As new drugs against obesity arrive on the market, Ardina Desplan points out that care must be comprehensive for the treatment to be effective.
Ardina Desplan, head of the diabetology and endocrinology department at the Nevers metropolitan hospital, is also president of the Résédia network, labeled Maison sport-santé, which supports patients in the fight against obesity.
A disease with multiple factors
The generation of drugs arriving on the market to treat obesity is already known, since it is used against diabetes.
“We must understand that obesity is a disease in its own right, which has multiple factors, which are genetic, cultural and environmental. These drugs are effective in combating insulin resistance and therefore reduce abdominal obesity. They also have an effect on the feeling of cerebral satiety and offer metabolic and cardiovascular protection. Effectiveness has been demonstrated, but a comprehensive care pathway is required to support patients. »
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Talking about miracle cures can be dangerous. “The care is comprehensive, one medication is not enough. In particular, personalized and adapted physical activity is required. Especially since obesity is always accompanied by complications which are not always visible. And so there must be screening, because medications will not always act on these related pathologies. »
Obesity can cause strokes, thromboses, sleep apnea and joint problems which also require treatment.
There are also significant consequences on quality of life and daily suffering, which can lead to depression. All of this must be taken into account.
“These are medications that can also have undesirable side effects, because they slow down gastric emptying. » Not reimbursed, Wegowy, from the Novo Nordisk laboratory, is already on the market. Which will soon be the case for Mounjaro, produced by the Lilly laboratory.
Guillaume Clerc
