Appetite regulation & how to stop hunger
Why do we gain weight?
There are many factors behind our becoming heavier and sicker. Basically, it is about genetic factors. During the course of evolution, it has been vitally important to eat and take in nutrition not to starve. Our Stone Age genes have made us want fat, sugar and salt. Historically, we have needed it to survive. That is no longer the case. In our modern society, there is usually an abundance of food, we only have to walk past the shelves of a supermarket to get readily available fatty and sweet calories. And the brain does not understand that we are about to eat ourselves to death.
Easily available, ultra-processed and nutrient empty food in combination with the fact that we humans move less and less makes us increasingly heavier. In the modern and digital society with everything within reach, it is easy to take in too many calories and get rid of too few. Put together, this exacerbates the world epidemic of morbid obesity.
Set point - the body's defense
Actually, our brains are wired to discourage weight loss. Even if you lose weight, your brain strives to gain back the weight and return to the level it was at before, preferably a few pounds above that. The researchers describe this as the body's "set point".
There is hope - revolution in the treatment of obesity!
It's big words to talk about a revolution. But we are currently in a paradigm shift when it comes to the treatment of obesity. New drugs in combination with a completely new method of treatment mean that obesity can actually be reduced and in many cases cured. So stay tuned and we'll tell you how.
Modern medicines
The researchers have concluded that different hormones control satiety and feelings of hunger in us humans. In people with obesity, this hormone system does not work in a normal way. The new drugs used in treatment therefore regulate hunger and satiety in morbidly obese patients. They simply attack the root cause of our overeating.The active substances included in the new drugs are called incretins. They mimic hormones such as GLP-1 and GIP that are normally found in the gastrointestinal tract and are released when we eat. In addition to lowering blood sugar levels and delaying gastric emptying, the medications affect the hypothalamus, which is the area of the brain that controls satiety and hunger and regulates appetite.
Difficulty maintaining weight
Studies show that 8 out of 10 who lose weight with the help of any diet regain the weight they lost.
Medicines in combination with lifestyle changes solve the problem
Studies show that you lose 9% if you take medication alone and 20% if you combine doctor-led medical treatment with lifestyle changes in diet, exercise and mental health.
Many years of research
GLP-1 that most of the new medications contain is well documented and has been researched since the 1980s. The new thing is that the researchers have now been able to extend the half-life in the body so that the substance remains in the body longer. Today, the patient only needs to take one injection a week.
The pounds fall
Studies show that obese patients have lost an average of 16 percent with one of the latest medications. And new drugs that work in the same way have even more promising results, new studies show a weight loss of over 20 percent with these.
The side effects are few and often involve temporary stomach problems, such as nausea, diarrhoea and constipation. The side effects are usually remedied by making changes in one's lifestyle.
When we eat food, the stomach and intestines send signals to the brain to tell us that we have eaten and that we are full. Hormones such as leptin and ghrelin are involved in this process.
Leptin is produced by adipose tissue and signals to the brain that we have enough energy stored in the body. Ghrelin, on the other hand, is mainly produced in the stomach and increases our appetite. The so-called incretins are gut hormones that, together with insulin, affect the blood sugar level. But they also affect satiety. The hormones GLP-1 and GIP increase when we start eating and cause us to stop eating when we have eaten enough.
What happens in the body with medicines
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) analogues
GLP-1 is a group of drugs used to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes. They work by mimicking or amplifying the effects of the natural hormone GLP-1 in the body. GLP-1 is a hormone that is normally released from the small intestine after you eat and has several important functions, including regulating blood sugar levels and appetite control.
Here's how GLP-1 analogs work for weight loss:
Decreased appetite:
GLP-1 analogs affect the appetite centers in the brain and increase satiety. This results in people taking these drugs feeling fuller faster and longer after a meal, reducing their food intake and therefore calorie intake.
Delayed gastric emptying: GLP-1 analogs prolong the time it takes for the stomach to empty after a meal. This can help reduce appetite and control blood sugar levels by limiting rapid blood sugar spikes after eating.
Decreased hunger: These drugs can decrease the overall feeling of hunger, making it easier for people to follow a calorie-restricted diet.
Reduction of fat storage: GLP-1 analogues can also reduce the negative effects of insulin resistance and contribute to reduced fat storage in the body.
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More articles
Read more to understand what health benefits you can achieve, what treatment options are available and how you can regulate your appetite.
Here are some scientific references that support the aforementioned health risks for people with obesity
Semaglutide: Efficacy and safety in type 2 diabetes and obesity studies
Semaglutide, a drug that has undergone extensive clinical trials, has shown promise in the treatment of both type 2 diabetes and weight loss. By reviewing the studies included in the SUSTAIN, STEP, PIONEER, SELECT and SUSTAIN FORTE series, we can gain an overview of Semaglutide's efficacy and safety in these two important treatment areas. The results suggest that Semaglutide can be a significant resource for patients struggling with these health issues, but it is important that its use be monitored by a physician. There are also new studies showing the effectiveness of newer substances such as trizepatid.
Semaglutide has undergone extensive clinical trials to evaluate its effectiveness and safety, particularly for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and weight loss. Here are some of the most important scientific studies conducted on Semaglutide:
SUSTAIN studies: SUSTAIN (Semaglutide Unabated Sustainability in Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes) is a series of studies that evaluated Semaglutide's effectiveness and safety for treating type 2 diabetes. These studies showed that Semaglutide could lower HbA1c levels (a long-term measure of blood sugar control) and lead to weight loss in patients with diabetes.
STEP studies: STEP (Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity) is a series of studies focusing on the use of Semaglutide for weight loss in overweight or obese individuals. These studies have shown that Semaglutide can lead to significant weight loss and improvements in health-related parameters in overweight individuals.
PIONEER studies: PIONEER (Peptide InnOvatioN for EaRly diabEtes tReatment) is a series of studies that evaluated Semaglutide's use as an early treatment for people with type 2 diabetes. The results showed that Semaglutide was effective in lowering blood sugar and was safe to use.
SELECT studies: SELECT (Semaglutide Effects on Cardiovascular Outcomes in People with Overweight or Obesity) are studies that evaluated Semaglutide's effect on cardiovascular events in people with overweight or obesity. These studies aim to assess whether Semaglutide can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
SUSTAIN FORTE study: This study focused on Semaglutide's use in people with severe untreated type 2 diabetes. The results showed that Semaglutide was superior to other diabetes medications in lowering blood sugar.
It is important to note that these studies were conducted by different research groups and published in scientific journals. The results indicate that Semaglutide is an effective medication for treating both type 2 diabetes and weight loss in overweight or obese individuals. However, it is important for the use of Semaglutide to be monitored by a physician and to follow their advice and instructions.
More information about studies can be found in the following sources:
PubMed: PubMed is a comprehensive database of medical literature. By searching for "Semaglutide" or "Ozempic" in PubMed, you can find a wealth of scientific articles and studies on the subject.
Scientific journals: Search scientific journals in the fields of diabetes, weight loss, and endocrinology to find specific studies on Semaglutide and its effects. Examples of such journals include "Diabetes Care," "The New England Journal of Medicine," and "The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology."
Pharmaceutical company websites: Visit the websites of pharmaceutical companies that manufacture Semaglutide, such as Novo Nordisk. There, you can find summaries of clinical studies and results.
Conference abstracts: Sometimes, new research results are presented at medical conferences. Search for abstracts from conferences on diabetes and endocrinology to find information about the latest research findings.
By using these sources and search terms, you can find specific studies and references that can provide you with more detailed information about Semaglutide, liraglutide, trizepatide, and new substances used to treat severe obesity.
