But it could be on the market as soon as next year.
Liraglutide, also know as Victoza, is currently used as a treatment for Type 2 Diabetes.
However, its manufacturers Novo Nordisk have discovered that it could also work as a weight-loss treatment for non-diabetics.
A study of over 700 women found that those who took the drug lost an average of 19 pounds over 12 months, and a third of them lost as much as 23 pounds.
It is thought that the drug affects the brain in the same way as the hormone leptin, which tells us when we’re full. Thus it tricks the body into feeling satisfied for longer. Weight gain is a major concern across the Western world. In the UK alone, 64% of adults are classed as overweight or obese.
So could liraglutide be the solution to this problem?
Potentially, but not necessarily.
Liraglutide may have many positive effects, but it also has its drawbacks. The drug can cause nausea and diarrhoea, and it has to be injected every day before breakfast.
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Most importantly, there have been no studies on its long-term effects on the body. And at the end of the day, what matters most is not the number on the scales, but whether you are healthy and happy in your own skin. After all, there is no substitute for a balanced diet, a sensible exercise regime, and loving yourself the way you are.
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