American society has been fighting obesity for decades without success. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the percentage of obese adults in the United States quadrupled between 1960 and 2010 (from 13% to 36%).

People in the United States are acquainted with the issue. Just under half of the American adults (48.1%) had made an effort to lose weight in the last 12 months, according to information from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2018. Nonetheless, the CDC reports that the obesity rate reached a new high of 42.4% that year.

However, new weight-loss medication showed remarkable success in clinical trials at the beginning of 2021, which could prove to be the turning point. Semaglutide and Liraglutide are both possibilities for weight loss, but which is better? We’ll fill you in on the study results regarding this treatment to help you choose which will best serve your goals. 

Studies About Semaglutide And Liraglutide

Semaglutide appeared to have an advantage over Liraglutide (Saxenda) in the phase IIIb STEP 8 research comparing the two injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight loss.

Results from a randomized trial comparing semaglutide (2.4 mg), Liraglutide (3 mg), and matching placebo (placebo) showed that those on semaglutide lost 9.4 percent more weight from baseline when combined with diet and exercise than those on Liraglutide, according to research by Domenica M. Rubino, MD, of the Washington Center for Weight Management and Research in Arlington, Virginia, and colleagues published in JAMA.

The primary objective of the 68-week trial was met, as persons with overweight or obesity and who had no diabetes who took semaglutide lost an average of 15.8 pounds compared to 6.4 pounds on Liraglutide.

In addition, compared to 13.5% of patients on semaglutide, 27.6% of those on Liraglutide stopped taking it. A significant percentage of patients in both groups experienced gastrointestinal side effects, which is to be expected with any GLP-1 receptor agonist.

Liraglutide and semaglutide cause weight loss by decreasing food intake. However, Rubino’s team noted that semaglutide reduces calorie intake by roughly 35%, whereas Liraglutide reduces it by only 16%.

Research Notes

Compared to Liraglutide, semaglutide’s effect on suppressing hunger is more subtle, pointing to a difference in the two drugs’ methods for controlling food intake and, thus, weight. The impact of structural changes on these pathways, such as semaglutide’s ability to target more neuronal GLP-1 receptors than Liraglutide, has to be explored further.

This study was part of the Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity (STEP) clinical trial program. It provided evidence in favor of the FDA approving semaglutide at a dose of 2.4 mg in June 2021. When combined with a reduced-calorie diet and regular physical activity, this agent was approved for the long-term treatment of obesity in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, as well as in adults who are overweight but have a BMI of 27 and at least one other weight-related condition, such as hypertension, diabetes, or high cholesterol.

Demand for 2.4-mg semaglutide has far outpaced supply in the United States since the drug’s approval. Novo Nordisk claimed it “does not expect to be able to meet demand in the U.S. in the first half of 2022, and few new patients are projected to be able to commence therapy” in a statement released in late December, citing supply problems.

In addition to lifestyle modification, liraglutide 3.0 mg was approved in December 2014 for individuals with a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or higher or 27 with at least one weight-related medical condition. In addition, as of December 2020, it was cleared for use in obese preteens and teenagers aged 12 to 17.

Type 2 diabetics may also benefit from both medications, albeit at reduced dosages.

A total of 338 people were included in this 19-site open-label study; 126 received subcutaneous semaglutide once weekly over 16 weeks, and 127 received subcutaneous Liraglutide once daily over four weeks. People who experienced intolerable side effects from 2.4 mg of semaglutide were given the option of receiving 1.7 mg. In comparison, those who experienced intolerable side effects from 3 mg of Liraglutide were allowed to stop the medication and repeat the titration.

Why Semaglutide Is Better Than Liraglutide

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, of which semaglutide is a member, are used to treat diabetes. For people with diabetes, this means increased insulin production. However, greater doses decrease appetite by acting on brain areas. The drug is most effective when used with a lifestyle change. Patients are better able to stick to a reduced-calorie diet due to taking this medication. To combat obesity, a combination of drugs and behavioral adjustments is always necessary.

In addition to exenatide, this medicine class also includes Liraglutide, dulaglutide, and semaglutide, all of which are effective against diabetes.

In most cases, they are utilized when metformin has been unsuccessful. Semaglutide, like other diabetic drugs, causes mild weight loss and has been demonstrated to be cardioprotective (meaning it reduces the risk of heart attacks) and nephroprotective (meaning it safeguards kidney function). Treatment with them for diabetes is rapidly expanding.

Side Effects Of Semaglutide 

Participants in the STEP studies have reported experiencing some adverse effects, but they are often minimal and fade away as the body adjusts. Side effects such as queasiness, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation are always possible, but they are usually easy to deal with.

These symptoms usually appear early in therapy and improve as treatment progresses. In rare cases, they may get so severe that patients must stop taking the medication. While we were only allowed to provide the medicine for a set period during the experiment, it is usually given in increments that help patients gradually overcome their symptoms.

Visit Us Today For A More In-Depth Consultation

It has been shown that semaglutide 2.4 mg is practical and safe for a wide range of obese people, including those who are younger, have a higher body mass index (BMI), and those who are of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. When a drug is this efficient, it appears to level the playing field among patients.

You need direction just as you would with any other to get the most out of this treatment plan. To learn more about how The Drip Lounge’s Semaglutide services can help you, we invite you to schedule a consultation. Book us today and find out how we can meet your requirements!