The brain is responsible for regulating how much is eaten and how many calories are burned throughout the day, but in obesity, this balance is disrupted, causing weight gain. Until a few years ago, the most effective strategy for sustained weight loss was surgery. Now, the popular anti-obesity drugs semaglutide (sold under the names Ozempic and Wegovy) and tirzepatide (sold as Mounjaro) are becoming almost as effective as surgery at evoking weight loss. These drugs are based on a peptide made in the gut called GLP-1, and they act on GLP-1 receptors in the brain to suppress eating. However, these medications are costly, in high demand and produce variable results — driving the need for more obesity treatment options. Writing in Nature, Petersen et al.1 describe how combining a GLP-1 receptor activator with another drug that acts on the brain could be an effective treatment for obesity.
Competing Interests
The authors declare no competing interests.