Curbing the Obesity Epidemic: Should GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Be the Standard of Care for Obesity?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article summarizes the medical management of obesity with an emphasis on incretin-based therapeutics that target the neuro-hormonal basis of obesity. RECENT FINDINGS: Medications that mimic the effect of incretins, a group of peptide hormones released in response to nutrient intake that regulate appetite, result in potent and durable weight loss. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) agonists such as semaglutide and tirzepatide are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the management of obesity. The SELECT trial demonstrated that semaglutide led to a reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events in patients without diabetes who were either overweight and had preexisting cardiovascular disease or obese. SUMMARY: The treatment of obesity is critical to prevent the progression of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome. Incretin-based therapies offer remarkable weight loss and reduce major cardiovascular adverse events.