October 3, 2025

Hold on to your seats! The European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) has come out with a sizzling new guideline that will shake up how doctors treat obesity. They say the blockbuster weight-loss drugs from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly should be the first medicines doctors prescribe when tackling obesity and its related troubles. What’s the magic? Semaglutide, found in Novo’s popular Wegovy and Ozempic, and tirzepatide, sold by Eli Lilly as Zepbound and Mounjaro, are so powerful that they deserve to be the top pick for almost everyone needing major weight loss. Got a smaller weight loss goal? No problem! Other medicines like liraglutide, naltrexone-bupropion, and phentermine-topiramate can be used, but they are not as strong, the new guideline from EASO published in Nature Medicine says. What makes these drugs special? According to Dr. Andreea Ciudin of Vall d'Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona, these GLP-1 agonists “are completely transforming care of obesity and its complications.” She also said, “Although no treatment algorithm can replace the nuanced clinical judgment necessary for comprehensive patient care, the new guidelines can serve to support therapeutic decision-making in obesity.” The EASO experts dived deep into past clinical trials to see how these drugs help with weight and diseases caused by obesity. They found that tirzepatide should be the first choice for people suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, while semaglutide is the best for those struggling with painful knee osteoarthritis. For folks battling heart disease or stroke linked to obesity, semaglutide shines as the go-to drug. Those with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease would benefit more from tirzepatide. And if you have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, both drugs can be great options. Fun fact: these medicines started out as diabetes treatments but now are superheroes against obesity! Yes, they are pricey and costs can be tricky, but ignoring obesity can lead to worse health problems later. The guideline warns, “the cost of not treating obesity at early stages, thus enabling the progression to complications and end-organ damage, should be weighed equally in health policy and clinical decision-making.” But wait, it’s not just about dropping kilos. The management of obesity should also focus on mental health, fitness, social life, and overall happiness — the full package! The authors note that many new drugs still need testing for specific problems, but weight loss with these medicines is strongly linked to better outcomes in many health issues, including kidney disease, certain cancers, and mental health problems. “Given the rapid advances in the field of medications to treat obesity, EASO intends to update the present treatment algorithm regularly to incorporate the latest available evidence,” said EASO President Professor Volkan Yumuk from Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa. Meanwhile, across the ocean, US groups like the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and The Obesity Society stress that these drugs should be used along with good diet and lifestyle changes. They warn, “Although GLP‐1s alone can produce significant weight reduction and related health benefits, several challenges limit its long‐term success,” including side effects, costs, and chance of weight gain after stopping. So, while these wonder drugs lead the way, a healthy lifestyle remains the secret ingredient!

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Tags: Novo nordisk, Eli lilly, Weight loss drugs, Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, Obesity treatment,