Can Weight Loss Drugs Curb More Than Appetite?
One in eight adults say they’ve used the popular class of medication known as GLP-1 agonists, which are used for weight loss and to treat diabetes. Now research is starting to emerge suggesting these drugs could play a role in curbing more than appetite. Stylist Madison Van Komen was surprised how easy it was to quit vaping after she started a medication called semaglutide — the drug found in Ozempic and Wegovy — to lose weight last October.
“I was addicted to nicotine for 13 years, you know, that’s a long time and I really didn’t see it being that easy,” she said. In less than a year, Van Komen has lost 23 pounds and says she’s grateful for the unexpected bonus of a nicotine-free life. “I pay more attention to things. I’m just more, I’m more present in my life,” she said.
Semaglutide and other GLP-1 agonists work by curbing appetite centers in the brain. Animal studies suggest these drugs may also affect the brain to reduce addiction to nicotine, alcohol and opioids, leading to clinical trials in humans.
Excerpted from CBS News
