A recent study in The Lancet has revealed that administering high doses of fat jabs resulted in significant weight loss for some patients, with an average loss of a quarter of their body weight.
The study compared the effects of a 7.2mg dose of the drug semaglutide with the standard 2.4mg dose found in medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. Participants on the higher dose experienced nearly 19% weight loss, surpassing the 16% seen with the lower dose.
Notably, almost half of the participants on the high dose achieved a weight loss of 20% or more, with a third losing at least 25%. The trial indicated that the higher dose was generally safe, with manageable side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, and tingling sensations reported.
Dr. Simon Cork, a Senior Lecturer in Physiology at Anglia Ruskin University, highlighted the potential benefits for patients with higher body mass, suggesting that they may benefit more from the elevated dosage. Although side effects like nausea and vomiting were more common with the higher dose, serious adverse events remained consistent across both doses.
While some rare side effects such as acute gallstone disease and pancreatitis were noted, most observed side effects were temporary and did not lead to participants withdrawing from the trials. Furthermore, there was no increase in severe adverse events or hypoglycemia with the higher dose.
The study involved 1,900 participants with a BMI of at least 30 from various medical facilities in multiple countries. The future availability of the higher dose of semaglutide remains uncertain, with considerations on potential competition in the weight loss pharmaceutical market.
The findings of the study have been published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal.