This article focuses on the new drugs that are in the market for weight loss such as Wegovy and Zepbound. The main concern is that 1 out of 4 users have mentioned that they have lost little to no weight with the medication although they’ve been using it properly. Through deep research, there are many biological differences that hinder the results of these medications. Obesity is very difficult and complex. Factors such as genetics, hormones and environmental factors can determine the performance of the drugs.
There is a gene that’s called neurobeachin, it’s known to regulate the way that Kinase A works with the hypothalamus. “Because GLP-1 is known to activate PKA in other cells, genetic variations of neurobeachin may “ultimately impact how well the medication works for weight loss,’ Rotroff explains” (Youmshajekian, 2025). Sometimes people with this variation are 50% more likely to not lose weight with the drug. Scientists are still trying to figure out the best way to predict who will benefit from certain weight loss drugs.
Youmshajekian, L. (2025, October 27). The new weight-loss drugs don’t work for everyone. genetics may explain why. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-ozempic-and-wegovy-dont-cause-weight-loss-for-everyone/
German, J., Cordioli, M., Tozzo, V., Urbut, S., Arumäe, K., Smit, R. A. J., Lee, J., Li, J. H., Janucik, A., Ding, Y., Akinkuolie, A., Heyne, H. O., Eoli, A., Saad, C., Al-Sarraj, Y., Abdel-latif, R., Mohammed, S., Hail, M. A., Barry, A., … Ganna, A. (2025, April 18). Association between plausible genetic factors and weight loss from GLP1-ra and Bariatric Surgery. Nature News. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03645-3
This makes so much sense. It's a powerful reminder that our genetics play a huge role in how we respond to medication. For the 25% who don't lose weight on Wegovy, it's not their fault it's just their biology. Here's hoping this research leads to better predictive tests.
ReplyDeleteHi Grace! This is a really interesting explanation of how weight loss medications like Wegovy don't work the same for everyone. I enjoyed how you highlighted the role of genetics (specifically the neurobeachin gene) as it shows how obesity is a lot more than just a lifestyle choice. It also underscores the importance of personalized medicine in the future, since not everybody will respond the same to a certain treatment. Overall, this makes the issue feel both scientific and very human.
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