The recent announcement by the World Health Organization that it is considering adding anti-obesity drugs to its list of “essential drugs” has sparked great interest in the simultaneous developments, represented by the enthusiastic reception across the West (Europe and the United States) of the drug “Wegovy”, which was pioneered by the Novo company. Danish Nordisk. It is a drug based on semaglutide, which as soon as a person takes it, activates the GLP-1 hormone, which fills the person with a feeling of fullness, so he stops eating more food, which usually leads to obesity. And the European Union’s Medicines Agency announced (Friday) that a committee emerging from it had recommended expanding the use of “Wegovi” to include children and adolescents from 12 years of age onwards. The United States and the European Union have approved the use of this drug to treat obese adults. In June 2021, the United States approved the use of Wegovi for the treatment of any adult with a body mass index over 27 with at least one of the conditions related to being overweight, or anyone with a body mass index over 30. In October 2021, Canada considered Wegovi Effective medicine for diabetes. And in November 2022, the American Gastroenterological Association announced that Semaglutide (Wegovi) is more important than the old drugs for obesity and diabetes, but recommended its use alongside a diet and regular exercise, for people whose bodies do not respond to changes in their lifestyles. According to the World Health Organization, about 13% of adults in the world are obese, and 70% of that percentage live in low- and middle-income countries. The organization is considering considering obesity medicine among the “list of essential drugs”; This will make it easier for obese people in those countries to obtain it. Governments determine their priorities for purchasing essential drugs for their citizens in light of the aforementioned list of the World Health Organization. It currently includes drugs including ibuprofen, aspirin, AIDS drugs, and antibiotics, such as amoxicillin. The inclusion of the drug "Wegovi" in the list would be an acknowledgment of the worsening obesity, as a major challenge for health systems in the countries of the world. The results of clinical trials indicate that the drug "Wigofy" can reduce body mass by about 15%. However, it is necessary to note that Novo Nordisk's monopoly on the property rights to this drug will continue until 2031. After that, other drug companies will have the right to manufacture cheap versions of "Wegovi" without legal restrictions. And this magic drug is taken in the form of a daily injection under the skin. A one-month prescription costs $1,349 in the United States, and about $230 a month in the European Union.
In addition to “Wegovi” is another similar drug produced by the same Danish company, which is the drug “Ozempic”, which is prescribed for obese patients with type 2 diabetes. However, doctors specializing in obesity diseases insist that “Wegovi” and “Ozimbek” must be taken in light of taking care of an appropriate healthy diet and appropriate exercise. Novo Nordisk Vice President for Drug Discoveries Karen Conde Knapp, one of the scientists who invented "Ozimbek", said that this drug achieved magical results for a simple reason, "as it changes the human brain, as it regulates hunger signals in a completely new way." And "Wigofi" and "Ozimbek" give their users a feeling of satiety, which makes them eat less food. Condi Knapp told a medical conference organized by the American television network CNBC last Wednesday that those who took either of these two drugs told their therapists that they began to feel full after eating a smaller amount of food than they devoured before using “Wegovi” or “Ozimbek”. The Danish scientist explained that Ozimbek also controls a person's craving for food, as it deals with another part of the brain that is responsible for pushing a person to want to eat certain foods. And she stated that the patients who took it reported that their cravings for certain foods and drinks decreased greatly after consuming “Ozimbek”, such as coffee, chocolate, and alcoholic beverages. In addition, Ozimbek slows down the digestion process. It also helps slow the production of sugar (glucose) in the liver. Scientists say that the side effects of taking Ozimbak include stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation. Doctors insist that the majority of obese patients suffer from a “genetic” cause that exacerbates their problem with obesity. However, Kazindi Nab warned that "Ozimbak", like any hormone, cannot control the appetite for food if a person stops using it. She added that patients who stop taking it return to their obesity within months, which may extend to five years. And she concluded that scientists still do not know the reason for this, which made her consider that the battle against obesity is not over yet.
in the vigor of youth, and without chronic diseases such as diabetes and others; Many are shocked when the results of their blood test reveal that they suffer from a high level of cholesterol in the body. It is a condition typically associated with obesity or diabetes. UK Heart, a heart health charity, says the acceptable level of bad fat (cholesterol) in the body is 3 mmol/L or lower. The British Daily Telegraph newspaper quoted a 39-year-old British engineer as saying that she was shocked when the doctor told her that the cholesterol level in her body was 6 mmol / liter, although she is slim and does not eat meat at all. They also don't eat high-fat foods. In addition, she does daily regular exercise. Agata Polikowska added that she discovered that this increase in cholesterol level is due to the presence of a large amount of saturated fat hidden in the prepared foods that you eat, which are usually described as "healthy". The UK Heart Association says that high cholesterol causes more than 7% of deaths in the county of England, and affects up to 60% of adults. Fat consultant Dr. Dermot Neely explained that cholesterol is a very important raw material needed by all cells of the body. Cholesterol is produced in the liver and then sent as tiny pellets into the blood, along with other beneficial fats vital to cell life. And when those fat globules are sent to the blood, the liver removes cholesterol residues, so they can be recycled. If there is an imbalance in the production and disposal of cholesterol, an increase in the level of cholesterol occurs. This leads to an increase in the chances of these harmful fats being deposited on the walls of blood vessels, which over time leads to narrowing and closing of these arteries, which causes heart attacks and strokes. Cholesterol levels also rise with age and after menopause. Doctors warn against the consequences of consuming processed foods, with the saturated fats they contain, in addition to smoking and not exercising, which will lead to an increase in the level of harmful fats in the blood. The National Health Service allows anyone to take a free cholesterol check every five years, after they reach 40 years of age. And a huge study published by the British medical journal “The Lancet” in 2019, which included examining the records of 400,000 people in 19 countries, stated that the level of harmful fats (sometimes said harmful cholesterol) is closely related to the risk of heart disease throughout an individual’s life. Therefore, a new school has emerged that believes that young people's cholesterol levels should be checked before they reach the age of 40, so that they can make the necessary changes in their lifestyles, and decide to start taking statins, which have proven beyond doubt their ability to Reducing cholesterol level in the body. According to UK National Institute for Health and Quality of Care guidelines, a person should be advised to take a statin if their risk of having a heart attack within 10 years is 10%. The Telegraph indicated that the institute is studying a proposal to reduce that percentage to 5%. But other scientists think otherwise. Among them is a consultant cardiologist at Hammersmith Hospital in London, Dr. Iqbal Malik, who believes that young people should not be advised to check their cholesterol levels unless one of them has a family history related to high cholesterol or heart attacks. Or those who are overweight or obese. Malik says there is not enough scientific evidence that healthy young people with no family history of heart disease can, by taking statins early, reduce their risk of a heart attack later in life. Dr. Malik believed that it is better to continue the approach of starting periodic cholesterol checks at the age of 40. He added, however, that he believed awareness efforts on food hazards were sufficient. English heart nurse Ruth Goss said that she believes that the best thing for a young person to do to protect himself from high cholesterol and the resulting diseases is to engage in exercise, try to lose any weight he gains, and follow a healthy diet. She added that despite the ability of statins to lower the level of harmful cholesterol; However, it is best for a person to try for months to change his lifestyle to lower cholesterol, before turning to statins. She added that everyone should be aware in advance that statins, despite their proven effectiveness, cause muscle pain.
Cholesterol reduction is possible.
Without medication!
Okaz (London, Washington) @OKAZ_online