Obesity rates have more than doubled in adults and quadrupled in adolescents since 1990, making it a leading cause of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, neurological disorders, chronic respiratory diseases, and digestive disorders. This growing global health crisis calls for effective obesity treatments to reduce the burden on healthcare systems.
Semaglutide, the weekly injectable drug better known by its brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, was initially approved for diabetes treatment but has since transformed the weight-loss industry. However, side effects like nausea and loss of muscle mass — rather than targeted fat reduction — may discourage long-term use or prevent some individuals from starting treatment altogether.
Now, researchers from Stanford Medicine have identified a naturally occurring molecule that mimics semaglutide’s effects but appears to avoid these drawbacks in a study recently published in Nature. This discovery could pave the way for an alternative approach to regulating body weight.
