GLP-1s May Be Working in an Entirely Different Way Than We Thought - ScienceAlert
New research in mice suggests that semaglutide weight-loss drugs like Ozempic function by regulating metabolic processes through 'hunger neurons' rather than just suppressing appetite. The study indicates that these neurons are essential for maintaining long-term weight loss, as their disruption leads to weight regain despite reduced food intake.
Why it matters
Understanding the precise biological mechanisms of GLP-1 agonists could lead to more effective obesity treatments and help mitigate potential side effects or weight regain issues.
Add ScienceAlert on Google (SweetBunFactory/iStock/Getty Images) Popular semaglutide weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy may work in a more complex way than we realized.
Their effects on weight are generally understood to depend partly on reducing appetite, but new research in mice suggests that the drug's long-term weight-loss effects do not depend solely on suppressing hunger.
In a new study published in PNAS , researchers found that brain cells known as 'hunger neurons' may need to remain functional for semaglutide to produce its full weight-lowering effects.
At first glance, this finding seems contradictory. Why would a weight-loss drug depend on brain cells known for promoting hunger?
In the study, Mateus d'Ávila of Yale University and his colleagues studied brain cells that help regulate the body's energy balance. Scientifically known as AgRP neurons, these cells become active when the body needs energy.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in