HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, May 6, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The weight-loss drug Saxenda can preserve further kilos off — however combining it with exercise brings an even bigger payoff, a brand new clinical trial finds.
The examine discovered that some longstanding recommendation is legitimate: Prescription weight-loss medicine work greatest when used together with — and never rather than — way of life adjustments.
Saxenda (liraglutide) is a prescription drug permitted within the United States for spurring and sustaining weight reduction when added to calorie-cutting and train.
But whether or not the drug plus train is any higher than the drug alone — or train alone — has not been rigorously examined.
The new trial, printed May 6 within the New England Journal of Medicine, did simply that. And it discovered that over one yr, the mix received, serving to individuals shed extra kilos and, particularly, physique fats.
Experts not concerned within the trial mentioned it underscores the significance of “complete” ways for maintaining further weight off.
“The commonplace of care with all weight problems therapies — medicines and surgical procedure — is to make use of them as adjuncts to ongoing behavioral adjustments,” mentioned Dr. Scott Kahan, a spokesperson for The Obesity Society.
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Sustainable weight loss plan adjustments and common train are key, mentioned Kahan, who additionally directs the National Center for Weight and Wellness in Washington, D.C.
Weight-loss medicines are helpful, Kahan mentioned, however not “magic cures.” Yet some medical doctors, he famous, could prescribe them with out giving sufferers sufficient help on the approach to life aspect of the coin.
There are a number of medicines permitted within the United States for aiding weight reduction. They embrace Xenical (orlistat), Qsymia (phentermine-topiramate) and Contrave (naltrexone-bupropion).
Liraglutide is offered beneath two brand-names: Saxenda, the load loss drug, and Victoza, for sort 2 diabetes. Saxenda accommodates the next dose of liraglutide and works by mimicking the motion of an urge for food hormone known as GLP-1, in accordance with the drug’s maker, Novo Nordisk.
The drug is taken by injection every day.
For the brand new trial, funded by Novo Nordisk, the researchers recruited 195 obese adults who spent eight weeks on a low-calorie weight loss plan. After that, they had been randomly assigned to one in all 4 teams: treatment plus train; treatment solely; train solely; or a placebo group that was given inactive “treatment” and instructed to stay with their traditional exercise degree.
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The train teams, in distinction, had a reasonably vigorous routine. They had been inspired to attend group lessons twice every week and train on their very own twice every week, with working, biking and brisk strolling the primary actions.
All 4 teams acquired counseling on long-term weight loss plan adjustments.
After one yr, the treatment/train group had misplaced 16% of their beginning weight, on common. That in contrast with 11% within the train group, and 13% within the treatment group.
The combo strategy was additionally simplest at altering physique composition: Those sufferers misplaced about twice as a lot physique fats and trimmed extra from their waistlines, versus these on both technique alone.
They additionally preserved their muscle mass, in accordance with the researchers, led by Signe Torekov, of the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.
“The massive level right here is, the examine confirms that sure, combining treatment with train is more practical,” mentioned Dr. Reshmi Srinath, who directs the Weight and Metabolism Management Program at Mount Sinai in New York City.
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She had some caveats: Patients within the trial had been pretty younger — of their early 40s, on common — and wholesome. Such vigorous train won’t be acceptable for older adults, or individuals with sure well being circumstances, like painful arthritis.
“With these sufferers, we usually suggest strolling or incorporating some weight coaching at dwelling,” Srinath mentioned.
But, she added, the underside line stays: “Medications ought to be used as an adjunct to way of life adjustments.”
That applies not solely to Saxenda, however to prescription weight-loss medicine usually, Kahan and Srinath mentioned.
When it comes to selecting a medicine, Srinath mentioned, it is a case-by-case choice, contemplating negative effects and any well being circumstances a affected person might need. In this examine, the commonest negative effects amongst Saxenda customers included nausea, diarrhea and dizziness.
Personal preferences additionally come into the treatment choice, Srinath famous. “Some sufferers are hesitant about taking a every day injection,” she mentioned.
What’s necessary, Kahan mentioned, is that individuals who’ve “tried time and again” to shed extra pounds know there are therapies that would assist.
“People typically do not understand that as a result of we’re on this Wild West stuffed with bogus weight-loss merchandise,” he mentioned. “But there are good, official choices which have been scientifically studied.”
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More info
The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has extra on weight management.
SOURCES: Scott Kahan, MD, MPH, director, National Center for Weight and Wellness, Washington, D.C., and spokesperson, The Obesity Society, Silver Spring, Md.; Reshmi Srinath, MD, assistant professor, endocrinology, diabetes and bone illness, and director, Weight and Metabolism Management Program, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City; New England Journal of Medicine, May 6, 2021
