ANDI BREITOWICH
Jun 29, 2023
The drugs could hit the market in 2024.
Whether they’re the topic of conversation at a birthday party, popping up on ads during your favorite reality show, or trending on your TikTok algorithm, everyone seems to be talking about weight loss drugs these days.
It makes sense. The ability to quickly and effectively shed pounds using medication is still a pretty new concept. And while buzzy weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy have relied on weekly injections, new oral medication pills made with the same active ingredient, semaglutide, could soon enter the market, once again revolutionizing access to these medications.
Last week, the American Diabetes Association presented two new studies funded by Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer for Ozempic and Wegovy, that showed significant weight loss for subjects taking daily semaglutide pills at 25 and 50 milligrams. Why should you care? These pills could continue to lower the barrier to entry for people interested in using the weight loss drugs. After all, swallowing a daily pill might seem like the easier, less scary choice compared to frequent needle injections.
“There's something that feels very severe about injecting yourself weekly, and when it comes to weight management, which is such a sensitive issue, the idea of injecting yourself to achieve weight loss carries stigma,” says Rekha Kumar, a board-certified endocrinologist and obesity medicine specialist and head of medical affairs at Found Health. “The idea of a pill definitely lowers the entry barrier and I think these are game changers because of their safety, tolerability, and efficacy.”
Curious whether an oral pill is as effective as injectable Ozempic, or when semaglutide pills might be available? Women's Health has consulted experts, and they broke down everything you need to know about the new oral weight loss medication, including how it works in the body and potential side effects.
Source: https://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/a44376259/ozempic-pills-weight-loss-drugs/