Unlocking Weight Loss: The Power of Gut Hormones

Don't think that obesity and type 2 diabetes are just about food intake. The way fat is stored in the body matters too. This is backed by lots of research over the recent years, showing how fat distribution and other bodily processes influence metabolic and non-metabolic issues. In the midst of all this is GLP-1-RAs, a type of medications that act on incretins. These incretins are evolved hormones that are released when you eat. They adapt your body's metabolism in various ways. GLP-1-RAs are known to help with weight and metabolism control, leading to some rather good results on cardio and kidney health. . But how do they change the game? GLP-1-RAs work by mimicking the effects of natural incretins in the body, and are able to bring good control over metabolic functions and reduce body weight. Additionally, they have shown remarkable benefits for cardiovascular and renal health, even in individuals without diabetes. While the current focus is on GLP-1-RAs, researchers are exploring other peptides like GIP, which targets both Glucagon-like and GIP receptors. The goal here is to boost metabolic control and weight reduction. This dual approach has shown great promise, outperforming some other treatments. But the race is on! While GIP/GLP-1 dual-agonism is approved for treatment, many other peptide and non-peptide co-agonists are in the works. These new treatments target obesity, diabetes, liver disease and other metabolic issues. Thanks to their diverse range of targets and mechanisms, they're showing real promise in clinical trials. Experts are keeping a close eye on their effectiveness, side effects, and limitations, making sure they live up to the hype. Trials have shown that GLP-1-RAs come with certain challenges. GIP/GLP-1 co-agonists showed more significant reductions. For example, when compared to a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist, treatment with the dual-agonist targeting GIP and GLP-1 receptors resulted in more clinically significant outcomes. With more studies comes more clarity. There are several big questions remaining.