Your genetic profile may be responsible for difficulty in losing weight

Obese people with a specific gene will be able to lose weight by consuming Novo Nordisk’s Weight-loss drug Wegovy, as per the reports. 

According to the study presented at the Digestive Disease Week meeting in Washington, approximately 95% of the patients with this genetic profile shall be able to respond to the treatment strongly. While considering the cost of Wegovy, the study's data can help identify the patients who will benefit the most from it, according to Dr Andres Acosta of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, of the researchers. 

Dr Acosta said that some obese people have genes which contribute to the “hungry gut” symptoms. People who show “hungry gut” symptoms are the ones who feel full during the meal but become hungry shortly after the food leaves their stomach in comparison to other individuals. 

The study had 84 patients who were prescribed Wegovy for weight loss. The study revealed that people with genetic variation associated with a hungry gut could lose approximately 14.4% of their total body weight after nine months on the drug and 19.5% after a year. 

The participants without this genetic profile could lose 10.3% of their body weight after nine months and nothing more after a year. 

Acosta said the researchers have previously observed a similar pattern in patients taking the weight-loss drug liraglutide, marketed under Victoza and Saxenda by Novo Nordisk.

While the patients without the “hungry gut” genes could lose some weight on Wegivy, they can gain similar results with less-expensive medicines, as the cost of Wegovy, also known as semaglutide, is $1,349.02/month. 

The researchers say more extensive studies are required to assess the reliability of the “hungry gut” genetic profile in a more diverse population. 

When the new results are confirmed, the doctors can confidently tell some of their patients about it.