order to be a successful prescription.