In a new study from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, researchers found over 4 million deaths per year are caused by obesity.
Novel obesity treatments such as modulation of the gut microbiome and gene therapy are underutilized and could help fight the obesity epidemic.
Nearly half of the adults and 20% of children in the United States have obesity, yet doctors are underprescribing effective weight loss medications and many patients are not receiving the treatment they need.
The weight stigma that exists in healthcare settings makes people with obesity hesitant to seek care until comorbidities develop and reach a dangerous stage.
Lack of insurance coverage and cost issues are other factors that create barriers to obesity treatment.
Obesity leads to serious comorbidities such as diabetes, fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular disease and significantly shortens a person’s length and quality of life.
In the article, the researchers map out the molecular and hormonal pathways that lead to obesity and the disease’s related comorbidities.
They highlight the need for safer and more effective obesity therapies, including new drug delivery systems, vaccines, modulation of the gut microbiome, and gene therapy.
Novel medications, including combinations of gastrointestinal hormones and other molecules, are being tested and are expected to lead to significant percentages of weight loss with fewer side effects once available.
Recently approved medications such as semaglutide, a modified gastrointestinal hormone administered once a week, can lead to 15% weight loss when combined with lifestyle changes.
Bariatric surgery can lead to up to 40% weight loss, but it is invasive and linked to complications.
If you care about obesity, please read studies about this vegetable hormone may protect the brain from obesity and diabetes and findings of new obesity treatment could maintain weight loss effectively.
For more information about obesity and your health, please see recent studies about these painkillers may harm your heart and kidneys, causing obesity and sleep disorder and results showing that coffee may be the secret weapon to beat obesity.
The study is published in Endocrine Reviews. One author of the study is Christos S. Mantzoros, M.D., Sc.D.
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