Countless individuals are now aware of diabetes and weight loss drugs. If they don’t know someone taking one of the medications, they have seen the ads on television. Men and women taking one of these drugs may lose up to 20 percent of their body weight, and research shows the medicines may help with other health issues.
Treating Medical Conditions With Weight Loss Drugs
Ozempic was originally used to treat individuals with type 2 diabetes. Researchers found it also helps prevent kidney problems from worsening in those with diabetes. Zepbound is used to treat obese individuals with sleep apnea, while Wegovy can reduce the risk of a cardiovascular event in overweight individuals with heart disease. People may visit Victory Medical’s online meds to learn more about weight loss medicines today and about an alternative that provides similar benefits.
Researchers explain that the medicines work because they address excess dysfunctional adiposity. This condition triggers a host of medical issues, including insulin resistance and kidney disease. Treating the underlying condition reduces a person’s risk of health issues.
Reduced Cravings
Researchers found that the use of weight loss medications reduced cravings for sweets. Surprisingly, they also reduce cravings for alcohol and marijuana. They aren’t sure how or why the medications reduce cravings, so additional studies need to be done. However, this might be an addiction treatment in the future.
Heart Health
Semaglutide is the active ingredient in both Wegovy and Ozempic. Overweight individuals with heart disease benefit from these medications because they reduce the risk of a cardiovascular event by 20 percent. The Food and Drug Administration approved Wegovy in 2024 to reduce the risk of heart problems in overweight individuals diagnosed with cardiovascular disease.
Blood Pressure
Mounjaro, a diabetes medication, and Zepboud, a weight loss drug, contain tirzepatide. Hypertension, a journal, published a study in 2024 showing this ingredient lowers a person’s systolic blood pressure in obese adults with regular use. Researchers cannot say whether this reduction is due to the medication or weight loss. However, the results seen are similar to those obtained with hypertension medications.
Sleep Apnea
Zepbound helps obese individuals who struggle with sleep apnea. This condition interferes with a person’s breathing when they sleep. Individuals taking this medication lost weight, and their sleep apnea improved.
Kidney Issues
Ozempic lowers a person’s risk of worsening kidney and heart issues in individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Semaglutide minimizes the risk of kidney problems while improving cardiovascular health. The New England Journal of Medicine shared these results in 2024.
Brain Health
American citizens are getting older, and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease increases with age. When a person loses weight, inflammation in the body decreases. Taking weight loss medications may help protect the brain and reduce a person’s risk of cognitive decline. While the risk reduction isn’t major, any reduction is appreciated.
Possible Side Effects
Researchers continue to study these medications and their benefits to learn if they may help treat other conditions. However, they come with side effects a person must be aware of. Muscle loss is a concern in the elderly, putting them at risk of falls and broken bones. Doctors must work with elderly patients to minimize muscle loss.
Individuals should speak with their insurers to learn whether these medications are covered. In many cases, the drugs are only covered when used to treat a medical condition such as diabetes. However, as researchers learn more about these medications and what conditions they treat, more people will find they can get weight loss medications through their insurer and see the benefits.
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