Novel weight loss drugs for obesity

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Weight control and obesity is generally thought of as a "lifestyle issue".  However, there is increasing scientific evidence that weight is carefully controlled in the body. There are many signals that control appetite and these can be different between individuals.

Recently Novonordisk have released the drug Wegovy, which mimics a chemical released from the gut after eating that reduces appetite. This drug was originally marketed for diabetes, but since being sold for obesity, it has exceeded sales expectations to the point that there is now not enough drug available to treat people with diabetes.

More effective drugs than Wegovy are coming online in the USA. In this lecture we will discuss what controls body weight, how these drugs work and what would be the future if they were freely available.