Posted on 10/26/2021 8:43:29 AM PDT by Red Badger
Novel obesity treatments such as modulation of the gut microbiome and gene therapy are underutilized and could help fight the obesity epidemic, according to a new manuscript published in the Endocrine Society’s journal, Endocrine Reviews.
Nearly half of the adults and 20 percent of children in the United States have obesity, yet doctors are under prescribing 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 another factor that creates barriers to obesity treatment.
“Obesity is the epidemic crisis of our time. The disease leads to serious comorbidities such as diabetes, fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease and significantly shortens a person’s length and quality of life,” said Christos S. Mantzoros, M.D., Sc.D., of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Mass. “Until recently we did not understand the genetic and hormonal causes of obesity and how obesity leads to these comorbidities. We have recently started to understand the causes of obesity in humans, which is a big discovery that has led to designing effective therapies.”
In the article, the researchers map out the molecular and hormonal pathways that lead to obesity and the disease’s related comorbidities. This data gives researchers the insights they need to design, test and implement new obesity therapies.
The researchers 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 less side effects once available. As our understanding of obesity improves, more effective medications with fewer side effects will be developed.
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.
“Insurance companies need to pay attention to data from studies and the scientific progress we are making and start covering the medications that are and will be approved soon, given that currently only a small minority of patients with obesity have coverage for the medications and medical care they need,” Mantzoros said. “It would be much more cost effective to cover treatments early instead of waiting for comorbidities and their complications to develop.”
Other authors of the study include: Angeliki Angelidi and Matthew Belanger of Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass., and Alexander Kokkinos and Chrysi Koliaki of Laiko General Hospital in Athens, Greece. The research received no external funding.
Reference: “Novel Non-invasive Approaches to the Treatment of Obesity: From Pharmacotherapy to Gene Therapy” 26 October 2021, Endocrine Reviews.
I was trying to do a 30 day fast last year when my wife went to her sister’s place for a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, she threatened to cut her trip short if I didn’t eat, so I only did five days.
However, after the first two days it was ridiculously easy. One lesson learned.
One does not “have obesity”, you are obese. It is a symptom, not a disease. But the medical industry wants to label it as such so they can push a “cure” rather than find the underlying cause in each patient. I tell people I got my Dad’s side of the family, they’re all big dudes.
50% of the population are endomorphs and for them gaining weight is VERY easy, too easy. It is a constant battle.
"People with an endomorph body type may gain weight easier and take longer to lose it because they tend to have a slow metabolism, low muscle mass, and high amounts of body fat."
Inflation and Shortages?
Remove the soy and cattle feed ingredients like high fructose corn syrup from every product.
I was watching the Minnesota State Fair live camera this past Sept and noticed many many overweight people. I d not remember seeing that many some 30 years ago or even 15 years ago when I last visited.
Must be the fried corn dogs or something.
That would be me. When I was in my mid 30s, I tried to gain weight. Three squares a day plus a 2,500 calorie protein drink blended up with a banana. I had to be up around 3,500 calories intake. My stomach was killing me all the time and after two months, I had gained five pounds. Made it from 125lbs to 130lbs. I'm 5' 10" tall.
Dude, I’ve battled weight for 60 years. Not because of my genes. Mostly because I believed the government’s “Low fat / high carb diet” crap.
Check out the Amish or Mennonite or looks into the past. Very few fat people. You can go back 40-50 years and the US wasn't loaded with obese people. Now most everyone I see has flab hanging.
Must be the fried TWINKIES......................
I blame that on MTV to start with. All those big butt girls. Baby got back. Then white girls wanted a big butt too. Then the whole anti-fat shaming movement came about. Now people are proud of being fat.
... and a virus..................
They still do not know what the proper diet is to prevent/cure obesity.
Where I used to live there was an entire family that was morbidly obese, 2 adults and three kids.
I’d see the kids walking to the school bus stop in front of my house eating ice cream sandwiches and the like every morning...............
The government pushing carbs and added sugar as healthy food shows just how much they know about science and nutrition.
The government pushing carbs and added sugar as healthy food shows just how much they are indebted to the Corn, wheat and Sugar lobbies..............
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