Obesity is today a widespread health challenge.
In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 43 percent of adults worldwide aged 18 years and over were classified as overweight.
Treatment often requires more than diet and exercise alone.
In recent years, GLP-1 medications have taken on a central role in treatment. They affect appetite and can lead to weight loss.
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Until now, this type of medicine has primarily been administered by injection, which does not suit all patients.
In a press release, Novo Nordisk has presented a new medicine aimed at treating obesity.
What does the research show?
Novo Nordisk states that a clinical phase 3 study of a new tablet-based GLP-1 treatment showed an average weight loss of approximately 14 percent over 64 weeks compared with a placebo.
The result is considered relatively high for a medicine in tablet form.
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The study was conducted under controlled conditions. This means that the results will not necessarily be the same in everyday life, where patients may find it more difficult to adhere to the treatment over a long period.
Known side effects
According to Novo Nordisk, the most common side effects were nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
These correspond to the side effects already known from injections containing the same active substance.
There is still limited knowledge about long-term use outside clinical studies.
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Where is the medicine approved?
The treatment is administered as a daily tablet instead of an injection. This may make the treatment easier for some patients to accept.
The treatment is currently approved only in the United States, and the price is set by the manufacturer.
It therefore remains unclear what role the tablet will play in the broader treatment of obesity.
Sources: Novo Nordisk, and World Health Organization.
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