In October 2022, Elon Musk revealed his secret to looking "fit, ripped, and healthy" on Twitter. He responded on a fan that he was lifting weights by "fasting" and using "Wegovy."

This injection, known as Wegovy, was initially used to help manage diabetes; however, it gained FDA approval for chronic weight management last summer. Wegovy is the brand name of the drug semaglutide, miming the effects of the hormone GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). GLP-1 is one of the hormones released by the gut after we eat, which inhibits insulin release in the pancreas and acts on the brain by turning off hunger signals.

The brain will increase appetite and decrease energy expenditure if a person loses weight, raising body weight. This causes weight to rise once more to the body's set point. In essence, semaglutide disables these processes. As a result, these hunger sensations are reduced even when weight is eliminated, limiting weight growth.

In research including 1961 obese adults, it was discovered that 86% of the participants dropped 15% of their body weight after 68 weeks of weekly semaglutide injection with a low-calorie diet and regular exercise. Moreover, 32% of people dropped up to 20% of their body weight.

On the other hand, the drug is not without side effects. 20 to 45% of the study subjects said they had experienced diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and vomiting. Additionally, about 2% of the patients experienced gallstones, and some experienced pancreatic irritation. In addition, Wegovy carries hazards, particularly to the pancreas, according to Tom Sanders, professor emeritus of nutrition and dietetics at King's College London. This medication has yet another side effect. According to data according to the manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, most people who quit receiving Wegovy injections may regain the weight they had lost within five years. A follow-up analysis of 232 initial clinical trial participants revealed that all had gained almost all the weight they had lost within a year after taking the drug.

While there are contradictory opinions about Wegovy, the drug is undergoing phase 3 clinical trials in Korea. It will be released in the second half of this year at the latest or next year at the latest.

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