What changes will occur in the body after taking semaglutide for two years?

GLP-1 receptor agonist - semaglutide, which simulates natural hormones in the human body, can effectively regulate appetite and blood glucose metabolism. Through this mechanism, semaglutide has helped many patients achieve their goals of weight loss and improved health. So, what physical changes will long-term use of semaglutide bring? A key clinical trial by Novo Nordisk, STEP 5, provides the answer.

STEP 5 trial: Exploring the efficacy of semaglutide in obese patients

The STEP 5 trial is an important study of semaglutide in the field of obesity treatment, aimed at evaluating its safety and efficacy as a long-term weight loss drug. This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial recruited 1961 adult obese patients. All participants had a BMI ≥ 30, or BMI ≥ 27, accompanied by at least one weight related complication (such as hypertension, lipid abnormalities, etc.), and there was no diabetes at the beginning of the trial.

The trial lasted for two years, mainly evaluating the weight loss effect, metabolic health improvement and cardiovascular risk changes of smeglutide in non diabetes obese patients.

Weight management: significant and long-lasting weight loss effects

The results of the STEP 5 trial showed that obese patients taking semaglutide experienced an average weight loss of 15% to 17% over a two-year treatment period. Some patients even lost over 20% of their weight. For patients weighing 100 kilograms, this means they may lose 15 to 17 kilograms, successfully graduate from obesity levels, and even approach the normal weight range.

More importantly, this weight loss effect mainly comes from the reduction of body fat, rather than muscle loss, which helps maintain functional health. At the same time, patients' waist circumference usually shrinks by more than 10 centimeters, and the reduction of abdominal fat helps to lower the risk of metabolic diseases.

A major challenge in long-term weight management is rebound, but the STEP 5 trial showed that continuous use of semaglutide can help patients maintain weight loss effects, and after two years, the proportion of patients who maintain stable weight is significantly higher than the control group. This indicates that semaglutide is not only an effective weight loss tool, but also a powerful drug for long-term health management.