Popular weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy are generating excitement due to their impressive short-term outcomes, which include improvements in metabolic health, pain alleviation, and enhancements in cognitive function and addiction recovery.
While these initial results are promising, it is crucial to remain cautious, as the long-term side effects are still being uncovered.
Recently, experts have raised concerns that these innovative weight loss drugs, known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, may lead to significant loss of skeletal muscle along with fat loss. However, sufficient data to confirm this is lacking.
Adding to this discussion, researchers at the University of Alberta have focused on cardiac muscles, which play a vital role in pumping blood throughout the body. Surprisingly, little research has been done on how these tissues respond to GLP-1 agonists.
In their study, the team administered semaglutide—the active ingredient in Ozempic—to both lean and obese mice for 21 days. They observed that the obese mice lost about 30% of their body weight, while lean mice experienced an approximate 8% reduction in skeletal muscle.
Although heart function and wall thickness remained unchanged, both groups exhibited reductions in overall heart mass and the size of individual heart muscle cells. The authors concluded that these changes appeared to occur independently of weight loss, raising questions about the long-term implications.
They urged that cardiac structure and function should be diligently assessed in clinical studies of these medications, especially considering the large number of patients who may continue using them in the future.
The study was published in The Lancet.
Vocabulary List:
- Excitement /ɪkˈsaɪt.mənt/ (noun): A feeling of great enthusiasm and eagerness.
- Improvement /ɪmˈpruːv.mənt/ (noun): The process of making something better.
- Alleviation /əˌliː.viˈeɪ.ʃən/ (noun): The act of making something less severe or serious.
- Skeletal /ˈskel.ɪ.təl/ (adjective): Relating to the skeleton; having a structure resembling a skeleton.
- Cardiac /ˈkɑr.di.æk/ (adjective): Relating to the heart.
- Diligently /ˈdɪl.ɪ.dʒənt.li/ (adverb): In a way that shows care and effort in your work or duties.
How much do you know?
What are some of the short-term outcomes associated with weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy?
Concerns have been raised that GLP-1 receptor agonists may lead to significant loss of which type of tissue?
Which university conducted a study on the effects of GLP-1 agonists on cardiac muscles?
What changes were observed in the heart mass of the mice administered semaglutide in the study?
What publication featured the study on the effects of semaglutide on lean and obese mice?
According to the study, what should be diligently assessed in clinical studies of weight loss medications?
Long-term side effects of weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy are well understood.
The study conducted by the University of Alberta focused primarily on the effects of GLP-1 agonists on skeletal muscle.
The authors of the study observed an increase in heart mass in both lean and obese mice.
The study recommended further assessment of cardiac structure and function in clinical studies of weight loss medications.
Cardiac muscles play a minor role in pumping blood throughout the body.
GLP-1 agonists have been extensively studied for their effects on cardiac tissues.
The obese mice in the study lost about of their body weight after being administered semaglutide for 21 days.
The reduction in skeletal muscle observed in lean mice after the administration of semaglutide was approximately .
The University of Alberta study focused on the effects of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, on both lean and obese mice for a duration of days.
The reductions in overall heart mass and size of individual heart muscle cells were observed to occur independently of loss.
The authors concluded that the changes in cardiac structure and function should be diligently assessed in clinical studies of weight loss medications, especially considering the large number of patients who may continue using them in the .
The study on the effects of weight loss medications like Ozempic was published in .