Semaglutide – a long – awaited cure for obesity or an elusive treatment?

• Authors: Izabela Oleksak , Karolina Maliszewska , Tomasz Szawłoga , Iwona Welian-Polus , Wiktoria Wilanowska , Kamila Babkiewicz-Jahn , Justyna Matuszewska , Adrianna Szymańska

Abstracts

EN

Introduction and aim. Obesity is a challenging disease that affects various organs and cannot be easily treated. Therefore, the discovery that taking semaglutide results in weight loss caused great excitement amongst patients and medical professionals. The aim of this literature review is to explore the benefits and dangers of semaglutide and its effectiveness in treating obesity. Material and methods. Review of articles published in PubMed since 2017 until first quarter of 2024. Analysis of literature. Obesity is an increasing problem of the world population. There are different approaches in obesity treatment. Semaglutide seems effective in treating diabetes, as well asconditions that emerge from long-lasting obesity. It showed positive influence regarding diabetic neuropathy, cardiovascular risk and more. It is important to remember about possible adverse events. The most prominent are gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. New reports show complications with simultaneous use of anesthesia or coexisting depression. Larger studies on semaglutide-related side effects will be published in 2025 and in 2026. Conclusion. Semaglutide is an anti-diabetic drug showing promising effects in treating diabetes and in alleviating conditions caused by obesity. It is worth remembering that its side effects have not yet been fully investigated.

Keywords

EN

semaglutide; treatment; weight loss

• Publisher: Uniwersytet Rzeszowski. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego
• Journal: European Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
• Year: 2024
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 897-904

Dates

published

2024

Contributors

author

Izabela Oleksak

• First Military Clinical Hospital with Polyclinic in Lublin, Lublin, Poland

• https://orcid.org/0000000171559010

author

Karolina Maliszewska

• First Military Clinical Hospital with Polyclinic in Lublin, Lublin, Poland

• https://orcid.org/0000000320683112

author

Tomasz Szawłoga

• First Military Clinical Hospital with Polyclinic in Lublin, Lublin, Poland

• https://orcid.org/0000000240259813

author

Iwona Welian-Polus

• Specialist Hospital named after Ludwik Rydygier in Kraków, Kraków, Poland

• https://orcid.org/0000000171939734

author

Wiktoria Wilanowska

• Stefan Kardynał Wyszyński Province Specialist Hospital in Lublin, Lublin, Poland

• https://orcid.org/0009000083888479

author

Kamila Babkiewicz-Jahn

• First Military Clinical Hospital with Polyclinic in Lublin, Lublin, Poland

• https://orcid.org/000900011597273X

author

Justyna Matuszewska

• First Military Clinical Hospital with Polyclinic in Lublin, Lublin, Poland

• https://orcid.org/000900056038037X

author

Adrianna Szymańska

• Independent Public Health Care Facility in Puławy, Puławy, Poland

• https://orcid.org/0000000210937935

Identifiers

DOI

10.15584/ejcem.2024.4.3

Biblioteka Nauki

62645119