Weight Loss & Obesity News & Features

December 4, 2024 — People taking the weight loss drug Zepbound experienced dramatically greater weight loss than competitor Wegovy in the first head-to-head trial.

December 2, 2024 — Taking weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound can help people cut back on what they eat and also on what they drink – including alcohol.

November 26, 2024 — In its announcement, the Biden administration called anti-obesity medicines “life-saving drugs,” noting that they can also prevent diabetes.

November 19, 2024 — More than half of U.S. adults now qualify to take semaglutide, the popular diabetes and weight loss drug sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy.

November 19, 2024 — The critical key to weight loss success? Sustainability. No single diet or plan works for everybody, but a secret formula does exist – and it’s unique to you.

November 12, 2024 — As the FDA issues a new warning about aspiration across all GLP-1 weight loss drugs, doctor groups are giving new recommendations.

November 6, 2024 — Labels for drugs like Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Saxenda now warn against aspiration risk during surgery.

See quick ways to make planks, squats, bridges, push-ups, jumping jacks, and ab exercises easier to do if you have obesity.

October 31, 2024 — A new study suggests that weekly self-injections of the weight loss drug semaglutide could reduce knee pain from moderate osteoarthritis by nearly 50%.

Compounding pharmacies can make versions of semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Zepbound). Here’s what to look out for.

September 24, 2024 — A new CDC report says severe obesity is becoming more common in the U.S. Nearly 1 in 10 adults have severe obesity, and women are more likely than men to have the health condition. Yet from 2013 to 2023, the overall obesity rate held relatively steady around 40%.

September 16, 2024 — The move to self-administration with a syringe and needle, just like how insulin is often taken for diabetes, means a whole new set of people will be learning the sometimes-intimidating skill.

September 13, 2024 — Obesity remains a significant health issue in the United States, even as weight loss drugs are getting more popular, according to new data from the CDC.

September 5, 2024 — Microplastics, found in food, beauty products, and in the air, may add to weight gain by mimicking hormones like cortisol, which can disrupt metabolism and increase obesity risk.

August 27, 2024 — The maker of the weight loss drug Zepbound is offering the drug at a reduced price for people willing to buy it directly from the company in vials, rather than auto-injector pens.

August 20, 2024 — The weight loss and diabetes drug tirzepatide, sold under the brand name Zepbound, was highly effective at reducing the risk of progressing from prediabetes to the more serious condition of type 2 diabetes, according to an early look at study results released Tuesday by drugmaker Eli Lilly.

Social media is packed with claims of finding “nature’s Ozempic.” How legitimate are these claims? Get the facts about how food, fiber, “oatzempic,” supplements, and exercise affect GLP-1.

Drugs like Ozempic appear to have off-label benefits, including better heart and kidney health. They may also help fight addiction. Research is ongoing and equal access is a problem.

Many people with obesity struggle repeatedly to lose weight. Even those who succeed for a time often gain it back. So how do you get back on track?

August 7, 2024 — There are various options for managing weight after achieving weight loss goals with drugs. Maintaining lifestyle changes alongside medication adjustments is crucial for sustaining weight loss success.

It’s important to do what you can to maintain your muscle mass and strength as you age, even if you have weight loss goals.

August 6, 2024 — Compounded semaglutide is flooding the internet, and consumers are drowning in dosing errors. But problems also exist with the brand-name versions of the drugs.

August 5, 2024 — Researchers who bought the weight loss drug semaglutide online without a prescription were scammed or sent potentially toxic liquids that did not contain the labeled amount of the drug.

GLP-1s are “a major leap forward” in treating obesity, but they’re not magic bullets, says James Hill, PhD.

July 30, 2024 — Drugs for diabetes and weight loss like Ozempic and Wegovy show promise in helping people quit smoking, offering a surprising extra benefit for users.

July 23, 2024 — GLP-1 medicines like Ozempic were intended to treat diabetes, but their weight loss-inducing effects swiftly caught the nation’s attention. Over the past decade, the proportion of people using them for weight loss has doubled, while the proportion of people taking GLP-1s to treat diabetes is declining.

July 23, 2024 — Ozempic is already sometimes difficult to find. Now those who are using to drop a few pounds are making it harder for those who need it.

