Treatment of obesity is more complicated than simply eat less and move more – and these newer GLP-1 based therapies are increasing fat tissue metabolism as well as making you eat less.
WeightControl.com Interview with: Prof Donal O’ SheaMB, BCh, BAO, MD, FRCPI, FRCP (UK) UCD School of Medicine UCD Health Sciences Centre University College Dublin
WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) analogs are powerful weight‐loss treatments. These analogs are believed to act primarily by having a major impact on energy intake through delaying gastric emptying and promoting satiety.
We felt this was over simplistic and that it was likely that GLP-1 treatments also had an effect on the other side of the energy balance equation through increasing metabolic activity in fat tissue.
Multiple studies now report that the amounts of skeletal muscle loss with these new powerful weight loss agents is quite large, up to 40% of weight loss.
WeightControl.com Interview with:
Steven B. Heymsfield, M.D. Professor and Director of the Body Composition-Metabolism Laboratory Pennington Biomedical Research Center of the Louisiana State University System in Baton Rouge
WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: The recent introduction of glucagon receptor-1 agonists for weight control opens a new era in obesity pharmacotherapy. The greater weight loss with the new drugs is revealing a long-standing recognition that negative energy balance is accompanied by not only decrements in body fat, but also lean protein-containing tissues such as liver, kidney, and skeletal muscle.
Daily 30-minute heat treatment is safe and reduces aging-mediated tissue damage. It is a promising and effective therapeutic strategy to boost metabolism and reduce the risk of obesity and metabolic dysfunction.
WeightControl.com Interview with: Rong Fan, MS (she/her/hers) PhD Candidate University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, Massachusetts
WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: As we age, our metabolism and energy expenditure decline.
Studies have shown that in women, age-related metabolic changes begin around ages 45-50 with a sharp increase, overlapping with the menopause period. This mid-life aging window is crucial and highlights the need for effective and accessible intervention strategies.
Daily whole-body heat treatment (104-113°F) for 30 minutes is a promising strategy to partially mimic the metabolic benefits and physiological response of aerobic exercise.
The vast majority of people who are struggling with their weight will not have two faulty copies of the gene and their GP should be their first port of call.
WeightControl.com Interview with: Dr. Mattia Frontini, Sr BHF Fellow Associate Professor Cellular Biology Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences University of Exeter Medical School Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
RILD Building, Barrack Road, Exeter,
WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: The initial discovery of the gene and its faulty copy, ten years ago, was motivated by the need to develop a genetic test for a difficult to type, using traditional methods, blood group known as Vel. After this discovery was made, we discovered also that the differences in these genes that exist in the population are associated to tiny changes in the blood red cell parameters.
When the UK Biobank data became available we analysed these to determine if having the faulty copy of the gene had an effect on health. We found that people with two faulty copies of the gene (about 1 in 5000) are heavier than those who don’t. They have altered lipids in their blood and they use less energy given the same caloric intake. The excess going being stored as fat.
Our findings showed eating a plant-based diet can be beneficial, except when it is based on ultra-processed foods.
WeightControl.com Interview with:
Fernanda Rauber, PhD Researcher at the Centre for Epidemiological Research in Nutrition and Health (NUPENS)University of São Paulo (USP) and Department of Preventive Medicine School of Medicine at USP, Brazil Lead author of this study
WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Although we already have substantial evidence of the negative impact of an ultra-processed food-based diet on health, solid public policies to discourage the consumption of these products are still lacking, especially in countries like the United Kingdom. Plant-based foods are recommended in many dietary guidelines, and this area has been explored by the food industry, which uses health claims (vegetarian, vegan, plant-based) to promote its products.
With a growing population adopting plant-based diets, studying the role of food processing in plant-based dietary patterns and its relation to cardiovascular diseases can help refine guidelines to incorporate considerations about food processing in their recommendations.
The long term data is reassuring. We now have more evidence for semaglutide weight loss efficacy in older, sicker individuals.
WeightControl.com Interview with: Donna H. Ryan, MD Professor Emerita Pennington Biomedical Research Center New Orleans, LA 70130
WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study?
Response:This is the first of the sub-papers to the landmark SELECT study. It has been peer review and published in a top-line journal. While the primary outcome was the observation of 20% reduction in MI, stroke and CV death this new paper looks only at weight.
For older individuals who are moderately overweight , maintaining rather than reducing weight may be a more practical goal.
WeightControl.com Interview with: Dr Shaoyong Xu Xiangyang Central Hospital Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science Xiangyang, China
WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: In previous studies, the obesity paradox has been observed, where overweight and obese individuals with cardiovascular disease have better outcomes compared to their slim counterparts with the same disease. The global prevalence of diabetes is steadily increasing year by year.
In this era of population growth and aging, the question arises as to whether obesity or overweight can be beneficial in improving survival rates for older individuals with diabetes. This topic holds significant relevance due to the potential implications it has on weight management strategies for older adults. If overweight does not pose an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality, it may suggest that older individuals are not necessarily required to strive for weight loss in order to achieve so-called normal values. Moreover, inappropriate weight loss and being underweight could potentially elevate the risk of cardiovascular events, myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction, and all-cause mortality.
Tirzepatide is a once weekly GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist while semaglutide was a once weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist
WeightControl.com Interview with: Giovanna Muscogiuri, MD, PhD Assistant Professor Endocrinology Unit University Federico II Naples, Italy
WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study?
Response:The study was a subgroup analysis of SURMOUNT 1-4 aiming to investigate if tirzepatide was effective in terms of percent body weight change, proportions achieving weight loss targets of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% and change in waist circumference in subjects with different duration of obesity.
The main findings are that dental caries were more common in those with the highest BMI before treatment and that surgical obesity treatment can increase the frequency of dental caries
WeightControl.com Interview with: Anna-Lena Östberg, DDS PhD Assoc Professor Director of Research, Public Dental Service Västra Götaland Dept of behavioral and community dentistry Inst of Odontology Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg, Sweden
NEGIN TAGHAT and ANNA-LENA ÖSTBERG
WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: The original background for the studies was the global obesity epidemic and its consequences. The implications for general health have been the focus of much research, but the impact on oral health has been studied very little.
In recent years, observations of oral health problems after bariatric surgery have been reported from both patients and dentists. However, these have been episodic observations and therefore scientific studies are required. At the same time, a larger medical study was started to follow patients undergoing obesity treatment, medical or surgical, and we were able to include examinations of the mouth and teeth.
WeightControl.com Interview with: Marianne Olaniran, DrPH(c), MS, MPH Doctoral student The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health
Jaime Almandoz, MD, MBA, FTOS (he/him) Medical Director, Weight Wellness Program Associate Professor of Internal Medicine Division of Endocrinology Internal Medicine Subspecialties Clinic UTSouthwestern Medical Center Dallas, TX
WeightControl.com: What is the background for this study?
Ms. Olaniran: The study focused on experiences of discrimination among people with obesity (PWO), based on their characteristics including body size, race/ethnicity, and sex. Discrimination against individuals and groups remains prevalent in the United States. Studies show that perceived discrimination negatively impacts physical and mental health, but how it impacts diverse PWO is not well understood. This study assessed race/ethnic group and sex differences in perceptions of discrimination among people with obesity .
