Whether through diet or exercise, losing weight is a long-term commitment. However, some individuals seek shortcuts in life, aiming to achieve weight loss through medication. In recent years, a drug known as semaglutide, dubbed as a "weight loss miracle drug," has gained popularity.
According to doctors, based on clinical data from abroad, Semaglutide does indeed have weight-loss effects and has been marketed as a weight-loss medication in countries like the UK, the US, and Japan. However, the "weight-loss version" of this drug has not yet been approved in China. Even if the "weight-loss version" is approved and marketed domestically, since it is a prescription medication, individuals should undergo relevant examinations and assessments at specialized weight loss centers or hospitals before injection. They should also adjust the dosage reasonably under the guidance of a professional doctor to minimize side effects and achieve better benefits.
Dr. Zhang Peng, Chief Physician of the Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery Department at the Department of General Surgery, Beijing Friendship Hospital: In our country, the approved indication for semaglutide is currently limited to the treatment of obesity-related type 2 diabetes. When metformin alone fails to control blood sugar effectively, it serves as a second-line therapy, with the requirement that BMI (Body Mass Index) exceeds 25. If the criteria for medication use are not met, it's advised not to misuse the medication, as the risks associated with its use far outweigh the benefits.
Doctors caution that the use of semaglutide may lead to adverse reactions such as hypoglycemia and acute pancreatitis.
Dr. Zhang Peng, Chief Physician of the Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery Department at the Department of General Surgery, Beijing Friendship Hospital: One adverse reaction of semaglutide is its action on the central nervous system. We are concerned that long-term stimulation of central receptors may lead to reduced appetite and mood issues such as depression. It slows down gastrointestinal motility or even causes gastrointestinal paralysis, raising concerns about gastric paresis, intestinal paralysis, and intestinal obstruction.
