Hunger-suppressing weight loss drug helps obese Americans shed 22% of their weight

According to one study, a hunger-suppressing drug could help very obese Americans lose 22 percent of their weight.

More than 1,900 people, most women, weighing about 231 pounds each, were given the weekly drug Tirzepatide for one year and four months.

Those who took the highest dose — 15 milligrams (mg) — lost about 52 pounds over the study period. But even those who took the lowest dose (5 mg) lost 16 percent of their body weight, or 35 pounds.

By comparison, the 625 people in the placebo group who didn’t take the drug lost just two percent of their weight, or 5 pounds.

The scientists behind the drug said it was “impressive” and was the first to achieve such a high rate of weight loss during Phase III trials.

Participants had at least one comorbidity, such as hypertension, but did not have type 2 diabetes.

A spokesperson for pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly told DailyMail.com that they now plan to “negotiate” with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about its launch. This summer should be approved for diabetics.

No costs were reported for the drug, but similar weight loss shots can cost up to $1,600 per month.

About two in five Americans — or 138 million people — are obese, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Injectable weight loss medications such as semaglutide, sold as a weekly injection under the brand name Wegovy, have been available in the United States for years.

However, these are often expensive and not covered by health insurance.

These findings suggest they may be less effective than Lilly’s drug, and semaglutide trial results show 14% weight loss in overweight and obese people weighing 35 to 52 pounds after about one year.

In studies yet to be published, the scientists recruited nearly 2,500 people with an average body mass index (BMI) of 38 and placed them well above the obesity threshold. 30.

The majority were women, 67 percent, and they came from nine countries, including the United States, China, and Brazil.

Scientists divided them into four groups; Those given the drug received a maximum dose of 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg. The fourth group received either a placebo or an inert liquid via injections.

All four groups lost weight, but those who took the drug had a significantly greater reduction in waistline.

The scientists started all groups with a dose of 2.5 mg, then increased it by the same amount each month until the desired dose was reached.

Nausea was the most common side effect of the drug, occurring in up to one-third of patients in each group.

One in five said they also had diarrhea and constipation, while one in 10 said they vomited during treatment.

The scientists said participants were more likely to experience side effects when treatment doses were increased.

By comparison, one in ten people in the placebo group said they had nausea or diarrhea, while one in 20 said they had constipation.

Less than two percent reported vomiting.

Tirzepatid works by mimicking gut hormones that can reduce hunger, similar to the drug Wegovy. There are also suggestions that it may increase energy consumption.

Dr. Jeff Emmick, vice president of product development at the pharmaceutical company, said: “Obesity is a chronic disease that requires effective treatment options, and Lilly is working relentlessly to support people with obesity and modernize how this disease is being addressed.

“We are proud to research and develop potentially innovative treatments such as Tirzepatid.”

A company spokesperson said the drug is also being trialled in patients with type 2 diabetes.