Semaglutide is known for its weight loss benefits.
The groundbreaking injections, sold as Ozempic and WegovyThey have been proven to help people lose up to 2e.
But the slimming shots also have some surprising benefits, as explained by MailOnline…
Ozempic and Wegovy, praised by the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Elon Musk, have proven to help people lose up to 2nd place
Decreases alcohol cravings
It’s not just food that Ozempic puts you off, it can also drastically reduce your desire to drink alcohol.
Attention has focused on the possibility that semaglutide could reduce drug cravings and alcohol consumption.
Ozempic works by mimicking GLP-1 – a naturally occurring hormone that tells the brain it is full. Some experts think that this internal process, which suppresses the desire to eat, can also dampen other desires.
Studies in rodents have supported this theory.
A team of researchers at the US National Institutes of Health published a study in 2023, semaglutide was found to prevent rodents from drinking alcohol.
Attention is focused on the possibility that semaglutide – the powerful chemical in both Ozempic and Wegovy – could have a potential impact on addictive behaviors, such as reducing drug cravings and alcohol consumption.
There is also evidence in humans that semaglutide specifically reduces symptoms of alcohol use disorders.
Published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, a case series last year outlined the fascinating results of six patients given semaglutide during weight loss treatment.
But the researchers from the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine and the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences also found that they reduced their alcohol intake.
A follow-up study showed that the six patients reported that they were drinking ‘low risk’, indicating that they no longer had problems with their drinking.
However, the study authors emphasized that more research is needed.
Reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke
According to researchers, the meager shot could also reduce the risk of a heart attack.
Having a healthy weight can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and vascular dementia.
That’s because being overweight can lead to the build-up of fatty material in your blood vessels, warns the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
If an artery that carries blood to the heart becomes damaged and blocked, it can lead to a heart attack. If this happens to the arteries that carry blood to the brain, it can cause a stroke, according to BHF.
So it’s no surprise that semaglutide injections that help you lose weight can also reduce your risk of cardiovascular problems.
Ozempic and its sister drug Wegovy work by causing the body to bind to a receptor called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a protein that triggers the release of hormones in the brain that keep the stomach full and telling the body to stop eating and avoid cravings
One study suggested that getting 2.4 mg of semaglutide injections like Wegovy per week could reduce the risk of “major cardiovascular events” by 20 percent.
That’s what the company behind the drug says.
The 2023 study Novo Nordisk, manufacturer of Wegovy, participated in 17,604 adults over 45 years old who were overweight or obese, had cardiovascular disease and had no history of diabetes.
Researchers divided participants into two groups: one received the Wegovy injection while the other received the placebo.
Can treat kidney failure
It’s not just cardiovascular problems that Novo Nordisk claims the skinny jabs can treat. The company also believes it can help treat patients with kidney failure.
Chronic kidney disease affects 7.2 million Britons, but this figure is expected to rise by around 400,000 over the next decade, mainly due to rising rates of high blood pressure and obesity.
But researchers argue that offering early treatment with semaglutide would be a breakthrough solution.
In October, Novo Nordisk announced it was halting its study into whether the drugs could effectively treat patients with kidney failure who also had diabetes, saying it was confident it would succeed.
Having a healthy weight can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and vascular dementia. Research has shown that Wegovy can also help reduce this risk
The Danish drug manufacturer tested whether the diabetes drug could slow the progression of chronic kidney disease and lower the risk of death from complications.
A separate study published last year found that type 2 diabetics who also had kidney disease stabilized their condition after taking semaglutide.
A 2018 study in the US found that patients with kidney disease who took another GLP-1 drug saw a significant reduction in a protein called albumin in their urine. A high amount can be a sign that the kidneys are not working properly.
It could promote fertility
Many women who previously struggled with infertility claim to have unexpectedly become pregnant while using the slimming injections.
The phenomenon, dubbed ‘Oopzempic babies’, has even led to some US doctors prescribing the jabs off-label to treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), one of the leading causes of fertility problems in women.
But experts say losing weight in general can boost fertility.
Professor Adam Balen, consultant in reproductive medicine at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and former chairman of the British Fertility Society, said: ‘Many overweight women have reduced fertility, and women with PCOS may stop ovulating.
‘Losing weight improves fertility and the chance of ovulation.’
Many women who previously struggled with infertility claim to have unexpectedly become pregnant while using the miracle weight loss remedies.
GLP-1 anti-obesity drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy may have an effect on cognitive impairment and even ward off Alzheimer’s disease
That’s because fat cells produce estrogen, which can negatively impact fertility, halting regular periods and ovulation. This means that by losing just a few pounds, hormone levels can be reduced.
Semaglutide also works by slowing stomach emptying, which could prevent oral contraceptives from being effectively absorbed by the body.
The shots can cause users to experience vomiting and diarrhea, which can reduce the impact of contraceptives and also increase the chance of pregnancy.
GLP-1 anti-obesity drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy may have an effect on cognitive impairment and even ward off Alzheimer’s disease.
Novo Nordisk does studying what impact these medications have on cognitive function.
Studies are assessing the effects of semaglutide versus placebo in people with early Alzheimer’s disease.
But it’s not the first time researchers have studied the benefits of GLP-1 drugs on cognitive disorders.
One from 2003 study Research published in Neuroscience found that GLP-1 can reduce the buildup of amyloid protein in the brain.
The NHS explains that Alzheimer’s disease is thought to be caused by a build-up of these toxic proteins, which can form plaques around brain cells.
However, according to the Alzheimer’s Society, obesity can contribute to decreased cognitive function and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. This suggests that it may be the slimming effects that provide the anti-disease benefits.