We know so little about taking weight-loss drugs without prescription – is it really worth it? | Devi Sridhar
WWhen I was in the gym over the past few months, one of the things that people like to talk about has nothing to do with fitness and strength building, and everything related to weight loss. There is a suspect when celebrities after celebrities explain a dramatic decrease and surprisingly in size; One made the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk The most valuable company In Europe last year, which Denmark used The chip is negotiated as if it was revenge To the United States when Trump announced his plans to control Greenland.
Yes, it is the widespread use of anti-obese (often referred to as GLP-1 medications). in 2024 poll12 % of those surveyed in the United States said they took or took them, as highly slope numbers increased annually. This is the same as antidepressants’ use in the American population and is much higher than the numbers that take heartburn. It has become a desirable luxury Medium and low -income countriesWith the high prices of the main obstacle to use – the cost is $ 95 per month in Brazil and $ 115 in South Africa, compared to about $ 350 in the United States.
It is not clear how many people they take in the United Kingdom: While medical prescriptions can be tracked, this is just part of the story of use, given the growing “hidden market” online. This is where people are hearing about weight loss medications and they find pharmaceutical sites or beautification to buy them, Great risk For their health. Although online purchases can be fake and have quality problems.
One of my country Previous columns I looked at how these medications work, called GLP-1, work. Currently, I am more interested in what we have learned of use over the past few years of wide -ranging use. Surprisingly, with high sales and awareness, there was no published evaluation of its effectiveness on health results and risks in the total population. but, A recent study It was published in nature medicine casts some light.
The authors went to the health care databases of ancient warriors affairs in the United States to identify individuals with diabetes who were of various types of treatments, including GLP-1. Nearly 2 million people were followed, on average, for a period of three and a half years to track the effect of medicines on 175 health results. In those who take GLP-1 drugs, there was a decrease in the risk of drug use, psychotic disorders, seizures, Alzheimer’s and dementia, cardiovascular disorders and many respiratory conditions.
On the other hand, there was an increased risk of digestive disorders, pancreatitis, arthritis disorders, low blood pressure (low blood pressure), fainting, kidney stones and kidney disease. GLP-1 drugs stimulate The pancreas for making insulinBut when doing this, it can cause internal inflammation. Given their mechanisms to stimulate satiety and slow digestion, GLP-1 medications have been linked to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and more severe stomach diseases.
One of the main restrictions of the study was that the registered patients were largely older, most of whom were white males who received medications due to medical advice and diabetes management. We do not yet have a good longitudinal study on the health effects of those who take purely weight loss medication, especially those in the scope of a healthy weight, which are associated with unconfirmed data about the percentage of people who acquire the drug without a prescription – we simply do not know much about The health and background of these people, or even how to determine and register them in a study.
What about obesity treatment? In terms of their intervention as a public health tool, experts ’point of view is mixed. From one point of view, this is an incredible value tool to deal with the burden of chronic disease, and the main issue is the ability to reach and price. For example, the University of Toronto Honorary Professor Peter Singer He argued that widespread access in the world can provide nearly one million lives annually to people with obesity and related diseases. A A different point of view We simply ignore real drivers for obesity: unwanted food, cheap food meals and expensive food. I don’t think there is a consensus among my colleagues so far, perhaps because of the great uncertainty about the side effects and long -term risks of taking this medicine, and awareness that prevention is better than treatment.
Personally, I tend towards a precautionary principle – that is, when we do not fully understand the benefits or possible intervention costs, we are mistaken to be careful. Obviously, if the doctor prescribes GLP-1 as necessary, this is a medical decision taken on an individual basis. However, if you are able to manage your weight with diet and exercise, then The benefits of mental and physical health Huge. It relates to strength, muscle mass, cardiovascular fitness and good nutrition. At the level of the population, healthy individuals who fall on the path of lifetime on the medication with the main side effects are concerned. But withdrawal of weight loss can be very strong. Ironically, many of these – such as Elon Musk – who went Go back and forth on Safety acceptance to Corona virus disease vaccinesIt looks very excited to get GLP-1 drugsThe curse of any possible side effects. Oh yes, because Covid-19 vaccines were only about the low risk of death, not weight loss.
