AGA publishes evidence-based guidelines recommending new anti-obesity medications and lifestyle changes

AGA publishes evidence-based guidelines recommending new anti-obesity medications and lifestyle changes

Diet and exercise fail for most adults trying to lose weight long-term. Today, the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) released new evidence-based guidelines strongly recommending that these patients with obesity use recently approved medications in conjunction with lifestyle changes.

The following medications, coupled with a healthy diet and regular physical activity, are first-line medical options and result in moderate weight loss reported as a percentage of body weight (reported as the difference compared to the percent weight loss observed in the placebo group).

1. Semaglutid (Wegovy®), Gewichtsverlustprozentsatz: 10,8 %
2. Phentermin-Topiramat ER (Qsymia®), Gewichtsverlustprozentsatz: 8,5 %
3. Liraglutid (Saxenda®), Gewichtsverlustprozentsatz: 4,8 %
4. Naltrexon-Bupropion ER (Contrave®), Gewichtsverlustprozentsatz: 3,0 %

These medications treat a biological disease, not a lifestyle problem. Obesity is a disease that often does not respond long-term to lifestyle interventions alone. Using medication as an option to support weight loss can improve weight-related complications such as joint pain, diabetes, fatty liver disease and high blood pressure.”

Eduardo Grunvald, MD, author, University of California San Diego

The prevalence of obesity in the United States has increased dramatically from 30.5% to 41.9% over the past twenty years.

"In recent years, the treatment of obesity has changed. This guideline is the first since diabetes medications were approved to treat obesity and provides clear information for physicians and their adult patients who have difficulty losing weight or maintaining it through lifestyle changes alone." says Perica Davitkov.

Source:

American Gastroenterological Association

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