Is there an “obesity gene”? In most cases, there isn’t one single gene causing obesity. But genetics are a possible influence. Get the facts.

There’s no official “Ozempic diet,” but there are some smart ways to manage nutrition if you take a GLP-1 drug to treat obesity. Read expert advice.

July 15, 2024 — New research suggests that taking Ozempic isn’t linked to an increased risk of 22 different brain or psychiatric disorders, ranging from dementia to drug addiction to depression and suicidality.

July 11, 2024 — More than 8 of 10 people who started taking drugs for weight loss stopped taking them within 2 years, according to a new analysis.

July 9, 2024 — In a head-to-head comparison of the weight loss drugs Mounjaro and Ozempic, Mounjaro came out on top for helping people lose more weight. It was also found to be more effective at leading to significant weight loss compared to Ozempic.

June 24, 2024 — Imagine losing twice as much weight just by getting supportive text messages and financial incentives. For men struggling with obesity, this innovative approach proved more effective than traditional weight management programs. Could this be the future of successful weight loss strategies?

June 13, 2024 — Doctors are offering surgical and nonsurgical treatments for “Ozempic face” for those who have facial aging after rapid weight loss from a GLP-1 medication.

June 4, 2024 — Semaglutide, found in weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, has been found to improve sensitivity to taste, perhaps explaining another way the medications help change food preferences and lead to weight loss.

June 3, 2024 — If you’re one of the many trying to start – or refill – a Wegovy or Zepbound prescription for weight loss, it’s tough out there. The new reality? Spending hours on the telephone with pharmacists and insurance company people.

May 29, 2024 — Weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have taken the year by storm, with users hyping the extreme weight loss results, sometimes hundreds of pounds. These GLP-1 medications, which are used to treat diabetes and obesity, help suppress your appetite by keeping you fuller for longer. But what happens when these drugs don't bring you what you’d hoped? Here's what to know.

May 21, 2024 — Total weight loss was not significantly different between men and women in the surgery group. But in the non-surgery group, women lost 6.4%, compared to 4.8% among men, a significant difference.

May 14, 2024 — People with heart problems who took the weight loss drug Wegovy maintained an average weight loss of 10% of their body weight 4 years after starting the drug, according to newly released study results.

April 26, 2024 — Before there was Ozempic, there were these cost-friendly, safe, and highly effective weight loss drugs. FDA-approved obesity medication like orlistat (Xenical), phentermine/topiramate (Qsymia), and naltrexone/bupropion extended release (Contrave) have been on the market for decades.

April 24, 2024 — Weights, aerobics, and … Wegovy? Some in the fitness industry are moving to dispense the popular GLP-1 medications to club members, combining the new, easier method of losing weight with the old, more challenging one.

April 19, 2024 — A little visceral fat is helpful. It cushions your heart, lungs, and the organs in your gut. Too much, though, and it becomes a bad player. So what can you do to lessen your health risks?

April 12, 2024 — Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), a nonsurgical weight loss procedure, is more cost-effective over a 5-year period than using semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, Wegovy, and other weight loss drugs, a new study shows.

April 11, 2024 — A growing body of evidence shows that it's not just what and how much you eat that influence your health. How fast and when you eat also play a role.

March 29, 2024 — While applauding the role that these behavior-based weight management programs play in a comprehensive approach, an academic weight loss doctor thinks the order is backward.

March 15, 2024 — With summer months approaching – and pressures that come with showing more skin – more and more young adults are looking to GLP-1 medications, like Ozempic, to get prepped for “swimsuit season.” But experts say there are critical things to consider before reaching for such medications, particularly for those struggling with body image issues.

February 22, 2024 — It might not produce results as dramatic as regular injections, but you can get everything you need in a grocery store, for far less money -- and this approach has the potential to improve your health in numerous ways.

If you’re looking to lose weight for health benefits, you may not need as much weight loss as you think. Read about the benefits of modest weight loss.

February 8, 2024 — People taking a popular type of drug for weight loss or to manage diabetes have a decreased likelihood of being newly diagnosed with depression or anxiety, according to an analysis of millions of people’s health records.